A savvy tip from Martin Lewis's MoneySavingExpert (MSE) website could help holidaymakers secure cheaper flights to expensive destinations. The hack involves booking a package holiday that includes a hotel, even if the traveler does not intend to use the accommodation.
How the hack works
According to a previous MSE blog post, package holidays can sometimes offer better deals than scheduled flights for certain far-flung locations. If the hotel in the package is not to the traveler's taste, they can still take advantage of the included flight and then book their own preferred accommodation, potentially saving money.
MSE stated: "Scheduled flights to some destinations, such as Orlando and Sri Lanka, can be silly money yet packages there can sometimes come in much cheaper. If you only need the flight, check if there's a cheaper package holiday, then grab it but DON'T stay in the hotel."
Real-life example
The blog post cited an example where Martin helped a friend book a trip to Sri Lanka. The friend paid £300 for the package holiday covering flights, while the cheapest scheduled flight was over £1,000. The hack was highlighted in another MSE post about cheap package holidays, which advised: "If you're going away specifically for seven, 10 or 14 days to a traditional holiday destination, package holidays are often best."
It added that such holidays can be "much cheaper" than booking a scheduled flight, even without using the hotel. For instance, flights for a seven-day trip to Florida were found at £689 per person, while a package for the same dates was only £662 per person.
Additional tips for finding cheap flights
Travelers can also compare prices on sites like Skyscanner. According to Skyscanner, flight pricing changes constantly based on demand, season, and route. While there is no fixed cheapest day to book, some airlines release deals late on Mondays, leading to lower fares early in the week. Prices tend to rise as the week progresses. On quieter routes or off-peak travel days, prices may drop closer to departure, but on popular routes or peak dates, fares often increase as the flight fills up.
