Travel Tips for 2021
Here’s this week’s Joy of $aving Secrets…
The travel industry was devastated by coronavirus in 2020. Travel to many parts of the world has been impossible, as borders closed internationally. The pandemic highlighted cracks in consumer protections for travelers. Many found out the hard way that nonrefundable tickets live up to their names. Some waited months for refunds, while others had to be satisfied with vouchers that expire after a certain period of time. It was yet another wake-up call for consumers to understand the fine print. The travel industry is always changing, but never as much as it has as a result of the pandemic shutdown – and it continues to change. The industry is responding to current events day-by-day. Here are some post-pandemic changes that could help you feel more comfortable booking a trip in the future.
Change fees: Certain airlines are waiving change fees. Those are the fees the airlines charge when you make a change to an existing reservation. This may not last forever, so be sure to ask before you book.
Flexible rebooking: Most airlines are offering more flexible rebooking rules by extending the length of time travelers can use the tickets from a canceled flight.
Refund issues: Some airlines have made it more difficult to receive a refund instead offering a credit voucher. Europe generally has passenger friendly cancellation policy rules, but make sure you check what they are before buying a ticket.
Use miles: For future trips, using miles is a great way to protect your investment and often cheaper than travel insurance. Travelers can usually redeposit miles within a few days of their travel dates. Some airlines don’t charge customers to cancel and redeposit their miles, others charge $50 to $200 a ticket for most travelers. While the change fees can add up, they still might be a better deal than trying to get a refund on an all-cash ticket.
While we are all still learning many valuable and very important lessons from the global pandemic of 2020, the road to economic and commercial recovery is shaping up to include some unique opportunities for the budget conscious traveler. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your favorite travel websites and bloggers for the latest updates. Additionally, here are some tips you can use to save more money when booking your flights!
July can be pricey: For summer flights, July can be the most expensive month to travel. If you wait until after mid-August you will find a significant savings on both airfare and hotels.
Day of the week: The least expensive days to fly are usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Traveling on a Friday or Sunday can cost twice as much as other days.
Disable cookies: Consider disabling your cookies on your computer before you search for airfares. Some research has suggested that some airlines use cookies to track your search activity; finding that if you check a price for airfare and leave the site only to come back to it later, the price may be higher. And at the same time you are being quoted a higher price, someone sitting right next to you could log on and find a price that’s lower.
Adjusting your flight bookings to secure the best deals is easy to do and my book, The Joy of $aving, will show you how making these kinds of small changes in your daily life will make a big impact on your finances in the long run. For more quick tips on how to save money every day, you can also check out my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Thanks for subscribing!