facebook
linkedin
rss
twitter
google_plus
pinterest
  • Home
  • About
    • Updated Solo Travel Knowledge Base
    • In The News
  • Travel Packages
  • Solo Travel Pricing Tracker-No Single Supplement
  • Blog
  • Contact

Blog Post

5 Tips for the Best Flight

Jul 20 2019
0 Comment
Elizabeth Avery

Enjoy This Post? Share the Love!

  • google-share
I have spent hours this week trying to get really cheap flights to Central Europe in the fall. The 5 tips below are what I have found personally. I tried both the official sites for several airlines as well as Expedia, Priceline and Cheapo Air. This is what I discovered.
 
1. The lowest price is not always the best deal. Although the fall shoulder season is somewhat less than summer, the really cheap rates are in the dead of winter. In addition, when you surf the net and see unbelievable rates take a look at how many hours your journey will take at that rate. I found my 11 hour flight could take 23 hours! So it isn’t just a matter of how many stops there are and where they are but what the delays are between the connection. One way this can work I discovered in SE Asia one Dec. I took a non-stop flight from Washington to Beijing. I then flew on to Bangkok where I had booked a fabulous 4-star Novotel at the airport. The next day, as planned, I started out again flying to Cambodia and catching a boat on to Vietnam. The bottom line? If you are faced with a huge delay to save the price is there a way to go sightseeing during the wait or catch up on your sleep without spending a fortune?
 
2. Carry-on allowances vary widely from one airline to another. I was limited to about 11 pounds flying to Asia for almost 3 weeks’ stay. However, for my fall European trip, the more liberal allowance was 25 pounds! Be careful though to check the measurements allowed for your flight/type of aircraft. The key is the definition of what fits “below the seat”. Even with large jets, the structure of the seats and the placement of entertainment systems can block many types of bags.
 
3. Airlines are allowed to sell flights with just 45 minutes to connect. You should really avoid that. Even if you are a sprinter, that may not be enough. Why? Even if you are not required to have a visa and are in transit, it can take too much time to get through immigration. Worse yet, I was surprised to see that my connections on the same carriers have often been in different (and distant) terminals. 
 
4. Once you have booked,  even on a large jet for a flight abroad, you may not be able to pick your seat. Plan to check at least once a week to avoid getting stuck in the middle seat all the way to Delhi.
 
5. Avoid “deals” that start with a small connecting flight within the US as the first step in an overseas flight. Speaking from experience, I have found out the hard way that smaller regional jets may be delayed or grounded in high winds or inclement weather. In the interim, larger planes may take off for foreign destinations leaving you at home!
 
Be aware that the “Real ID” requirement in the US goes into effect later in 2020. In order to board a flight in the US, you must have updated documents that meet the new more stringent requirements. A passport may help if you have a domestic  flight and miss the deadline. Click this link for more information.
About the Author
Elizabeth Avery founded SoloTrekker4U.com in 2012, to connect single travelers with top solo travel deals and those with no single supplements. In 2020, she launched the free, user-friendly SoloTravelPricingTracker.net with 1,000+ tour/cruise and lodging providers offering 20,000 trips. It is the only search tool that allows those traveling alone to find solo vacation packages based on whether there are no single supplement deals. Elizabeth has visited all 50 US states and more than 68 countries around the world.

Enjoy This Post? Share the Love!

  • google-share
Get tips sent straight to your inbox, and become a better solo traveller.

Sign Up for our Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts

  • 20 Tips for Traveling on a Budget without Sacrificing Quality
  • Hidden Europe -The Road Less Traveled By
  • Top Solo Travel Deals-France-No Single Supplements
  • 10 Tips to Make Vacation Travel Easier | Solo Trekker 4 U
  • Costa Rica Tours for Solo Travelers | Solo Trekker

Categories

  • #Navidad
  • 18 to 30s Solo Travel
  • Active Seniors Are Traveling The Globe
  • Adventure Travel
  • adventure travel packages
  • Africa
  • Animal Rescue
  • Australia
  • Avoiding Travel Hassles
  • Believe it or Not Adventures of Single Travelers
  • Best Vacations for Singles-Solo Travel Packages
  • Best Vacations For Singles/Solo Travel Packages
  • Budget Travel Tips
  • Business Travel
  • Canada
  • Caribbean
  • Castle Hotels
  • Christmas
  • Christmas 2015
  • Christmas Travel
  • Costa Rica Solo Travel Packages
  • Costa Rica Solo Trip
  • cultural travel
  • Dogs – Activities with Pets
  • East Asia
  • Eco Tours
  • Europe
  • Fashion
  • Fashion Around the World
  • Great Britain
  • Green Travel
  • Guest Posts
  • Halloween
  • Happy Hannukah
  • Happy Hanukkah
  • Historical Tours
  • Holiday Travel
  • Holidays 2015
  • How to Stay Healthy on Travel
  • How to Travel Better
  • India
  • Latin America
  • Luxury Travel
  • Middle East
  • Mideast
  • New Year's
  • News & Contests
  • Pacific Islands
  • Pack to save
  • Packing
  • River Cruises
  • Safety Travel Tips
  • saving on travel
  • Senior Travel
  • Senior Traveling Discounts
  • Single Traveler Destinations
  • Single Traveler Tips
  • Single Traveler Tips on Safety
  • Single Traveler Tips on Saving
  • Single Traveler Tips-Airport Advice
  • Singles Travel Tips
  • ski travel packages
  • solo adventures
  • Solo Female Travel
  • Solo Travel Asia
  • Solo Travel Canada
  • Solo Travel Destinations
  • Solo Travel Safety
  • Solo Travel Savings
  • Solo Travel Tips
  • Solo Travel Trips
  • Solo Travel USA
  • Solo Vacation Destinations Off-The-Beaten Path
  • South Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • Staycations
  • Top Solo Travel Deals
  • Travel in Style
  • Travel in Times of Crisis
  • travel insurance
  • Travel Savings
  • Travel Style & Fashion
  • Travel Trivia Just for Fun
  • Travel with Dogs and Service Dogs
  • Travel with Pets
  • Travel with Your Dog
  • Uncategorized
  • United States
  • Unusual Stories from Around the World
  • Viajar Solo
  • Volunteer Opportunities Abroad
  • Wellness
  • What's on Your Mind When It Comes to Leisure Solo Travel?
  • Women Travel
  • Younger Travelers

Menu

  • Home
  • About Us at Solo Trekker 4 U
  • Travel Packages
  • Solo Travel Pricing Tracker-No Single Supplement
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service-SoloTrekker/SoloSherpa
  • Privacy Policy-Solo Trekker/SoloSherpa
Want to become a packages partner?
Email us Today

Sign up for our newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Get the Solo Sherpa Mobile app today
Get it on Google Play
© 2017 SoloTrekker | Powered by Intuitive Digital