It is September 2022, the pandemic is almost a thing of the past and the pages of every passport are begging for a stamp.

As the world is opening its borders, most people are not wasting time in exploring their options. When the world found itself in the beginning of the post-pandemic recovery time, airline tickets were any budget’s dream. Airlines were desperate for business, and it meant that prices were very affordable for the man on the street. When things started normalising the demand for airline tickets stabilised. This allowed airlines to push prices up to pre-pandemic levels and in some cases, even higher.

Worldwide spoke to Maria Nortier*, a seasoned traveller with a knack for bargains, to find out how she funds her travels. In this article she shares some of the secrets on how to make your flight as affordable as possible.

Here are her tips:

1. Book your tickets early

“Book your tickets early. The closer you get to the time of the flight, the more expensive the tickets become,” says Maria. Although there is no official secret recipe for how far in advance you should book your tickets, there are some guidelines you can use. Prices will usually start going up about 28 days before departure. It is therefore a good idea to book your tickets around three months before your journey. Your destination and the season during which you travel both play a role in how early you should book your tickets. Keep an eye open for prices and buy your tickets as soon as you are happy with the prices on offer. This rule is not without exceptions.

Airlines’ prices are dynamic and if demand is too low and supply too high, they will sometimes lower their prices. It all depends on the availability of tickets closer to the time. It is however risky to put your travel plans on the line in order to wait for this unlikely phenomenon.

2. Consider all your options

Maria suggests a series of online platforms where travellers can compare prices: “Travelstart and Cheapflights allow you to consider flight prices and get the cheapest option. It compares a range of variables such as airlines, flights, and times – all in one place. You then don’t need to consult a few websites initially. When you find an option that suits your pocket, you still have the option of then going onto the airline’s website to compare prices.”

She also mentions that you can use the website of the well-known travelling agency Flight Center for the same purpose. “When it comes to flights, it is a good idea to weigh all your options. This includes different airlines and airports.”

Airlines such as Ethiopian Airways have gained a good reputation over the past few years as an option that offers value for money. If a traveller is more familiar with options like Emirates, it is understandable that they would prefer it, but it is always a good idea to consider prices while taking hidden costs (such as baggage) into account.

Also use the “All airports” option when planning your departure and destination points. For instance, when flying from Johannesburg, make sure you compare Lanseria and O.R. Tambo International Airport’s prices before buying your departure tickets.

3. Use loyalty programmes

“Explore loyalty programmes such as Discovery Vitality Travel and FNB Travel eBucks,” suggests Maria. “There are also many other options, for instance Emirates Skywards, which can help you to save a few rands.”

Discovery Vitality Travel offers members of their health programme between 10% and 35% discount on their flights. Discovery Bank and Vitality Money clients can save between 10% and 40% and those who are also part of the health programme can get up to 75% discount! To learn more about the programme, click here.

FNB’s eBucks can help travellers to get up to 40% discount on selected flights. By creating a traveller profile on eBucks Travel, you can conveniently book all future flights. Users have to keep in mind that the partner airlines that eBucks use for discount rotate on a month-to-month basis. To learn more about the programme, click here.

With Emirates Skywards regular clients can use their miles and loyalty rank to get a range of benefits. Skyward Miles accumulate every time you fly with Emirates or Flydubai and can be exchanged for discount on your future tickets. The miles are valid for three years, so make sure you use them before they expire! To find out more about the programme, click here.

These are Maria’s preferred options that she uses for discount, but she also mentions that most banks and airlines have loyalty programmes these days. Worldwide did a quick search on the internet and found these loyalty programmes:

• Absa Rewards Travel
• UCount Rewards Travel Mall
• Avios

Bonus tip:

Be flexible

Search a lot and search often – it is a time-consuming process, but an hour or two longer could save you a few hundred rands. Find out if you can get a mid-week flight, for instance Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as it might work out cheaper than a Friday.

Finally, Maria warns that travellers need to be wary of hidden costs such as baggage, stop-overs, expenses during stop-overs, local travel costs between airports, etc. 

*Name has been changed to protect identity

Do you have any other tips on how to get cheap airline tickets?