Soaring air fares got you grounded? Travel guru Simon Calder has revealed a series of ingenious, perfectly legal tricks that can dramatically cut the cost of your next trip, from taking to the skies for a liquid lunch to hacking your taxi ride.
The 'Booze Flight' Loophole
For those living near the border, one of the most surprising money-savers involves treating a flight like a booze cruise. Calder highlights that return flights from Newcastle to Amsterdam can sometimes be found for under £50. Given that alcohol is significantly cheaper in the Netherlands, it can be more economical to fly there to stock up on wine and spirits than to buy them at UK prices.
"You can genuinely save money by flying to Amsterdam, buying your booze, and flying back," Calder explains, turning a day trip into a cost-cutting mission.
Beat the System with a Taxi Diversion
Another clever hack involves outsmarting airline pricing algorithms. Calder uses a real-world example: a passenger needing to travel from Lancaster to Leeds Bradford Airport.
Instead of booking a direct train to Leeds (which could be expensive) or a long, costly taxi from Lancaster, the savvy traveller booked a taxi from the nearby town of Keighley. The result? A much shorter, cheaper cab ride combined with a low-cost train ticket to Keighley, saving a substantial amount of money.
The key takeaway: sometimes breaking your journey into smaller, unconventional segments is kinder to your wallet.
Why Are Flights So Expensive?
Calder points the finger at several factors keeping prices high, despite a drop in jet fuel costs. A critical issue is the slow return of aircraft to service, creating a shortage of available seats compared to booming demand. Airlines, focused on repairing their balance sheets after the pandemic, have little incentive to reduce fares while planes remain full.
Top Tips for Finding Cheap Fares
- Be Flexible: Flying mid-week or at less popular times can lead to significant savings.
- Book at the Right Time: Calder suggests the period from six months to six weeks before departure often yields the best prices for long-haul flights.
- Consider All Airports: Don't just check your nearest hub. Look at alternative airports within a reasonable travel distance.
- Embrace the 'Diversion': As demonstrated, thinking creatively about the first or last leg of your journey can pay off.
While there's no single magic bullet, combining these strategies with sharp booking skills could be your ticket to an affordable getaway.
