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The moment the world has been waiting for has arrived! We can now resume those travel plans that were put on hold during the pandemic. Travel is back in a big way, and nothing´s going to stop us now… except maybe the high price of airfare. While not a problem for some, the rest of us have to find ways to get the best deals.

¨Revenge travel¨ is a phrase that has been popping up a lot recently, and for good reason. The last two years have not been kind to travelers and to those in the tourism, transport, and hospitality industries. With travel and health restrictions putting a pause on life as we knew it, our dream vacations had to be shelved for an undetermined amount of time.

Thankfully, that dark period has passed, and now, travel restrictions are easing up in many parts of the world. Suddenly, we’re all going wild with the idea of getting on a plane again, never mind that post-pandemic travel is a lot more expensive than it used to be.

A survey conducted by the financial services company Bankrate shows that almost 70% of travelers planning summer vacations “anticipated” making adjustments to their original travel plans because of inflation. Meanwhile, the marketing tech company Zeta Global says that 74% of travelers actively search for ways to save on travel expenses.

Airfare rates are a large chunk of a travel budget, so many travelers are keen on finding the best ways to save on purchasing airline tickets. After all, the flight is not the only thing to consider and spend on during a trip. Many would rather pinch pennies here than sacrifice other aspects of the trip, such as staying at a nice hotel or experiencing the main attractions around the travel destination.

Travel sites such as Vacation Renter show that one can save as much as 23% on airfare if one plans their trips strategically. Here are some smart things to consider before booking your next flight!

(Also read: Travel Must-Haves in the New Normal)

Planning and booking flights months ahead gives one advantage when it comes to airfare pricing. Airline companies look at various factors such as travel demand when it comes to pricing flights. The rule of thumb has been: the closer you book to the date of your flight, the more expensive the tickets get. One way to work around this is to search for flights months ahead and book the best one as soon as one spots it.

On the upside, this really secures the seat. On the other hand, booking well way in advance is risky because one never knows what may come up as the date draws near. One's personal schedule may change without warning, or other unexpected developments may come up. Still, meticulous planning is the smartest key when it comes to booking a more affordable flight.

Airline companies use internet algorithms to guide their airfare pricing. The more one searches for the price of a certain flight date, the more likely the prices may increase. One way to sort of work around this is to do your searches anonymously or by using the search engine’s incognito mode. Or, you can also head to your web browser window and delete search cookies. Getting a cheaper airline ticket might be worth making those few extra keystrokes.

Utilizing travel or booking sites such as Skyscanner is also recommended. Skyscanner allows international flyers to set price alerts, as well as mix and match airlines to search for the best rates. Meanwhile, Google Flights are best for those with more flexible travel dates in mind.

Being more flexible with travel dates is another way to save on airfare costs. When possible, be open to other months for leisure travel. For summer trips, some air travel booking sites such as Hopper say that those who book in the last two weeks of August could save up to $120 per flight. That´s a lot of savings!

Traveling in the middle of the week, as opposed to Fridays is also a smart strategy. Travelers who do this can save as much as $35. Booking a room on Fridays and weekends tends to be more expensive than other days of the week.

Travelers need to watch out for airline companies that enter local airports or those that add new routes! Competition between companies could trigger a sudden drop in airfare rates, so it´s best to keep one’s eyes open for these developments.

New hotels around the travel destination can be an adventure and another way to save a few bucks. The upside is savings, but the downside can be unpredictable service. Feeling adventurous? This might be the way to go!

Also, consider alternative modes of transport. While airfare rates have increased, cruise fares have so far remained the same. Why not travel by sea for a change?

Finally, maximize your credit cards when booking for airfare. Many credit cards offer cash back when you book via credit card. Many also offer free miles. Accrued miles can sometimes even get one a free trip!

These days, travel may be expensive, but if we make use of our smarts and set our strategy for our trips, we just might be able to save more than we expect. After all, the experience we get from having traveled will be well-worth what we spend to get it.

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