Nothing beats the feeling of taking a vacation. That said, the planning and trip booking process can take up a lot of time and energy, especially when trying to find the best deals on flight tickets. With ticket prices constantly changing, it can be difficult to get one’s hands on the cheapest option. While seniors may be able to find exclusive discounts sometimes, other times, they need to plan ahead to find affordable tickets.
1. Be flexible
Leaving room for changes in travel dates can help seniors get cheaper flight tickets. They can look for flights outside peak hours (and dates). For instance, flights departing on a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon will be much cheaper than those scheduled for the weekend. To find the best price, compare the prices of tickets 2-3 days before and after the intended travel dates. This can help seniors avoid rush hour lines and expensive travel.
2. Sign up for news alerts
Lots of airlines and third-party booking websites send out alerts in the form of push notifications, emails, messages, and social media updates. Seniors can sign up to receive these alerts, as they often carry information about ongoing or upcoming sales and discounts that help seniors save more money.
3. Research
Don’t be in a rush to book the first flight. To find the cheapest options, it is important to spend considerable time doing research. This search should be focused on airline offers as well as airfare discounts. A few airlines offer senior discounts on international flights.
United Airlines
The company offers senior discounts to those aged 65 and above. Apart from the monetary benefits, United Airlines customers can also ensure that they are well taken care of by selecting the “senior category” when booking.
Delta Airlines
Delta is another airline that sometimes offers low-cost flights to those over 60. Some routes can be marked down by as much as 20% for eligible flyers. It’s important to note that some offers may not be available online, so seniors must contact the company’s customer service to avail of the discounts.
American Airlines
Seniors flying American Airlines can also save a lot on their travel. These discounts can be availed when booking directly via the American Airlines website or contacting their customer service representatives via the official phone number.
WestJet
This airline company provides discounts to older adults aged 50 and up. They offer special coupons and codes, which can be availed at the time of booking.
Air Canada
The airline runs 10 to 40% discounts on all its fares for seniors, making it a popular choice for many.
British Airways
Partnered with the AARP, British Airways is running special discounts of up to $200 for seniors who have an eligible membership with the organization.
Air France
The company has special reserved fares for seniors, but they are limited to flights within France. Sometimes, the tickets may also be refunded upon submitting proof of age.
4. Book early
People often wait until too late to book their tickets to snag last-minute travel deals. While this may work out in rare cases, seniors are way more likely to find cheaper reservations when booking flights in advance. The best time to book a flight is at least three months before one’s intended travel date.
5. Proof of age
To be eligible for the senior discount on airfare, one must present their proof of age at the time of booking and travel. This can be done via one’s passport or other valid IDs.
6. Keep an eye out for extra fees
Many airlines initially advertise lower rates only to add fees and surcharges later. While cheaper flights may look appealing at first, many levy additional charges for baggage, seat selection, in-flight amenities, etc. Some low-cost carriers may only allow one carry-on and charge fees for food and beverages. To find the best rate, seniors must consider all of these costs when booking. Traveling light and carrying snacks from home may help seniors save more money.
7. Take advantage of stopovers
People often shy away from long layovers or stopovers. When traveling for leisure, these can be turned into pit stops to explore new places. Additionally, since such flights aren’t popularly desired, seniors may be able to score super cheap flight tickets.
8. Explore reward programs
Frequent flyers will also be eligible to earn miles, travel discounts, and even free tickets, which can further help reduce the cost of air travel for seniors. To avail of this, one must have signed up for the airline’s or credit card’s rewards program.
Three major airline alliances offer frequent flyer rewards.
- Star Alliance-United, US Airways, Copa, Lufthansa, SWISS, and EVA Air
- One World-American Airlines, British Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, LAN, and Qatar
- The Sky Team- Delta, KLM, AeroMexico, and Air France, among others
9. Buy travel insurance
Flight delays, cancellations, and rescheduling have become common issues. To get monetary protection against any such problems, seniors must opt for travel insurance.
10. Look for error fares
Error fares are cheap flight tickets that become available due to airline errors. They are surprisingly common to find. Looking for such tickets and buying them as soon as possible can be a great way for seniors to save money on flight tickets. Some seniors may even be able to find international flight tickets for as low as $49—a true steal deal.
