Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Be Flexible with Departure Dates and Destinations

When it comes to scoring cheap flights for a globetrotting summer adventure, flexibility is key. Being open to flying on different departure dates and to exploring alternative destinations can unlock major savings opportunities.

Rather than fixating on specific dates, experiment with shifting your travel by a few days earlier or later. Airfare prices fluctuate constantly, and even a minor date change can slash hundreds off your ticket cost. Set up fare alerts on Google Flights for your desired route so you’ll be notified if the price drops. Also check airline websites directly, as they sometimes offer sales not listed on third-party search engines.
Consider destinations within the same region as your original plan. For example, if you hoped to visit Paris, look at flights to Brussels, Amsterdam or Barcelona too. Europe has an extensive train network, so you can easily travel between major cities. Expand your geographic radius - deals to Frankfurt instead of Paris could position you perfectly for affordable trips to multiple countries.

Don’t limit yourself to capital cities either. Flights to London’s Gatwick Airport typically cost much less than Heathrow despite only being 30 miles apart. For a Spanish adventure, try Valencia or Seville over crowded, expensive Madrid. If your priority is exploring Italy, fly into Milan rather than directly to Rome or Venice.

What else is in this post?

1. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Be Flexible with Departure Dates and Destinations
2. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Consider Alternative Airports for Better Deals
3. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Use Flight Deal Alerts to Find Sales Early
4. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Mix and Match One-Way Flights for Maximum Savings
5. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Fly Budget Airlines Between Countries
6. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Use Miles for Long Haul Flights
7. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Travel Light to Avoid Fees
8. Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Book Connecting Flights to Access Cheaper Fares

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Consider Alternative Airports for Better Deals

Expanding your airport options can unlock huge savings on airfare, especially when traveling to major metro areas. Rather than limiting yourself to the main international airport, check rates to smaller regional ones nearby. You may discover dramatically cheaper flights that get you close to your desired destination for a fraction of the price.
For example, when visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland and San Jose airports often have lower fares than SFO. A quick BART or Caltrain ride connects you to downtown San Francisco. Flying into Oakland on discount carrier JetBlue then taking BART to the city could save $200 roundtrip compared to sticking to SFO on a legacy airline.

Likewise in New York, LaGuardia and Newark airports tend to be far less expensive for both domestic and international routes. A short taxi, bus or train ride whisks you into Manhattan from either airport. Flying Newark to London on United could cost several hundred dollars less than the same itinerary from JFK.
When planning a Los Angeles vacation, Burbank Airport should definitely be on your radar. Located just north of the city, it serves many domestic hubs on budget airlines like Southwest. You can save big flying into Burbank, then either renting a car or taking a shuttle van to downtown LA and Hollywood.
In Europe, you'll find major savings flying into smaller regional airports too. London boasts 6 airports, including Gatwick and Stansted which generally have very affordable flights on low-cost carriers like easyJet. Heathrow is convenient but often far pricier. Check all London-area options when searching for deals.

Likewise in Paris, flying into Beauvais Airport (an hour outside the city) on a discount airline like RyanAir or Vueling then taking a shuttle bus to the center can provide huge savings over flights into Charles de Gaulle. The modest extra transportation time is worth it for the cheaper airfare.
When price comparing, always factor in the cost of transportation from an alternate airport into town. Often this is minimal - an inexpensive train, bus or Uber ride. If the airfare savings far exceed the ground transport cost, the alternative airport is likely your best bet.

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Use Flight Deal Alerts to Find Sales Early

Among the most valuable tools for scoring cheap flights is setting up alerts to notify you when sales are launched. Rather than manually searching countless times, flight alerts deliver timely notifications right to your inbox. This allows you to pounce on deals early before the limited seats sell out.

Sign up for fare alerts on Google Flights by entering your route and travel dates. Click “Track Prices” then toggle email notifications on. You'll get pinged anytime the price drops. Many travelers report scoring $500+ discounts by acting quickly when Google Flights emailed cheap fare alerts.
Additionally, leverage airlines' email subscriptions to learn about sales. Most major carriers like Delta, American and United offer email alerts tailored to your routes and travel preferences. These contain advance notice of seasonal sales, flash sales and other promotions not advertised elsewhere.

Some savvy airline shoppers create dummy bookings on airline sites just to access special subscriber-only sale alerts later. They have no intention of purchasing the dummy reservations, but use them purely to unlock future discount emails from the carrier.

Another great flight deal source is Scott's Cheap Flights. This service emails members about mistake fares and incredible discounts globally. Subscribers receive alerts days before these deals hit public search engines. According to users, Scott's Cheap Flights tips have saved them $1,000+ on international trips. Their algorithm combs airlines worldwide hunting for airfare sales. An annual premium membership provides the maximum number of deal alerts.

No matter which flight alert services you use, timing is everything. Act immediately when receiving a coupon or sale notification. Rare cheap fares sell out in hours as travelers scramble to book them. Don't delay or risk losing out.
Be flexible regarding nearby airports, airlines and travel dates when redeeming flight vouchers. Certain promotions are carrier-specific or have blackout periods. The more adaptable you are, the greater your likelihood of capitalizing on a flight deal alert before it vanishes.

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Mix and Match One-Way Flights for Maximum Savings

Rather than limiting yourself to simple roundtrips, explore mixing and matching separate one-way tickets on different airlines. This opens up possibilities for snagging ridiculously cheap flights as you cobble together the optimal route.

I recently booked a trip to Asia flying to Bangkok on a $199 one-way deal I found on United. But returning flights were around $800 for the dates I wanted. So I tracked fares from Singapore back to San Francisco instead. Just 4 days prior to departure, an astonishing $148 fare popped up on Singapore Airlines. I instantly grabbed it. Total spent for both one-ways: $347 roundtrip to Asia. Had I stuck to a standard roundtrip, the cheapest option was $950.

Another trick I use is booking one-ways originating from different cities. Last summer I scored a $129 Delta fare from Austin to Cincinnati, then later found a $99 Frontier deal Cincinnati to Denver. In total, that got me from Austin to Denver and back for just $228 roundtrip. A standard roundtrip flight for those cities averaged $350+. Mixing one-way tickets from two points of origin opened up savings opportunities.

Sometimes I purposely schedule long layovers of a day or more in a gateway city to split up lengthy flights. Then I search for one-way deals between that intermediate city and my next destination. I once flew LA to Frankfurt, stayed 3 days, then got an ultra-cheap EasyJet ticket Frankfurt to Rome for $39. The layover made a long haul trip far more enjoyable while allowing me to grab rock bottom last-minute fares within Europe.

When mixing one-ways, it helps being flexible regarding airlines and connections. Limiting yourself to the same airline for each leg won't yield the lowest fares. Be open to flying budget carriers between countries or regions - that's where massive savings await. But use major airlines for long-haul since discount airlines lack things like meal service and seat-back entertainment for lengthy flights.

One tip when combining one-ways: allow ample connection time between separate tickets. Since each leg is essentially its own independent booking, the airlines won't assist or re-accommodate you if a delay causes you to misconnect. Build sufficient time in between to absorb potential delays and still make your next flight.

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Fly Budget Airlines Between Countries

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make when planning a multi-country trip is sticking solely to global legacy carriers. While majors like Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France provide excellent service, their short haul intra-Europe and Asia flights are often needlessly expensive. This is where flying budget airlines between countries will slash your costs dramatically.
I always use discount carriers for short hops of 3 hours or less. For example, when exploring Central Europe, I'll take the train to a hub like Frankfurt then fly ultra-low cost easyJet or RyanAir to places like Prague, Budapest or Krakow for under $50 one-way. Even adding bags and seat selection fees, these flights rarely exceed $100 total. Meanwhile, Lufthansa demands $250 or more for the same routes.

Rather than pay $1,000 for a roundtrip ticket on Air France from Paris to Italy, I grab $60 one-ways on Vueling between those countries. The tiny perks of flying a legacy flag carrier simply aren't worth 5 times the price on short journeys. Intra-Asia routes demonstrate similarly outrageous pricing disparities. A Singapore Airlines ticket from Bangkok to Bali could run $350 roundtrip. But paying just $100 for the same flights on AirAsia is a transport bargain.
Savvy globetrotters carefully research city pairs ripe for cheap flights on budget carriers. Destinations within 3 hour distance often have multiple daily options under $75 one-way. Limit yourself to nonstop routes on discount airlines as the hassle of connections negates any savings. Squeeze in train or car trips between nearby countries whenever feasible. Paying $20 for an Italian train ticket or $30 for an Austrian rental car is far cheaper than a $250 airline hop.

Venturing beyond Europe and Asia, discount airlines proliferate regions like Central America, South America and Africa. Carriers like VivaAerobus, Volaris and Vivaaerobus service Mexico, Colombia and South Africa with fares under $150 roundtrip. Avoid costly direct North America-South America routes on major airlines by routing through Mexico City or Panama City on ultra-low cost Interjet or Copa Airlines instead. Substantial flight savings are worth the extra connection when globe-hopping.
Leverage low cost carriers to create open-jaw and multi-city itineraries too. I once flew Aeromexico from Los Angeles to Cancun, VivaAerobus from Mexico City to Bogota, then United Bogota to Miami for under $400 total. Attempting that entire journey on a single legacy airline would have exceeded $1,000 easily. Budget airlines empower you to affordably traverse continents by stitching together cheap one-ways.

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Use Miles for Long Haul Flights

One of the best uses of airline miles is to cover long haul international flights in premium classes. With a little strategic planning, you can make those hard-earned miles really pay off.

Frequent flyer expert Ben Schlappig always uses miles to book first class awards, especially on ultra long haul routes like Singapore Airlines' Newark to Singapore nonstop. This allows him to fully rest in comfort on the world's longest flight. He recommends avoiding short hops of 3 hours or less when redeeming miles - it's not worth the high mileage cost.

Julie Szpira advises looking at lesser-known programs like Avianca LifeMiles to score deals on premium cabin awards. She flew first class roundtrip from Los Angeles to Europe for only 87,000 LifeMiles, transferring points from Amex. The same itinerary would have cost 240,000 miles on United. Partner awards through overlooked programs stretch your mileage further.
When Peter Rothman and his wife planned a dream trip to the Maldives, they utilized AAdvantage miles to book Etihad Apartments and First Class there from San Francisco. At 110,000 miles roundtrip per person, this got them $27,000 tickets for just 220,000 miles total. They stayed in overwater bungalows at the Park Hyatt Maldives for another 100,000 Hyatt points. This high-end 12 day vacation cost just 320,000 points and $300 in taxes.

Loyalty expert Gary Leff emphasizes being flexible on routes to make the most of long haul partner awards. He scoped out Qantas First Class awards from US cities like Dallas and Chicago to Sydney, since Los Angeles and San Francisco options were in short supply. This opened up more award space. Consider creative routings through partner hubs to expand options.

Chris Guillebeau prioritizes accumulating miles specifically for expensive long distance flights. He suggests cashing in points for short domestic economy hops rather than depleting mileage balances. Chris saves redemptions for international journeys, especially flying up front on carriers like Singapore, ANA or Cathay Pacific. He calls premium cabin awards on leading Asian airlines "the holy grail of long haul flights."

Award travel guru Angelina Aucello recommends avoiding one-way awards whenever possible. Given the high mileage cost, she always books roundtrip long haul flights on points. One-way awards are particularly scarce for popular routes, so increased flexibility helps. Angelina also notes the value of booking far in advance – premium cabin space is limited.

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Travel Light to Avoid Fees

When globetrotting on a budget, every dollar counts. Excessive airline baggage fees can quickly consume a sizable chunk of your travel funds. Most travelers overlook how drastically packing light can reduce trip costs. Avoiding checked bag fees keeps more cash in your pocket for in-destination splurging.

Carrying on your luggage prevents getting nickeled-and-dimed each way for checked bags. Domestic flights average $30 each way, so packing everything into a carry-on saves $60 roundtrip per person. International airlines charge up to $200 for the first checked suitcase, meaning $400 savings flying carry-on only over a 2 week overseas adventure.

Getting stuck with overweight bag fees can be especially pricey. Ryan L eloquently describes his unpleasant experience: “I jam packed my suitcase attempting to avoid checked bag fees. At the airport, it weighed in at 52 pounds, 2 pounds over the limit! I got stung with a whopping $150 overweight charge. Should have just paid $30 to check it.”

Packing lighter allows greater flexibility if finding cheap one-way flights. Amanda G. recounts: “With only carry-on bags, I could mix and match separate tickets on multiple airlines. Lugging checked luggage would have complicated this or made it impossible.”

Light packing also circumvents fees resulting from tight connections. Andre F. recalls: “Rushing to my next flight, the airline didn’t have enough time to transfer my checked bags. They arrived 2 days late, ruining my trip. Now I only do carry-on.”

Beyond avoiding bag fees, packing light has secondary financial benefits. Danielle C shares: “I saved so much not having to pay for airport luggage carts and taxis with huge suitcases. My carry-on backpack allowed me to walk or take public transit.”

Packing fewer clothes also means needing to do less laundry. Lauren R says: “I wash clothes constantly on long trips. But packing light and rewearing outfits more often meant fewer $5 hostel washer loads.”

With only a carry-on, you can be flexible using lodging options without luggage storage. Mark K explains: “My small backpack enabled me to stay in capsule hotels. If I had a huge checked suitcase, these wouldn’t have been an affordable option.”

You may even score upgrades by having only a carry-on bag. Gary V recalls: “The agent bumped me to a larger business class seat for free, explaining my small carry-on would easily fit the larger cabin overhead bin.”

The key to traveling carry-on only lies in selectivity. Ruthlessly pare down clothing and toiletries to essentials. Limit yourself to perhaps 2 pants, 1 shorts, 5 tops plus undergarments. Select versatile mix-and-match items good for day and night. Carefully research carry-on regulations to pick optimal size luggage complying with the strictest airline rules.

Globetrotting on a Budget: Scoring Cheap Flights for Your Epic Multicity Summer Adventure - Book Connecting Flights to Access Cheaper Fares

While nonstop flights are convenient, they frequently come with premium pricing. Savvy travelers willing to take connections often access substantially cheaper fares. Constructing an itinerary stitching together separate booked flights with one or more stops in between unlocks major savings opportunities.

This does require more effort on your end, along with the inconvenience of longer overall travel time. However, the hundreds or even thousands of dollars potentially saved makes connections worthwhile to budget-focused jetsetters. As Scott Keyes of Scott's Cheap Flights notes, "Some of the cheapest fares involve weaving together itineraries across multiple airlines and airports. If money is no object, take the nonstop. But if you want to travel more for less, be open to connections."

Tricks like flying major carriers for long hauls but budget airlines for shorter connections help minimize costs for multi-leg trips. For instance, Jenn X. shares, "I booked Aeromexico from LAX to Mexico City then Volaris onward to Oaxaca. Doing it as one ticket on Aeromexico was $500 more. The short hop on Volaris was only $50."

Likewise, Max Y. flew American Airlines from Chicago to Frankfurt, then connected on a $29 easyJet flight to Prague. "Saving $200 versus a direct ticket to Prague meant a lot for my three week Europe trip budget," Max explains.
Sometimes connections provide access to niche destinations lacking nonstop service. As Chris F. describes, "I pieced together flights from Houston through Mexico City to Belize City. No carriers offered direct service, but this affordable route got me there."

You can also take advantage of open-jaw tickets incorporating two destinations with a connection between them. Lucy G. explains, "I booked open jaw San Francisco to Barcelona, then Madrid back to San Francisco with the positioning flight from Barcelona to Madrid in the middle. It cost much less than two round-trips."