People are constantly asking for my travel recommendations and what websites I use to book fights. The truth is, I’m a loyal Delta Skymiles member. As often as I travel (Hello, 250 days a year!), having status with an airline not only expedites the airport process, but it earns you miles for future travel. Last year I took three free flights, two of which were international, on Delta skymiles. While choosing one airline is something to consider if you are planning longterm travel commitments, this post is to share my favorite apps for cheaper airfare on-the-go.
Being a well-seasoned traveler is great, but I love spontaneous adventures. When I’m not working I’m generally traveling. If you follow my social media you’re probably asking yourself how can I travel so often? Luckily, I have mastered a lot of travel tips I’ll be sharing soon to help you take those trips you’ve always yearned for. This article is a good place to start.
Since travel can be pricey, and Delta has only gotten more expensive over the last few years, I’ve started using apps to help me find affordable flights. Each one of these apps is great for different traveler needs. You can use them to book both domestic and international airfare. I highly recommend looking into these apps. Try all of them to see which works best for your travel needs. Be sure not to rely on just one app or service though. Try several different options to find the deal that’s right for you.
If you want to start building frequent flyer miles I suggest finding the ticket you want to purchase from the app and then going directly to that airlines website to book the same flight. Some airlines will match the prices you find on third party websites if you do not find the same flight on their website. Please note: Not all of these apps are free to use so make sure you are aware of fees before booking reservations.
Frommers “Best in Test 2015” is a terrific app. Its free and independent to use. With the option to book flights, hotels, car rentals or book with a trip finder, this app does it all. They even offer free city guides, recommended local attractions and culture, family friendly or romantic tips for you travel destinations. This app is a one stop shop. Their website was named “The Best Travel Website” by Travel+Leisure. If you’re traveling internationally Momondo pulls information from airlines and travel sites around the world. It works in 21 languages handling 80 currencies. Now we’re talking!
Perfect for the multitasker weighing different options. Skyscanner was my best friend while hopping from country to country in Europe two years ago. It is completely free to use. Once you find the flight of your choice they connect you directly to the airline to confirm your booking. Perfect way to start collecting miles! Skyscanner also compares the cheapest hotels and car rentals which makes planning your entire vacation with one app easy. They search over 1,200 airlines and travel sites to find the cheapest flights for you. Download the app today.
Great for flexible travelers. This app analyzes flight prices daily to see when prices will change and the best times for you to book airfare. If your travel is flexible you can set alerts to notify you when the flight you are searching for drops in price. Hopper was named the “Best travel app of 2015” by Apple. One of the advantages to hopper is they give you the option of a direct flight or layover with a price comparison guide. This helps you decide if a two-hour layover is worth the cost you will save on a ticket. Start saving money with this app.
The Bargain hunters app that can save you up to 80% on travel and has no hidden fees. Skiplagged has been featured by respective companies like: Forbes, CNN and BuzzFeed. Once you choose your departure, landing times and number of stops (for cheaper travel) this app allows you to scroll back and forth between dates to compare prices. Its free and easy to use. Skip lagged also offers daily airfare specials. If you aren’t sure where to take your next vacation let Skiplagged’s daily deals help lead you to a new adventure.
The best last minute traveler app. Comparing prices among leading airlines I am generally guaranteed to find the lowest airfare prices possible. Last year I used JetRadar to book a ticket to Bali 10 days prior to my trip. My roundtrip ticket to Bali was $800. Jetradar offers multiple city flight options too. The only drawback to Jetradar is there is a small fee to use. Sometimes the fee is still less than a ticket via a secondary app however. Your best bet is finding the flight you want with Jetradar then going directly to that airlines website to confirm your purchase.
According to Forbes, “Hipmunk is the best travel site on the web. Period.“ Hipmunk makes finding an airline ticket quick and simple. Its hassle-free sparing you from ad revenue for use of a more efficient app. Once you select your cities and dates Hipmunk lays out pricing on airlines so you find the best option for you. With a scrollable chart you can sort through price, duration, takeoff/landing, nonstop and layovers saving you time. The chart shows you a breakdown of costs per flight. If your dates are flexible you can compare pricing per separate legs of each flight to save money. Discover hotels with Hipmunk too.