How To Take More Vacations by Booking Better, Cheaper Flights With Scott Keyes
Aug 15, 2023
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Scott Keyes, founder of Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) and author of Take More Vacations: How to Search Better, Book Cheaper, and Travel the World, shares his expertise in finding cheap flights. He discusses strategies, flexibility, the 24-hour rule, and the benefits of joining his service. The episode also touches on overtourism and the power of flexibility while pursuing amazing experiences.
Prioritize price when searching for flights and use Goldilocks window approach for booking.
Utilize points and miles to experience business class seats at a more affordable price.
Balance overtourism concerns by exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations and considering environmental impact of travel.
Deep dives
Strategies for Finding Cheap Flights
When searching for cheap flights, prioritize the price as the top priority rather than the last priority. Take a Goldilocks window approach, booking domestic flights one to three months in advance and international flights two to eight months in advance. When booking last-minute flights, keep your options open by staying flexible with your destination and airport choices. Be patient and monitor prices well in advance, waiting for the right deal to pop up.
Getting the Best Value from Points and Miles
If you're not part of the 1% and want to experience business class seats, points and miles are your best bet. It's through points and miles that you can get a significantly higher value for your bookings, with business class seats costing around double the price of economy seats. Being flexible with your destination and taking advantage of mistake fares can also increase your chances of finding affordable business class flights.
Addressing Overtourism and Emissions
Overtourism concerns should be balanced with the fact that travel has become more accessible and democratized. Instead of focusing solely on overcrowded tourist hotspots, explore off-the-beaten-path destinations that can benefit from tourism. Recognize that it's not a zero-sum game and that the benefits of tourism extend beyond the traveler, supporting local economies and creating opportunities for residents. When it comes to emissions, being conscious of your travel choices and considering alternative modes of transportation can help reduce your impact on the environment.
Focusing on Optimal Booking Windows
It is important to find the optimal booking window for flights in order to get the best prices. Booking too early may result in missing out on cheaper fares that become available later. On the other hand, waiting until the last minute can lead to expensive flights due to high demand. Monitoring flights during the Goldilocks windows and being alert to cheap flight alerts can increase the chances of finding affordable flights.
Maximizing Flexibility in Flight Searches and Bookings
When searching for flights, it is recommended to use flight search engines or meta search sites that search across multiple airlines to find the cheapest fares. Google Flights is a popular choice due to its flexibility in searching multiple origin and destination airports. By checking different routes and options, travelers can make informed choices to find the best flights at the lowest prices. Additionally, maintaining flexibility after booking is crucial. The 24-hour rule allows for cancelling flight purchases and obtaining full cash refunds, providing an opportunity to rebook at cheaper fares. The elimination of change fees by major US airlines also offers more flexibility to change travel dates without penalties, further enhancing travel options.
I’m pulling one of my favorites from the archive for this week's episode!
If you want to learn the secret to finding cheap flights, listen to Scott Keyes.
Scott took his passion for finding cheap flights and sharing deals with friends and turned it into the uber-successful Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), a service that tracks airfare prices and alerts its 2+ million members to exceptional airfare deals.
Scott is the world’s foremost expert in finding the cheapest flight deals and loves helping you save money so you can travel more. If you’re curious about what it takes to find the best deals on flights, his methodology, best practices when booking, the mindset you need to have when booking flights, and much more, then you will not want to miss this episode!
Which of Scott’s techniques will you use for booking your next trip? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you’ll share them bysending me an audio message.
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Tune In To Learn:
How a once hobby transformed Scott into a cheap flight expert
The road between growing a company and writing a book
What exactly holds us back from traveling more, and how to prioritize your travel plans in a way that will pay off
The methodology behind getting cheap flights and how to find the “Goldilocks window”
Scott’s best practices for when you’re ready to book your flights
What to do if you find cheaper rates after you book
Tricks for booking last-minute flights and a strategy for upgrading to business class
The mindset behind avoiding over-tourism and being a globally-conscious traveler
Scott’s journey as an entrepreneur and what he’s learned along the way
This episode is also sponsored by US Bank'sAltitude Connect Visa Signature Card, with the ability to earn up to 5x the points on travel-related expenses like hotels, and rental cars, this card will get you the most return on your next trip.
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