As a digital nomad family, I can tell you that flights are often the biggest hurdle when planning our family’s next adventure. With two kids and a global itinerary, those airfare costs can quickly add up and eat into our travel budget. But over the years, my wife and I have become masters of finding affordable flights, turning what could be a massive expense into a manageable one. It’s all about strategy, flexibility, and knowing where to look. I’m Nathan, and I’m here to share our family’s top 15 genius ways to save money on flights, ensuring our world travels remain sustainable and fun.
Our Family’s Flight-Saving Playbook:
1. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates and Times (Our Golden Rule)
This is hands down the most impactful way we save money. Mid-week flights (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) are almost always cheaper than weekend departures. Similarly, very early morning or late-night flights often come with lower fares. If your schedule allows, shifting your travel by even a day or two can lead to significant savings.
- Our Insight: We once saved hundreds of dollars on a flight to Lisbon just by shifting our departure from a Friday evening to a Tuesday morning. It meant an early start with the kids, but a few extra hours of sleep on the plane made it worth it for the savings! This flexibility is a huge perk of the digital nomad lifestyle.
2. Book in Advance (But Not Too Far)
There’s a sweet spot for booking flights. For domestic travel, aim for 1-3 months in advance. For international flights, 2-6 months is generally ideal. Booking too early or too late can result in higher prices. Airlines often release their cheapest fares in this window.
3. Leverage Credit Card Rewards Points (Our Secret Weapon)
This is our family’s absolute secret weapon for cutting flight costs. We strategically use travel credit cards that offer generous sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards. We accumulate points through all our everyday family spending – groceries, utilities, even the kids’ extracurriculars – and then redeem them for flights. Always remember to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that would negate any savings.
- Our Go-To: We often transfer our flexible points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to airline partners for maximum value. This has allowed us to fly our family across oceans for pennies on the dollar.
Our credit cards are more than just plastic; they’re our family’s ticket to seeing the world on a budget.
4. Avoid Peak Seasons and Holidays
Demand drives prices. Flights during major holidays (Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving) and peak travel seasons (summer in Europe, spring break) are always more expensive. If possible, we plan our trips during the shoulder seasons (e.g., spring or fall for Europe) or off-peak times for better deals and fewer crowds. This also means a more enjoyable experience with the kids.
5. Fly During Weekdays Instead of Weekends
As mentioned, Tuesday, Wednesday, and sometimes Saturday are often the cheapest days to fly. Business travelers typically fly Monday and Friday, driving up prices on those days. Leisure travelers often prefer Friday and Sunday, making those days pricier as well. As digital nomads, we have the luxury of choosing our travel days, which is a huge advantage.
6. Choose Early Morning or Late-Night Flights
Unpopular flight times often come with lower price tags. While waking up at 4 AM for a flight might not sound appealing with kids, it can save you a substantial amount. These flights also tend to have fewer delays, which is a bonus when you have little ones.
7. Set Up Price Alerts (Our Automated Assistant)
Tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak allow you to set up price alerts for specific routes. We receive email notifications when the fare changes, helping us snag a deal as soon as it appears. This automates the process of tracking prices, so we don’t have to constantly check.
These price alerts are like having a personal travel agent working 24/7 to find us the best deals. It’s a must-have for any budget-conscious family.
8. Use Fare Comparison Websites
Always compare prices across multiple platforms. Websites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak, and Momondo aggregate fares from various airlines and online travel agencies, giving you a comprehensive view of available options. We always check the airline’s direct website as well, as sometimes they offer exclusive deals.
9. Sign Up for Airline Newsletters and Deal Alerts
Airlines frequently send out exclusive promotions, flash sales, and error fares to their newsletter subscribers. Being on these mailing lists can give you a heads-up on incredible deals before they go public. We’ve snagged some amazing fares this way!
10. Take Advantage of Frequent Flyer Programs
Loyalty pays off. We enroll in frequent flyer programs for airlines we fly most often. Even if you don’t fly frequently, accumulating miles can eventually lead to free flights or upgrades. We try to focus our earning on one or two airline alliances to maximize our benefits, especially since we often need four seats.
11. Opt for Budget Airlines (with Caution)
Airlines like Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair, and EasyJet offer incredibly low base fares. However, be aware of their extensive fees for everything from checked bags to seat selection. If we can travel light and don’t mind fewer frills, budget airlines can be a fantastic money-saving option for short hops. We always read the fine print!
- Our Insight: We once flew our family on a budget airline from Berlin to Rome for less than the cost of a single train ticket. The trick was packing everything into personal items and avoiding any add-ons. It was a bit of a squeeze, but the savings were undeniable.
Packing light is key when flying budget airlines. It’s a skill we’ve perfected as a family, and it saves us a ton on baggage fees.
12. Use Incognito Mode or Clear Your Cookies
Some travel websites may track your searches and potentially increase prices based on your repeated visits. To avoid this, we always search for flights in incognito/private browsing mode or clear our browser’s cookies before each search. This ensures we’re seeing the freshest, unbiased prices.
13. Consider Alternative Airports
Major airports often have higher landing fees and taxes, which are passed on to consumers. We always check prices to and from smaller, regional airports near our desired destination or departure city. Sometimes, flying into a less popular airport and taking ground transportation can save us hundreds.
- Our Insight: Instead of flying directly into London Heathrow, we often look at flights into London Stansted or Luton. A short, affordable train ride into the city can save us a significant amount on airfare.
Sometimes the best way to save is to think outside the box – or in this case, outside the main airport.
14. Be Open to Layovers
Direct flights are convenient but almost always more expensive. Flights with one or more layovers are typically cheaper. If we’re not in a rush, embracing a longer journey with a stop can significantly cut down our airfare. We often use layovers as an opportunity to stretch our legs, grab a meal, or even explore a new city if the layover is long enough.
15. Bundle Your Flight with Hotel and Car Rental
Many online travel agencies and even airlines offer package deals that combine flights with hotel stays and/or car rentals. These bundles can often be cheaper than booking each component separately. We always compare the bundled price against the individual costs to ensure it’s truly a deal, especially when booking for a family.
Bundling our travel can sometimes unlock incredible savings, especially for longer trips where we need both flights and accommodation.
Conclusion: Fly Smarter, Not Harder, with Your Family
Saving money on flights is a cornerstone of our digital nomad family’s budget travel strategy. By implementing these 15 genius ways, we’ve been able to explore more of the world without breaking the bank. It takes a bit of research and flexibility, but the rewards – more adventures, more memories, and more financial freedom – are well worth the effort. Start applying these tips to your next trip, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can save!