How To Fly Affordably on a Weekend?

The trend of weekend travel has picked up very fast in the past few years. With so many options nearby in every state, it is quite natural. So, no matter who you are, the idea of setting off on a weekend getaway makes your heart skip a beat.

Unaffordable deals are the only thing that holds you back from giving in to this urge. Of course, savings on airfare would mean you could spend on other things. In this Farehutz blog, we have compiled the best ways to book weekend flight deals.

Destination Closer to your Home

Flyers looking for a weekend getaway may choose the closest destination to their home. If you do research, you will find many. Or, ask a friend to suggest one. Every state has got a few of them. The instances below may inspire you to find one in your own state.

Charleston - Residents of South Carolina can visit Charleston on a weekend.
Riverside - Those living in California may easily fly to Riverside for weekend getaway.
Austin - Texans can fly to Austin for a weekend getaway.

Book Tickets In Advance

Booking tickets for a weekend flight in advance may help you find affordable deals. Even though weekend getaways tend to be spontaneous last-minute bookings should be avoided as the airfare may cost you a lot.

In shoulder months - Before or after the peak rush is over, you need not worry so much. Affordable weekend flights may be booked within 4 weeks of departure.
In off-peak months - You may be lucky with a last-minute booking. But only if the destination is not very popular.
In peak months - You must book at least 40-80 days before departure to get affordable weekend flights.

Deals Nearby Airports Offers

If you don’t find affordable tickets for your destination, you may fly to a nearby airport. And take a public transport or rented car to your weekend destination.

Savings you can get - A few third-party sites may show you the amount you will save by choosing the nearby airport.
A few destinations may not have direct flights - Nearby airports must be chosen for destinations where no airline operates.
Airlines which may give you affordable deals - Frontier Airlines and Breeze Airways are the cheapest on most routes.

Deals From Alternate Airports In Origin

The location your flight is originating from may have several airports. This generally applies to major hubs like San Francisco, Chicago and New York. Tweaking the itinerary may help you secure a deal with extra savings. The smaller airports are much more likely to give you a low-cost airfare. Take a look at the alternatives the major hubs provide for booking a cheap weekend flight.

San Francisco - Smaller airports include Oakland International, San Jose Mineta and Santa Rosa.
New York - Smaller airports include Newark Liberty, LeGuardia and Long Island.
Chicago - Midway International, Gary Chicago Regional Airport and Rockford Airport.

Use Loyalty Program of the Airline

Most premium airlines and a few budget airlines offer avenues of booking award tickets using the loyalty program. So taking initiative may help you save on airfare. Here is how you may book your weekend flight.

Pay a portion of a ticket with loyalty points - Even if you don’t have enough loyalty points to get an award ticket, you may still pay for a portion of ticket.
Use the loyalty points of a relative - Transfer of loyalty points to relatives is allowed in the loyalty programs of a few airlines.

Look For Deals On All Airlines

Cheaper flights may be booked on a few airlines. Consider flying with budget airlines. Comparison of deals on all airlines may help you choose the best. Low-cost carriers and ultra low-cost carriers are more likely to offer you deals for a weekend flight. Take a look at how the choice may affect.

Non-stop flights - Those with a flight time of 1-2 hours are usually cheap.
Connecting flights - You must avoid connecting flights for a weekend getaway because on short-haul routes, they are expensive.

Conclusion

Destinations closer home will always give you an affordable deal on a weekend getaway. Charleston is seen as a popular getaway in South Carolina because it is close to many cities in South Carolina. The same holds true for Riverside in California and Austin in Texas. But looking at deals on all possible routes from the origin to your destination may help you choose the one which is the most affordable. Farehutz makes booking weekend flights effortless as it gathers and shows you all deals available on every route.