Being the kind of person having much satisfaction when finding the cheapest plane ticket, I learned over the years some tricks to optimize every purchase. Here are 5 ways to get the most out of your buck when air traveling.

Two one-way tickets will always be more expensive than a return ticket. But sometimes a return can be cheaper than a one-way because only the latter gets heavily discounted. If you really need to buy one-way, check if a return ticket could be cheaper. Watch out, you have to fly the first segment of the ticket otherwise it will be automatically canceled by the company.

If you plan to have many flights in your itinerary, consider buying a multi-destinations ticket instead of separate one-ways. Search each flight as a one-way with flexible dates to find the best dates and then search all flights together with the multi-destinations tool.

Some cities are very expensive for air travel, even more if you have to fly one-way. Search for destinations covered by low-cost airlines in the area of your departure and/or arrival. Then search flights between those intermediate cities and your destination. It could be cheaper to transit via an intermediate city, even with the cost of an other ticket. This way, I saved 300$ by flying Bangkok-Kolkata on a low-cost and then Kolkata-Montreal instead of booking a Bangkok-Montreal ticket. Not only I saved, but I also spent a few days exploring the city. Watch out, check the visa requirements if you transit in an other country.

You found your ticket and it has a connection in an interesting city? You might be able to make a stopver for free or almost. Check with the multi-destinations search tool if it's possible. Remember that usually discounted tickets are not everyday of the week, so search accordingly. This way, I stopped a week in Brussels on my way to India for only 50$. 

This is, I believe, the ultimate cheat it is possible to do to a plane ticket. It consists of buying a discounted ticket that goes further than our wanted destination, with preferably a layover there. Let's say you want to go to Detroit but tickets to Las Vegas with a connection in Detroit are cheaper. You then have to ask when checking-in to recover (short check) your luggage for your connection/layover. You might have to lie a little, say you meet a friend there and have a gift for him. It is more believable if the connection not too short. If you only have a carry-on, then no worry. At the connection, head for the exit and carry on. Watch out, unused segment(s) must be after your desired destination, airlines cancel tickets as soon as we don't show for a part of it. 

You now have some of the best tricks to optimize your next plane ticket expense. Have a nice and cheap flight!

Vincent Bussières

Assoiffé de découvertes et adorant écrire, je saisis toutes les occasions afin de faire connaitre ma passion: voyager! Globetrotteur et multi-blogueur, je souhaite partager avec vous mes trucs et astuces, et vous transmettre la piqûre du voyage.