Newcastle Airport

If you’re considering a summer holiday, and getting a good deal is high on the priority list, then you’re in luck.

Newcastle Airport has kindly shared a bunch of tips on how to lock in lower-priced airfares which requires some strategy, good timing, and a little bit of luck.

Number 1 on the hot tip list is, being aware that the cheapest fare doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best deal.

Before you book, add up all your petrol costs, car parking, baggage fees, and accommodation costs, especially if you choose flights with long layovers or additional stops. Also, be sure to read the fine print for any additional fees that might apply. 

Whilst you’re doing your calculations, consider the convenience factor. How long is it going to take to get to your destination and what is your overall travel time, as they say, time is money!

Here’s twelve more hot tips from the team at Newcastle Airport …

• Book in advance: Airline prices often increase as the date of the flight approaches. Try to book your flights 6-8 weeks before a domestic flight and 3-4 months before international flights. This can be the sweet spot for deals.
• Be flexible with your travel dates: If you can adjust your travel dates, you'll have a better chance of finding cheaper flights. Mid-week flights (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and Saturdays often offer the best deals.
• Book connecting flights: Sometimes booking two separate connecting flights is cheaper than flying direct. Just make sure to leave enough time between flights to avoid missing your connection. Flying from Newcastle Airport to Brisbane or Melbourne then onto your destinations can often save airfare and travel costs.
• Don’t book return by default: It can be cheaper to book a return trip with two different airlines by booking two one way trips. Often airlines make one leg of a return much cheaper than the other. If you get one airline offering a deal one direction and another doing a deal in the opposite direction, the savings can be significant. This also gives you great flexibility in choosing times and products to suit you. Just keep in mind airlines all have slightly different rules on baggage and carry on, check in times and on other fees. Five minutes extra in doing research can keep you right and result in big savings.

• Don’t forget to use your points: Flybuys and Reward points soon build up doing the weekly shop, which can be converted to frequent flyer points and used to lower the cost of your trip. There are even great deals on points + cash for Business Class seats that come with all sorts of perks onboard and at the gate.
• Use a travel agent: Some travel agents have access to exclusive deals that aren't available to the public.
• Be flexible with destinations: If you’re open to traveling to a different destination, you can find where the cheapest flights are at a given time and choose your destination accordingly. Visit the Newcastle Airport Destinations page to see their flight schedule.
• Monitor regularly: Airlines schedule flights up to 11 months in advance and often review ticket sales at regular frequencies like 9 months and 6 months before departure. The price can fluctuate depending on how many advance bookings have been made, including temporarily being discounted before returning to normal. Checking regularly well in advance is also a strategy that can pay off.
• Check special offers: sign up to Newcastle Airport’s email newsletter and tick the deals box to be notified of any airfare sales. The team at Newcastle Airport do all the heavy lifting, wading through the sale fares and pulling out only fares that depart from Newcastle.
• Consider budget airlines: Opt for budget carriers such as Bonza and Jetstar that offer no-frills services at a lower cost. Just be aware of additional fees for baggage and other services.
• Travel in the off-season: Not always possible, but if you can avoid peak travel times, like holidays and school vacations when flights are more expensive, you’ll notice a significant difference in flight costs.
• Consider travel insurance for big trips: It is the best way to protect yourself against the rare possibility of factors such as flight delays, missed connections, and lost baggage.

Safe travels and happy fare hunting!