The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

John Telford

Which Are the Cheapest Days to Fly & Best Time to Book Airline Tickets?

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We all want to book the cheapest flight, and there is an easy-to-implement guide for you. The guide includes the insider tactics for deciding on the cheapest day to fly and the best time to buy flight tickets.

Here, we put forth the best tips to save money on your next air trip. So, scroll down, and let’s get started?

Cheapest Days

What is the best day to fly? The cheapest day to book your flight ticket is Sunday, and the cheapest day to fly is Friday. This is according to a 2019 Flight Insights report by Skyscanner for the UK. The report also revealed that Wednesday is the most expensive day to buy flight tickets.

By booking your flight tickets on Sunday, you can save up to 4% on the tickets, as per the report published. Sunday is an excellent day to explore a myriad of deals. However, don’t you worry, as you can find great deals & discounts on other days too?

Don’t Book Tickets Too Early Or Too Late

Be careful, don’t book your flight tickets too late or too early, in both scenarios you’ll end up paying more.

International flights are cheaper at least two months before the expected departure, whereas for domestic flights, it is between three weeks to three-and-a-half months in advance.

However, booking super-early could be as expensive as procrastinating.

If you want to fly during the popular times such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and  New Year or peak-season months like July and August, then you’ll have to book the tickets two months in advance or shell out more cash.

Compare Airfares

The golden rule for all kinds of shopping: comparison, It can be applied when booking your flight tickets. Always compare more than one airline’s fare.

Most people tend to skip this, perceiving that their favorite airline is the cheapest, however, as a matter of truth, no single airline offers the lowest deal on every single day and route.

If you think browsing multiple airline sites for the fare is complicated and time-consuming, then you can sign up for sites where you can easily compare the fares only by inputting your departure and return dates.

If you come across a good deal, don’t wait or hesitate, as the best deals don’t last for long.

Cheapest Times of the Day

You can save even more by knowing the cheapest times of the day. If you are unable to book your flight at the cheapest times, you can try it for one leg, and see the significant savings.

The cheapest times in the day are when the people don’t want to, such as flights during the dinner or lunch hour, dawn, or overnight.

The Cheapest Route

Non-Stops vs Connecting Flights—the biggest dilemma. The non-stop flights are quite convenient, while you might end up saving a few extra dollars on connecting flights.

For long-flights, the connecting flights are much cheaper. So, the bottom line is to compare connecting flights with non-stop connecting flights before you ding your plastic card.

Only you’ve to decide whether the inconvenience is worth the saving or not.

Fear of Flying?

Do you or someone in your family have a phobia of flying? Then, enroll for a comprehensive flying anxiety course to clear all your doubts, and fly with confidence.

There is so much fear of flying courses online, which includes a couple of sessions by veteran pilots. Do not let this fear stop you from exploring the world without spending a fortune.

Want More Great Advice? Keep a close eye on the airfare sales to find the best deal.

A Beginner’s Guide for Packing

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Whether you’re headed on a three-week expedition, or a cheeky two-night romantic getaway, packing is a big part of the planning that you’re going to put in beforehand. The better your packing strategy, the more you’re going to get out of your time away, and the less stress you’re going to bring with you in your suitcase or hand luggage.

In this short piece, we’ll help you get to know the secrets of the travel pack and help you learn travel hacks that’ll make packing a breeze each time you go away.

Pack Luxury Clothing

As you are nowhere near home, this is your perfect opportunity to try something new, and in this case, you should pack luxury clothing. After all, it’s not every day that you get to experience a trip away, so use this opportunity to pack more luxurious clothing and feel like a VIP star every moment of your vacation. Use the Cash Lady product sliding scale tool to find luxury travel goods that will be perfect for you. Be sure to wear something just as stylish on the plane to help kickstart the vacation feeling and stand out amongst the rest for all the right reasons. You can be certain that by packing luxurious clothing as well that the items will remain intact for years to come.

Your Case

Whatever case you take away with you needs to be smart for travel. If you’re expecting to hop from place to place throughout your vacation, a backpack is often the best bet for your trip. These cost around $100 for a mid-range pack, replete with pockets in which you can store different clothes, accessories, and equipment.

Meanwhile, the beach-goer, or those headed to resorts, should instead consider a more robust, wheelie case that’s perfect for getting to and from the airport alone, like those shared by luxury website T3. Here, you’re looking for a case that’s strong and well-protected from break-ins in transit. You should also look out for those cases that have nets for different types of clothing and packed essentials so that you can separate your things out into sections within your bag.

Travel Essentials

There are some things that you simply cannot imagine doing without during your time abroad. These include sun cream, cosmetics, and grooming products, and those creature comforts, like a smartphone and a watch, that you’d be loath to leave at home. All of these should be packed (or bought), ready for your trip.

The tip here is simple: look to providers of travel essentials and buy their additions to your suitcase or backpack. Travel wash kits are particularly useful, as they mean you’ll not have to decant fluids that you take through airport security. Meanwhile, a travel charger can be the difference between a night in a bus station and a night in a hotel bed, helping keep your devices charged and your connectivity up for the duration of your trip.

These three main areas are crucial for your packing. They can help you to fill your suitcase right for your next sojourn abroad.

How to Travel the World for Free

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You do not need to have a lot of money to travel. It is indeed cheap to travel rather than staying at home. We all long for travel experiences that do not blow a hole in our pockets. There are several ways on how to do my homework that you could consider, and travel for free. You only need to be smart to crack it and travel for free. Here are some ways to travel for free.

Work your way around the world.

If you have willing hands, technical skills, a craft, or useful skills, they could give you a free trip around the world by working. Well established companies such as Workaway or Helpex are ideal in providing such opportunities.

Couchsurfing

It is a platform that opens up access to a network of people worldwide who accommodate you for some nights. Couchsurfers can offer to help e.g., in the garden or by cooking, as a sign of appreciation.

House sitting

Homeowners who wish to travel and do not want to leave their houses empty often find people to come and stay there are to take care of it. House sitting is a highly competitive market the required an excellent reputation and sleek marketing skills. Such jobs give you free accommodation and the opportunity to travel and well as get paid for it. A popular site to find these jobs include aussiehousesitters.com.au, trusted housesitters, happyhousesitters.com.au, housesitworld.com.au, or mindmyhouse.com.

House swap

Some agencies look for homeowners with mutual desires and bring them together and swap houses. You pay a membership fee on an annual basis and get swapped. It will work best for you if your home is near a desirable vacation landmark.

Fly for free

Some budget airlines offer zero rate discounts for their flights. However, you still have to perform your civic duty of paying the taxes. You need to sign up for newsletters that will notify you of any deal and discounts that might interest you.

Ski for free

Ski resorts offer seasonal jobs that could allow you to ski for free. The trick is early application since the jobs are in high demand, and they fill up very fast. You can apply on sites such as NZSki.com or Adventure Work.

Hitchhike

Hitchhiking is considered safe, normal, and common in some parts of the world, such as Romania. In hitchhiking, you only need to use your gut instinct and common sense to make the right decision. One popular platform is Hitchwiki, which provides different guidelines in different nations.

Vehicle relocation and returns

At times, car rental companies need people that will drive vehicles to specific locations, and you might take advantage of such. You can earn yourself a particular destination, especially during busy times of the year.

Travel blogging

The majority of concepts deal with exchanging work for travel. It is not entirely free. You get to offer services to travel.

Conclusion

All of the above methods are not entirely free. There must be something you give in exchange for free travel. However, this way, you get to travel a meager and reasonable budget and have amazing experiences. Whichever way you choose, it is a smart way of traveling and environment friendly compared to any other form of travel. We hope that your choice will be fulfilling and give you the best experience.

3 Ways to Take the Stress from Air Travel

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Does the mere thought of travelling to the airport, checking in, going through security, and waiting around for hours on end for your flight put you off the idea of travelling by air? Fear not, as there are things that you can do to take the stress out of air travel.

Put the three pieces of the advice laid out below into practice, and you’ll be sure to touch down in your holiday destination feeling rested, relaxed, and ready to have the time of your life.

Book your pre-airport arrangements in advance

Your travels begin as soon as you leave your home. If you want to keep your stress down from the moment you embark on your adventure, you need to ensure that you book your pre-airport arrangements well in advance of your departure date. This means organizing for somebody to look after your home or to at least check up on it while you’re gone, and it means pre-ordering transport to the airport.

If you are travelling to the airport in your own vehicle, you must book yourself a parking space in advance. The last thing you want to do is turn up at the airport to find that they do not have the room to accommodate your car, as this will cause you unnecessary headaches and could even result in you missing your flight. So, for the sake of your stress levels and your travel plans, make sure you book yourself a parking lot space on a trusted website like Parkon.com before you arrive at the airport.

Sail through security with ease

Security checks at the airport are necessary; there’s no denying it. They are designed to keep you and fellow air travelers safe, which is why you must undergo them every time you attempt to board a flight.

You’ll never be able to avoid airport security checks, but you can speed them up considerably and subsequently take the stress out of them. If you sign up for the TSA PreCheck program, you will be able to streamline the security process simply because you won’t be asked to take off your clothes or remove your electronic items from their bags. This will shave off a considerable number of minutes from the time you usually spend passing through security lines, which means that you’ll be able to spend more time relaxing in the departure lounge.

Have a sleep on the plane

The stress doesn’t magically disappear as soon as you’ve boarded your plane. Being confined to a small space is never particularly relaxing, and neither is turbulence! If you want to escape the stresses that are commonly encountered up in the air, simply find a way to drift off to sleep.

Easier said than done, right? True, sleeping on planes is not always the most straightforward experience. It can be achieved, however, if you put the following advice into practice:

  • Tweak your sleeping habits before you start travelling to ensure that you’ll be tired on the plane
  • Pre-book your seats to ensure that you aren’t sat in high-traffic areas (next to the toilet, near the galley, etc.)
  • Wear comfortable clothes that keep you warm when the onboard temperature drops
  • Alleviate your back pain by investing in any of the items listed here

Simple Steps to Book a Flight Online

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Booking a flight via any of your devices is as easy as providing the required information and clicking the confirmation button. Book Delhi Mumbai flights by following the following simple steps;-

Outline Your Travel Plans

Travel plans comprise of your destination, date and time of travel, duration of stay, and deciding on a travel package. Note these details down and have them easily accessible as you book your flight.

Visit the Airline’s official website

If you already have an airline in mind, visit their website to learn more about the flight you wish to take. In some instances, travelers have no idea what Airline is ideal for their travel plans.

When it comes to such situations, enter your travel details on an aggregator site such as Momondo and Skyscanner. An aggregator website will show you lets of flight options for the particular information you provided. Then, you can sort the data based on price, length of trip, or Airline.

Compare Flight Offers

The more flexible you are, the higher chances of landing a fairer deal. Weekdays have the cheapest flights, thanks to low demand as compared to weekends. Booking earlier, by about two weeks or more, offers more affordable flights.

Compare available flights keeping in mind relevant details such as departure and arrival airports, prices, travel times as well as cancellation terms of the Airline. Take note if the price includes taxes and luggage fees.

Purchase Your Ticket

Once you have decided on the flight, follow the website’s prompt to purchase your plane ticket. Every site will require you provide the following information during purchase;-

  • Name
  • Number of travels
  • Seat preference
  • Any allergies and other meal preferences
  • Credit or debit card information

Some airlines allow that you pay your baggage fees online to reduce your checking time at the airport. If you are purchasing an international plane ticket, you will require your passport, and in some instances, a visa to purchase your ticket.

Decide on Complete Package or not

As you near the end of your booking process, some airlines may suggest add-ons such as accommodation and car rentals. Before agreeing to the offer, do some research to ensure you are getting a fantastic deal.

If you require any special accommodations such as a wheelchair, be sure to place a request during your booking. If the website does not prompt such a request, call the Airline directly to avoid future inconveniences.

Flight Confirmation

Finish by confirming that all the information you have given is correct. Provide any personal or payment information required to complete the process. Once you are through, you will receive an email of your receipt and ticket information.

In case you do not receive that within a few hours, contact the Airline. Please save a copy of the receipt, or even better, print it out.

Conclusion

The emergence of technology has made it easier for travelers, both domestic and international. If you wish to book your flight right from the comfort of your home or office, follow the above steps to achieve the best results.