The cost of airfare has risen, but there are still ways to save.

The costly combination of increased travel demand and fuel prices have led to more expensive airfares. For many people, it’s putting a crunch on their travel budget. If you’re planning to fly soon, consider using the following tips to minimize the cost of your plane ticket.

Choose off-peak days

The cost of plane tickets are most expensive on the busiest travel days: Sundays, Mondays and Fridays. Adjusting your travel plans to fly on off-peak days such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays can help provide big savings.

Also, fares are typically higher around holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most people want to be at their destination the day of the holiday, making the days just before and the after most in-demand and most expensive. Sometimes booking travel the day of the holiday can help stretch your travel dollars.

Plan ahead

These days, last-minute fares are few and far between. Book domestic flights at least 30-45 days ahead of time. For international travel, you may need to book up to six months in advance. Check out this article from The Points Guy for details on timing your ticket purchase for various global destinations.

Use online tools

Online services like Kayak and Google Flights are great tools for seeing options from multiple carriers. Use the filter and calendar tools to look at flights several days before and after your target dates. Set up alerts that let you know when fares drop on a route you’re interested in.

If you don’t mind driving further to catch a plane, compare flights from nearby airports where fares might be cheaper. However, consider if driving and parking expenses—as well as added travel time—negate any savings.

Book directly with carriers

Often third-party services offer good fares. However, if you need to change your flight you can incur hefty fees. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, most carriers now allow flyers to change flights without additional fees. Also, third-party services may not provide high levels of customer service and a phone call to change your flight could take a long time. Booking directly with the airline carrier gives you access to better customer service and most likely lower or no change fees.

Search for individual seats for each family member

One of our favorite money-savings tips comes from Conde Nast Traveler. When booking trips for a group or family, search for each seat individually. Automated fare systems will only show seats of the same price. By searching for single seats, you may find some seats at a lower price.

If you buy tickets individually, Conde Nast says to link the reservation so the airline knows you’re flying together. Getting the reservations linked is easiest done by phone with the airline or through a travel agent.

Pack as lightly as possible

If a checked bag is included with your fare, hooray! However, don’t be surprised if a checked bag costs $30 or more per flight. For a family of four, $30 checked bags for each person to and from a vacation destination costs $240.

Take only carry-on luggage to save money. (Be sure the dimensions of your bag conform to the carriers’ limits for carry-ons.)

If you’re traveling as a family and must check bags, consolidate multiple family members’ items together in one or two bags—without exceeding the airline’s weight limit.

Consider Groupon Getaways

Travel packages booked through Groupon Getaways can provide significant savings over booking direct. However, before you commit to a Groupon Getaway make sure you understand the details of the deal like the expiration date, cancelation policy, flight and rental car options, and additional fees required at check-in.

Protect your budget

One way to protect your monthly budget is to set aside money in a savings account designated for your next adventure. Set up automatic transfers and you won’t have to give it another thought. When it’s time for your next trip, you’ll be glad you planned ahead because you’ll have the money on-hand and won’t bust your budget.

 

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