With their military discount, airline ticket prices are cheaper for those serving in the Armed Forces. The savings do not end there when it comes to holiday travel. There are several ways that military members can save even more money on airfare during the coming weeks. Flying the entire family home to see grandma and grandpa for the holidays will be a delightful, and inexpensive, surprise.
Experts say it will cost an average of four percent more to fly during Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks this year. The longer people wait to book their travel, the higher the price is expected to be. Fewer seats are available because airlines are flying fewer planes and reducing their number of routes in attempts to lower costs. This leads to packed flights and the ability to charge more for a ticket.
It may be more difficult to find cheap airline tickets for military during the holiday season. Fewer business travelers fly this time of year, reducing revenues. Airlines must make up for this somehow, so they increase airfares. This time of year, travelers should jump on a good deal as soon as they find it because an additional price drop may never come.
By adding a few days before or after peak holiday travel days, military personnel can significantly lower their fares. Flying on the actual holiday can also be cheaper because Thanksgiving, Christmas, and early on New Year’s day are less busy times for airlines. Being flexible with travel dates will keep more cash in the pocket.
When shopping for a discounted airline ticket, adding a connecting flight could save $100 on round-trip travel. Avoid a stop in a city within a cold weather region and allow plenty of time to board the subsequent flight. Booking one-way flights from two different airlines can also save money on a round-trip ticket.