Cheap Flight Traps

Today is Memorial Day and I’ve been procrastinating. Upon reviewing my archives however, I discovered that I already wrote this!

I thank the productive version of me. 🤓

I have so many ideas jotted down on paper that when inspiration strikes, I sometimes forget where I’ve written everything.

I hope everyone is enjoying their MDW. Cheers!

Cheap flight deals are real and they're why I'm able to travel so much. But, not all cheap flights are created equal. There are some things you need to look out for when choosing a flight in order to avoid getting hit with unwanted surprises.😬

Nonrefundable tickets - Buyer beware… Once you book these flights, there’s no going back! You have to be sure that nothing short of an act of God will keep you from getting on that plane. As many of you know, I’ve recently had trouble with nonrefundable tickets I bought to Portland, Oregon…during Winter.

Pro Tip: In America, there is a thing called the 24-hour rule. You’re able to cancel a flight and get a full refund within 24 hours of booking a flight. Read more about it here.

No carry-ons - Some airlines advertise cheap flights, but they only allow you to bring a small backpack. Make sure to check whether carry-on luggage is allowed to avoid hidden fees that could end up costing more than the price of the flight.

No checked luggage - Many assume that international flights come with one free checked bag, but this isn’t always the case. Be sure to read the fine print! 🧐This happened to my travel buddies on our trip to Morocco. They were expecting to have checked luggage included but were charged extra for it. Personally, I am on team: “Never Check Luggage,” and thus, haven’t dealt with this issue.
Point redemptions come with a fee - It feels great to get a cheap flight with points. Sometimes, I get more joy from finding a flight deal than I do from the actual trip! - JOKING,... but not really. Some service fees can be outrageous. One time, I saw a $200 service fee for a domestic flight. It would’ve actually been cheaper to buy the flight with cash than to waste my points on it.
Low season travel - Some flights are cheap because no one wants to travel to a certain location during a particular time. For example, avoid going to Scandinavia during the winter, Thailand during the rainy season, or Baltimore at any time.🤣Follow my adventures as I go to Portland in the dead of winter of 2024.

As you can tell, I’m still salty about this.🥶

Check your flight time - Determine the time of day you’ll be flying and be realistic about whether or not you can stay awake during that time. You might be getting a good deal because no one wants to fly out at the crack of dawn, but can you find an Uber or taxi to the airport at that time? Can you wake up that early or stay up late enough so you don’t miss your flight? Know yourself, because missing a flight will negate any effort you put into getting that discounted fare.
Double-check the dates to ensure they don’t coincide with holidays in your destination. For instance, not too many people fly on the Fourth of July because everyone is celebrating. This also means that some businesses and restaurants may be closed during this time. You can use this to your advantage if you consider traveling during your holidays. You can spend Thanksgiving with your family in Morocco, for example, which is an awesome way to celebrate the holiday.

Check all seats - One mistake to avoid when booking a flight is not checking the prices of all available seats on the plane. Sometimes, premium seats can be cheaper than economy, especially when factoring in the add-ons. When you find a seat that you like, make sure to check the prices of all the different classes on the plane before booking.
Check the flight duration - Flights are sometimes cheap because they have long layovers. Keep in mind that spending long hours in the airport can be frustrating and a waste of vacation time. Additionally, long layovers can introduce more complexity and increase the probability of things going wrong during the trip.

Have you been caught in a cheap flight trap?