Saving money on flights: tips from Girl Takes Mundo
Chris Davila tells us how to be kind to our wallets.
Chris's mission to inspire fellow Latinas to explore the world fearlessly all started with a planned career break back in 2010. Embracing the motto "If I can do it, you can too!", she embarked on a series of solo journeys before deciding to combine her skills and passions under the Girl Takes Mundo brand. She hails from Chicago but remains deeply connected to her Guatemalan roots, even as she travels the globe.
In this post, Chris shares money-saving tips that have allowed her to visit over 70 countries!
1. Use the right tools
People often ask me how I can travel so much without going broke.
Well, it's never free, of course. Flights especially can take a bite out of your wallet, and it's easy to think we’re doomed to buy expensive tickets because of the systems put in place by airlines. The good news is that we aren't!
If you only take away one thing from this post, let it be this: when it comes to finding cheap flights, using the right tools is key.
Case in point: the app WayAway. If you're reading this blog, you probably already know that it gives you cashback on all travel purchases. I've been using it recently and have really come to love it, which is why I was excited to share more money-saving travel tips with the WayAway community!
2. Don't fall for common myths
First, let’s bust some common myths:
❌The sooner you book, the better
This is one of the biggest cliches when it comes to buying flight tickets, and it's wrong! Booking early doesn't necessarily mean cheaper flights. More about this below.
❌It's better to fly on certain days of the week
Ever been told it was cheaper to fly on Tuesday or book on Sunday? This might have been true in the past, but nowadays, with airlines using dynamic pricing strategies, factors such as seat availability, season, departure time, and the popularity of the route all get factored into the cost of a flight.
❌It helps to go incognito when booking
Some people still search for flights incognito. While airlines do use cookies to track user behavior, they also use dynamic pricing strategies, which is the real reason prices constantly change.
❌It matters what device you use
I've heard of travelers using a cheap phone or laptop because they think they'll get cheaper tickets that way. However, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that this works.
Sorry, folks: these are pretty much just a waste of time and effort.
Now we know what we shouldn't be doing, let's talk about what we should be doing!
3. Know when to book your flight
So how long before the trip do you book?
Here's an illustration that should help if you're booking an international flight:
For spring, it's best to book 40 days in advance to get the cheapest tickets. In the summer, fall, and winter, the sweet spot is 20 days before your flight.
Why not six or three months prior? Why not right before the plane takes off? Good questions. Booking way in advance means there won’t be many deals available, as airlines aren’t hustling to fill up the plane quickly. And as for last-minute finds, all the good options are usually taken by then, so you're likely to be left with the most expensive ticket.
4. Choose your destination strategically
I can’t be the only one with a travel wish list! Flexibility means saving money: if there are several places you'd like to go, you can get a steal by choosing the one that's cheapest for your travel dates.
Let's take a look at the best places to fly to from the US in each season.
Spring
In the spring, the cheapest destinations are South America (think places like Brazil, Guatemala, or Colombia), Canada, Morocco, and Australia.
Summer
Japan, the UK, Norway, and the Philippines are cheaper to reach in summertime.
The UK has very high departure taxes, so if you fly there, it's cheaper to fly out from elsewhere in Europe. (You might take the Eurostar train from London to Paris.)
Fall
In the fall, France, Spain, Greece, and Italy are great countries to check off your bucket list.
Winter
If you're looking to travel in the winter, book Austria, Belgium, Israel, or Turkey. And, as I mentioned earlier, book 20 days in advance for the cheapest flights.
5. Choose the right airport
Sometimes, you can save quite a bit of money by driving to another airport instead of just using the one closest to you.
The following US airports are the cheapest to fly to Europe from:
- New York
- Washington, DC
- Los Angeles
- Boston
Here's an example. Same date, same destination, but by flying to London from NYC instead of Philadelphia, you can save $300:
I always check prices from different airports in the UK when I travel back to the US. The ones in London and Dublin sometimes have cheaper options, and it's not difficult for me to get to them from Manchester.
As a bonus, getting to these other airports can double as a mini road trip!
6. Pay for baggage early
Not paying for your luggage up front can cost you a lot when you arrive at the airport. For one-way flights, whether domestic or international, you might be on the hook for an extra $100 or so. Double that for a round trip and you're adding a lot on top of the initial price.
7. Set up price alerts
Flight prices are constantly changing. How do we catch them when they're lowest?
If you know your destination and date of travel, price alerts can be very handy. WayAway, for example, has this feature: as soon as the price drops, you'll get a push notification so that you can buy the cheapest ticket.
Should you book when you get a WayAway price alert? Absolutely! Here's why:If the price has gone down, in 67% of cases it'll go back up, so it’s best not to wait.If the price has risen, you may think it will drop again, but in 53% of cases, after a price has increased, it will continue to.
8. Get WayAway Plus
I’ll let you in on a not-so-secret secret: smart travelers like me are earning cashback using WayAway Plus. Unlike other travel platforms that offer points for booking future travel on their platform, WayAway Plus gives you cold hard cash on all your travel purchases (flights, accommodation, car rentals, tours, travel insurance, and more).
But real cashback isn't the only reason why I love WayAway Plus. Below are some others.
Local expertise
WayAway has worked with 200 local experts across 100+ cities so far to create the ultimate travel guides.
Using the app is like having friends around the world who can share their favorite hidden gems and lots of insider info. You'll learn where to get the best sticky toffee pudding in London and where in LA Blade Runner was filmed!
24/7 on-call travel experts
WayAway Plus membership includes access to 24/7 on-call travel experts, and they're better than your regular "please hold" customer service team.
Sure, they'll check your flight time, but they'll also help you find the best and cheapest route and point you to the best terrace restaurants in Marrakesh or romantic date night ideas in Greenwich. (I should know, as I’ve asked and gotten amazing recommendations!)
Price maps
If, like me, you're always looking to get away when you have days off and are flexible with your destination, then you'll love the WayAway price map feature.
It’s super simple to use. Just enter the location you want to leave from, and the map shows the costs of flights to destinations around the world.
One way to use it is to put together cheaper routes. For example, here you can see that if you wanted to fly to Florence, it would cost you $585, while a ticket to Rome is just $175. If you're willing to take a train after your flight, you can get to Florence for much less money!
The mundo is yours!
There are travel options for any budget, and it's possible to book cheap flights and get cashback as you do so. All you need is a desire to see the world, the knowledge to travel smart, and the right tools.
I wish you cheap trips in 2023 and plenty of cashback using WayAway Plus!
