Booking Flights 101: Where do I start?
Hey Travelers, this is my first written blog post! I am very excited that I am bringing this content to you all and hope that you find it enjoyable, relatable, and useful.
This blog is a multi-part series that will discuss all of my tips and tricks related to booking flights IV the Leaux and like a Pro.
Where do I start?
I think it is important to always know where you are going. Plan out your destination(s) and the general area in the city or country that you plan to spend most of your visit. Then, determine which airports are the closest to your destination. This will make it a lot easier when you decide to start searching for the best flights and airfare deals.
Quick fact: Each airport has a 3 digit code that denotes the specific airport. You will often see this code on your boarding pass.
Ex: DFW = Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas, TX
IAH = George Bush International Airport, Houston, TX
BNA = Nashville International Airport, Nashville, TN
Now that you know where you are going, it is time to start thinking about when you are going. Pick some dates. It is best to be flexible, but it is okay if you absolutely must stick to specific dates and/or times. In the latter case, try to book your flight weeks in advance to ensure that the flight times you want are not sold out.
We’ve got the most important details figured out. Let’s start looking for flights! There are multiple ways to go about this. You can go directly to the airline’s website, use an online tool, or an app. Each option has their benefits, which will be discussed in a future blog post. I prefer to use all 3 methods to ensure that that I am getting the best flight and deal.
No matter the source you choose to use to book your flight, they all typically have the same basic information. You are going to type in your departure city/airport, departure date, arrival city/airport, arrival date, number of passengers, and select one way or round trip. Once all of that is entered, your search will begin and hopefully you will be given several flight options, usually listed from cheapest to most expensive.
It is important to note that when it comes to flights, much like many other things, cheaper does not always mean better. There are many factors to consider, such as non-stop flights vs layovers, overall duration of the flight, baggage fees, extra fees, time of departure, and time of arrival. Not paying attention to these things can cause serious annoyance after booking and on the day of your departure, so always be sure that you are very attentive to the details before entering your card information. Some airlines allow you 24 hours to make changes to your itinerary, but you should not rely on that.
I have listed the factors to consider. Let’s talk about them in detail.
Non-stop flights vs Layovers: A non-stop flight is a flight that leaves from your original destination and arrives at your final destination without any stops at another airport in between. Layovers will stop at a minimum of one additional airport. Both have their pros and cons.
Ex: (non-stop) DFW —> MSY
Ex: (layover) DFW —> IAH —> MSY
Overall Duration: The overall duration of the flight is dependent on how far you are traveling and whether or not there are layovers along the way to reaching your final destination in one travel day. Using the same example above will help depict the changes in overall duration.
Ex: (non-stop) DFW —> MSY = Overall Duration: 1 hr 8 min
68 min
Ex: (layover) DFW —> IAH… (layover)… IAH —> MSY = Overall Duration: 2 hr 30 min
45 min + 40 min layover + 65 min
Baggage Fees: Most airlines charge flyers to check-in their bags. The first two bags are about $25 to $50 each to check-in. After that, the 3rd bag can be pretty expensive. Most airlines also have size and weight restrictions on checked bags. To avoid baggage fees, bring a carry-on bag and a personal item as your luggage. A couple of benefits of only bringing carry-on luggage are that they can be brought on the plane with you and you do not have to wait for your bag(s) at the baggage claim after arriving to your destination.
Extra Fees: Every airline has perks that can be added to your boarding and flight experience, such as priority boarding passes and selecting premium seats. Sometimes these perks are just what you need when you are headed to a much needed getaway, but if it is not what you want, be sure to decline those options and related fees.
Departure/Arrival Times: Here is where it can get stressful. Airlines typically run the same daily schedule to and from each airport. This is why if your schedule is not flexible, it is best to book in advance. It is better to do this to ensure that you are not scrambling to figure out how you will ever be able to make it to your destination and the already planned festivities, meetings, or graduations, etc. When choosing the best departure time, plan to complete your pre-flight tasks such as getting ready and last minute packing. Also, consider how long it will take you or a transportation service to get from your home or hotel to the airport. Plus, depending on if the flight is a domestic or international trip, you will need to arrive at the airport 1 to 2 hours prior to departure. For arrival times, think about how long it will take to disembark the plane, grab your luggage, find your transportation, and arrive to your home or hotel.
After you have done all of this, you will be able to narrow down all of your flight options to the few that are most suitable and affordable for you and any guests that may be traveling with you.
I hope that you found this information to be helpful and I look forward to writing more posts. Please send any feedback that you have to ivtheleaux@gmail.com and let me know if you used any of my tips. Happy Traveling!
- T
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