12 Tips for Getting to Your Destination Cheaply and Safely
The Ultimate Guide to Booking Flights ✈️
What to know when booking flights and navigating airport transportation
Hello fellow escapees! 🏃♀️
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely hit that magical point in life where you’ve realized your job title isn’t tattooed on your soul and Excel spreadsheets look suspiciously like prison bars when the sun is shining outside. 🌞
Whether you’re contemplating a three-month career break or the full “I quit” spectacular, these flight-booking tips will help launch your adventure without obliterating that carefully cultivated travel fund.
So let’s plot your great escape and get your bum on a plane! Stat! 🚀
Make sure to finish this article before beginning your search.
Table of Contents
1. The One-Way Ticket Philosophy 🎟️
I have never booked a return ticket for a trip longer than 2 weeks. Why would you?
Travel is about freedom—freedom from commitments, freedom from time constraints, freedom to change your plans 100 times a week!
Three months in, the Buddhist monastery retreat you planned might seem less appealing than the diving certification course you just heard about from that interesting/hot person at your guesthouse. One-way tickets allow this sudden change of heart!
However! Be prepared at immigration and the check-in desk.
I once got stopped in London while checking in for my flight to Brazil because I didn’t have an onward ticket. I quickly booked the cheapest one I could find to Argentina, which I never used—plans change, money wasted. 💸
Many countries get twitchy about travellers without return tickets. Solution:
- Onwardticket.com – For about £12/$16, they’ll book you a legitimate airline ticket that automatically cancels after 48 hours. Immigration sees a valid booking, you don’t pay for a flight you’ll never use. It feels deliciously rebellious while being completely legal! 😎
2. Finding Your Destination 🗺️
By this point, you may or may not have a travel destination in mind. That’s why the ‘Destination: Everywhere’ function on Skyscanner can be so useful!
Don’t want to spend weeks deciding where to go and trying to find the best deal? Pick a month, a departure point, and sort by price! Book the first country that ticks your boxes! Let fate decide. 🎲
Important: Remember to check entry requirements—visa before arrival may be necessary, and this may be costly, so be sure to check before deciding on a destination. You can check this on your country of citizenship’s website, usually. For UK residents: UK Foreign Travel Advice.
Search Engines 🔍
I’m really an advocate for Skyscanner. I’ve tried many flight search applications/webpages, and this one always comes out on top.
Occasionally I browse Google Flights, Expedia, and Momondo just before I book to check I haven’t missed something.
For Flight Alerts 📱
- Jack’s Flight Club in the UK, Europe and US/Canada now
- Going.com for flight alerts with US departure airports
3. When to Book ⏰
Now!
Book as early as possible if you have a more or less specific date and destination. Once the flight is booked, the preparation begins! No pulling out of plans now. No stalling till next year.
You can leave it last minute if you’re up for anywhere, but that’s not saying it will be cheaper and honestly you lose the drive just waiting.
Some airlines offer a “Price Promise” or “Best Price Guarantee” where if you find a cheaper flight for the same route and dates within a specific timeframe after booking, they’ll refund the difference or provide a voucher. But check the terms and conditions as always.
4. When to Fly? 📅
- Not in school holidays! – if at all possible.
- When living in the UK, it’s normal to want to leave in winter, which is also very useful for tax reasons.
- Usually mid-week is cheaper, but you’ll see.
- Check the seasons at your destination.
✨ Tax Tip: If you can manage to spend only half the tax year in the UK, your allowance will be much more helpful than if you leave in April, for example (nice tax return for overpayment present several months into your trip! Getting excited about mine now actually!) 💰
5. Where to Fly From? 🛫
Usually, a big city airport like London or Manchester has the cheapest options.
But with Skyscanner, you can just put “UK airports” into the search bar. Flying from the other side of the country can actually save you £100s if you can get there without having to stay overnight.
Reverse Engineer Trick 🧩
Sometimes if you have a destination in mind, I put that in my departure airport and see where it flies cheapest to closest to the UK.
Some airlines don’t fly to the UK, but they fly to Madrid or Paris, for example, and then you can get a short flight from there to wherever. It doesn’t always work out cheaper, but I have used this method occasionally.
⚠️ You have to watch out for buying flights which are not connecting “in airport,” i.e., self-transfer (see tip 7).
6. Flight Times ⏱️
These are somewhat important, depending on where you are going from and arriving.
Early Departure 🌅
Have a plan to get there in time before booking. The last thing you want is to be spending the night in a hotel because there is no bus or train which arrives early enough and your friends and family are all at work. Expensive.
Late Departure 🌙
Good for transport to the airport. And you can have a more chill day, no early wake-up call or rush to get there. And you might be able to sleep on the plane.
Early Arrival 🏙️
You generally don’t want to be arriving in the middle of the night, but if it’s the cheapest option by a mile, consider staying in the airport until daylight.
If you are traveling heavy (large suitcase/backpack), think about where you can store your bags when you arrive if check-in is not for several hours.
Most hostels and hotels will store your bags; it might not be the safest place they have for them, but it’s weight off your back. Airbnbs will often allow early check-in if they have no other guests. Just message your accommodation to see how they can help if you arrive early.
Late Arrival 🌃
Be aware that some check-ins are not 24-hour. I also feel a late-night check-in is a good way to waste a night’s accommodation. All you see is your bed.
However, it does leave you an entire day to get your bearings the next day.
Late arrivals also mean your only option from the airport to accommodation is often a taxi, and taxis at airports are the worst! Much care must be taken. (see tip 8)
7. Types of Connections 🔄
It can be a little confusing these days as a lot of flight booking services are selling self-transfer (un-connected) flights together. Be careful.
Connected Flights (Best Bet) 👍
Often more expensive but worth it.
- Flights are bought on one ticket
- Your bag is usually transferred all the way to your final destination
- You only pay for the baggage once
- The booking reference should be the same for all flights on the route
- If a delay or cancellation causes you to miss your next flight, the airline is responsible for rebooking you on the next available option
Unconnected/Self-Transfer 👎
Beware of short connections and baggage fees.
- You have several tickets
- Usually paying for baggage more than once
- It is your responsibility if a flight is delayed
- You will not be covered for the missed connection
- These flights sometimes appear to be very cheap but can shoot you in the back with baggage fees and/or delays
However, if you fancy a really long un-connected flight transfer, you can take a look around the midway point for a few days even—a looooong layover. We did this in Bogotá before arriving in Panama.
My Advice 💡
Try and stick to connected flights. Self-transfers are often cheaper (with no baggage), but you are not insured for delays.
If there is a big wait time, then it’s OK, but short connections via self-transfer, I do not recommend. Here’s why:
✈️ TRAVEL STORY ALERT
This year, we had a flight delays on our trip to Bogota. It was the first flight, from Manchester to London, which was delayed, making us miss our London to Bogotá flight.
As soon as they said it was delayed, I thought, “Oh NO!” It was the first time I had ever done a domestic flight connection! Man, was I kicking myself. 😫
However, Past Me was smart. I had booked a flight through the Avianca website direct; both flights were Avianca, but the domestic flight was managed by British Airways.
I called British Airways right away, and even though I had not booked anything through them, they helped me out. They said we could take our luggage off the flight as we wouldn’t make the connection, and they had seats available on a business class flight from Manchester to Bogota the next day 🤷🏼♀️.
They would pay for our hotel and food until then! I mean, I took that as a win. 🏆 We also claimed compensation through BA and got over £1000. BOOM!
The girl next to us had no such luck; she had booked self transfer flights and also had another flight at the other end on a separate booking. She would miss all of those flights. And not be compensated.
“The airline is not responsible for connections made on separate tickets.”
It was our first time flying business! What a trip. How the other half live… 🥂 Fully reclining seats n’all!
8. Getting To and From the Airport 🚌
Keep in mind these costs add to your flight prices to get the real overall cost of flights.
Ask friends and family first! This is their last chance to see you before you leave! And your last chance to rely on them for a while! 😉
If that’s not an option or you need to get to an airport a bit further away, using Flixbus, National Express, and Megabus are good options. Much cheaper than the train!
CheckMyBus and BusBud can be good at comparing options. But check with the companies directly also for the best price.
⚠️ Make sure you have transport to the airport in place to get you there 3+ hours before, depending on how pessimistic you feel. Traffic collisions happen, cars break down, buses/trains are late. Have a backup plan.
Getting to Your Accommodation from the Airport 🏨
Arriving early to the destination airport helps here. There are buses/trams/trains from airports that are usually cheap.
Research beforehand if you are organized. Otherwise, people will “help” you at the airport, but often that means getting as much money out of you as possible. 💰
See the airport information desk before accepting help from strangers. Google Translate may be necessary. (Make sure to have that downloaded for offline use).
💡 Pro Tip: It’s a good idea to have an eSIM pre-loaded for your arrival as well, even if it’s just for the first day or so. I’ve so far used Airalo, and it works well.
Private Transfers with Accommodation 🚗
Some hostels/hotels will offer private transfers. These are very safe but more expensive than a local taxi or Uber. Your choice.
Taking a Taxi 🚕
You will inevitably be hounded by “taxi” drivers. Sometimes they will even have official airport taxi badges, etc. However, be diligent.
Certain airports are renowned for dodgy taxis. Do your research. Mostly they will just rip you off, but stories of theft are not too uncommon.
Taxi services like Uber can be helpful these days. Research other options available in your destination country also. There are many different versions of Uber in other places now, some cheaper and some safer than others. Sometimes they are also illegal but tolerated.
If you just want to get out of the airport as quickly as possible, find out what the price should be and low-ball anyone that offers you a taxi. Some taxistas are waiting for their golden ticket journey from some dumb or tired tourist and will quote ridiculous prices. 🙄
9. Baggage and Seats 🧳
Ideally, you have none! But unfortunately, we usually do!
When booking your flights, you will realize one of the reasons why – It’s very expensive, especially with budget airlines.
Legacy airlines often give free checked luggage, which is something to keep in mind. Before assuming you have found the best flight for £200 to Australia, check what happens when you add baggage. This is one of the reasons to keep self-transfer connections to a minimum.
The 15kg checked luggage is the one you want to aim for if you can’t handle cabin luggage alone. These days they usually even charge you for cabin luggage. You might get a “personal item” for free.
⚠️ Check the restrictions, sizes, and weights in detail before booking.
Instruments 🎸
If you want to take a musical instrument, some airlines like Copa in Latin America let you take it as your “cabin luggage” or “personal item,” depending on the size. I took my guitar like this.
So if you have an instrument, do a search on which airlines offer the cheapest transport for it also. If it has to go in the hold, it’s generally more expensive, and you need to heavily protect it.
Seats 💺
Often, the airlines offer a “package deal” for baggage and seat selection these days. It works out cheaper than getting it all separately, but do you really need to choose where you sit?
I always choose to just book my bag with no extras. If I am traveling with someone, I will savor the occasion to be by myself for a minute or ask someone to swap seats. People are usually helpful with this. 😌
10. Award Points and Miles 🏅
Something to keep in mind…
If you plan to make several flights in your trip and there is an airline which you could use again, consider flying with them (if the price difference isn’t huge) to earn the points so you can have money off your next flight.
We did this with Avianca as we plan to use them in the near future to get to Colombia again. Many airlines are also in alliances with other airlines, so you can use your points/miles elsewhere.
This is something I haven’t used much, to be honest. I tend not to fly much—one flight to a central destination and then overland and sea from there. 🚢
11. Cancellation Policy 📝
There is usually the option for a flexible booking, which costs much more! I have never done this myself and do not advise it unless there is something serious you suspect might come up in between.
It gives you the option to pull out or delay, which is a negative if you are already struggling to escape!
You can also book travel insurance right after you book. With cancellation coverage before departure, it can cover pre-paid, non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances like medical emergencies, family issues, or natural disasters, among other reasons. Even though you only book it from the departure date. Remember to book one-way insurance though!
“The life refresh you’ve been craving is just one flight away!” ✨
12. Booking! 🎉
Last Minute Checks Before Booking
- Transit Visa Awareness – Research if you need visas just to transit through a country (like the USA). You want to apply for this before booking in case it is rejected. Sometimes it is, with no explanation. 🤔
- Consider using a VPN to see if your flight prices vary using IP addresses from different regions.
- Use a credit card but pay it off in full. You often have some legal protections on large purchases using a credit card. If the product/service fails to be delivered (i.e., airline goes bust), you may be covered. Also, if you have one that gives you cash back or travel miles, it’s a no-brainer.
That’s it! Flights booked!
Congratulations!!! 🎊
The joy of anticipation can begin!!
Money-saving mode commence , Read This 👉 Saving for Travel: How Today’s Sacrifices Create Tomorrow’s Freedom
Now you can start thinking about what you might do when you arrive.
Share your destination choice in the comments! 👇
And if you are waiting for a better deal, remember to sign up for flight deals with Jack’s Flight Club and Going.
P.S. Want my free PDF on how to wander the world well? Sign up for my newsletter, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox! 📧
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Happy trails!May the journey be ever in your favour ✌️
Missy x 🌈
