Booking a flight used to be one of the most nerve-racking events for me. It doesn’t have to be—it shouldn’t be. I’m going to provide you with some great tips and resources to help you conquer the fear and anxiety that comes with booking a flight.
Dealing With Discursive Thoughts
I used to feel my heart rate gain a few beats when I begin the search for booking a flight. My palms would get clammy and perspiration would begin to build. Discursive thoughts impeding any decision making:
Am I getting the best deal? How far in advance should I book? Who should I book it through? Should I purchase the flight insurance? What if I miss my flight? What if something unexpected happens?
Just breathe.
These are all valid questions, most stemming from fear and uncertainty. As human beings this is natural—all part of the human condition especially when you have never done it before or only a few times. With each booking it gets easier, and levels of anxiety decrease.
Resources I Use and Like
Expedia – A tried and true travel agency platform that has been around since 1996. It will find you cheap flights from a huge selection of airlines. You can book your flight directly through Expedia. I use them when a flight uses multiple airlines. For a small fee, Expedia handles this perfectly. Otherwise, you would need to go to each airline and book separately or hope they are partners. If the flight uses the same airline for the entire trip, I will book directly through that airline.
Skyscanner – This is a great search engine for finding cheap flights and is the platform I currently use. It has some great built-in features. Search “Everywhere” generates a list of all the cheapest flights on that given day. If you have a specific destination in mind, you can search “Cheapest Month”. Once you have a destination and date in mind, you can set up automated alerts that will be sent when the price for those flights changes. Great for locking in a flight when prices drop.
It’s just a search engine, so you will still book your flight directly with the airline or through a travel agency.
Google Flights – Google offers a robust flight search engine. It was my go-to when I first started traveling more.
Airline versus a Travel Agency
There are some key differences when you book directly with an airline compared to a travel agency.
If you book with a travel agency, any flight changes you wish to make will need to be made through them. For instance, I had a Turkish Airline (Which personally one of my favorite airlines) flight and I wanted to change the dates. I tried doing so at the Turkish Airline service desk at the airport, but since I had booked the flight through Expedia, they instructed me I had to go through them to make the change.
When I book directly through airlines, the baggage allowance is clearer and I have found the pre-check-in and paying for checked bags much easier.
I’ll book through the airline if the trip uses a single airline.
If the flight requires multiple airlines, I generally book through a travel agency such as Expedia.
That being said, I don’t really prefer one or the other. Travel agencies are great when the flight is booked through multiple airlines. They simplify the process of booking the flight.
Cheap isn’t always cheap
I used to be of the mind that getting the least expensive flight was the right flight, but I’ve learned that isn’t always true. In the long run, sometimes I’ve ended up paying more. Most of the cheap flights don’t include checked bags if you require them. This can add charges that can quickly increase your total above the other flights that included a checked bag.
The 24 hour rule
Almost every airline or travel agency has a 24-hour cancellation policy. This means a flight can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of the purchase. Use this as a tool to alleviate your mental anxiety, to reflect on your purchase, and confirm the next day that this is indeed the flight you want and need.
I’ve personally only used it once, and only because I missed my flight and booked another one right away for the next day. I was able to call the airline I missed my flight with, explained to them what had happened, and had them not cancel my return flight. In case you are unaware, generally, if you miss a leg of a flight, the airline cancels all remaining legs.
I was then able to get a refund for the return flight for the second ticket I purchased, which got me around $500 refunded.
Conclusion
When it comes to booking a flight, the most important thing is to do it! In hindsight, who you book it through doesn’t really matter after the fact. Don’t let the minor details get in your way of getting your flight booked and your adventure underway!
