Travel Tips: Planning Your Flights (Part 1)

(Part 1: Finding the Cheapest Airfare)

For some passengers, all they want is to get to their destination - PERIOD. But for others, the journey is just as important as the destination itself. This series of articles is designed to describe aspects of your flying experience that you may want to consider when planning which flights to take. If there is one thing you should take away from this series, it is that you should not just base your selection of airline on price per se, but rather on the value-for-money the airline provides. Of course, how value-for-money is defined is up to you, as passengers value different aspects of their flights differently.

Image Source: Cheap Philippine Tickets
In this article, we will discuss one of the most common considerations when planning which flights to take: PRICE. For many passengers, saving a lot of money on something that lasts just a few hours is in itself valuable. But what do you give-up in case you don’t want to spend too much?

As we know, low cost carriers (LCC) proliferated and have ‘democratised’ air travel. Because of them, it is possible for passengers to travel at affordable prices to destinations only the rich and famous could previously afford. But there is a catch. Another way to read low-cost carrier is that the management will do just that – lower costs. It means stripping the experience of aspects that come at a cost to the airline, those that they think their passengers don’t mind not having for a couple of hours. So if you travel with a low cost carrier, don't expect to see champagne or a full course lobster dinner on-board your flight.

Low cost carriers are not the only way to find the cheapest flights and occasionally, legacy carriers will offer low fares too. The best part is that you will still enjoy the same on-board service as most passengers in the class you are booked but at a nicely discounted rate. However, restrictions generally exist for these low fares so be sure that you are certain of your trip and won't need to make future changes.


In order to enjoy the lowest fares possible, regardless of which carrier you choose, you may want to consider the following:
  • Book far in advance. The sooner it is to your intended flight day, the higher the price will be. A certain report indicates that flights to Asia from the US are best booked 129 days in advance, and flights to Europe are best booked 151 days in advance. 
  • Avoid being picky with your time of travel. By choosing really low prices, expect to travel at odd times of the day. Effectively, you will minimise the actual time you spend in your intended destination. If the lowest fare leaves late at night, you will probably be paying for an extra night at the hotel. This can often mean an extra day wasted. Fares are lower at times when students are in school or university, but this shouldn’t be an issue if you are a single adult not working in those places anyway. Friday nights to Monday mornings are also bad times to catch low fares too since business travelers will be commuting back and forth. 
  • Be absolutely certain about when you want to travel. The cheapest flights usually mean more restrictions on your ticket. You will not be able to cancel or amend your travel plans (at least not without paying a hefty fee). 
  • Travel light. Especially if you are travelling on an LCC, the lowest fares do not come with any hold baggage allowance. If you are alone and your trip only lasts for a few days, you probably don’t need a full-sized suitcase. Some carriers are even strict about how they define hand luggage; some definitions may count your backpack or laptop case as hand luggage so check with your carrier before leaving your house, otherwise you may be forced to spend quite a bit of money at the airport. 
  • Be prepared to sit anywhere, except in front or by the exit. Seat selection comes at a price. It is clear to carriers that even within economy class seats, not all of them are created equal. 
  • When a city is served by two airports, choose the one that is more unknown or the smaller airport. Smaller airports have lower costs to the airline, in terms of both landing costs and even avoided delays. These benefits are passed-on to passengers. For example, both Caticlan and Kalibo serve Boracay but because Caticlan is more popular due to its proximity to Boracay itself, use of the airport is much costlier. Kalibo Airport is usually cheaper with the only drawback being that you will spend more time on the road travelling to your intended destination. 
  • Don’t bother looking for that pillow, blanket, or even water to drink. When you travel on a bus or a long distance train, it is usually rare to find these features. Buses and trains usually take longer than a plane, so if you can bear several hours on these modes of transport without comfort, it shouldn't be a problem not having them on a short plane ride. If you wish, you can always bring your own food and drink on the aircraft, which is more filling than what is sold on-board anyway. But beware that beverages cannot be brought through airport security. Bring your blanket and a pillow too if you need them as they are probably more comfortable to use than what the airline is providing. Just remember not to exceed your hand luggage allowance. 
  • Forego mileage accrual. It will take around 10-12 round trips to a particular destination before you can enjoy a redemption ticket to that same destination. But redemption tickets are not entirely free anyway because of the mandatory taxes and surcharges for all passengers. The point is that in a few cases, the fare you will pay may only be just $50 more expensive than if you redeemed a “free” ticket to that destination. Whether it's worth it is up to you to decide.
Finally, if you see a ridiculously low price, check first if this includes all other taxes and fees. PAL, Tigerair and AirAsia Zest will advertise their fares all-inclusive (except for extras of course, and fees payable at the airport) when booked directly from their website or ticket office but Cebu Pacific does not. Travel agents may not always include taxes in their advertised fares as well so ask for their all-in price.

PRICE is just one consideration. If you want to enjoy the cheapest flights, you have to be willing to forego other conveniences and flexibilities. It is recommended that you choose an airline that provides value-for-money but that will all depend on what you consider value. If you think putting cash in your pocket fits that definition so you can spend more at your destination, then target the lowest Philippine airfares but be prepared for sacrifices. However, don't always rule out the more expensive legacy carriers. You may be surprised to discover that occasionally, they may have a cheaper fare than their low-cost carrier counterparts or at the very least, a fare that is only a little more expensive but includes meals, baggage allowance, and in-flight entertainment.

In the next part of this series, we will explore another part of flying worth considering: to stopover or to fly non-stop.

-HybridAce101

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