How to find a cheap flights to Africa
To travel in Africa is very rewarding and fun, where one captures the beauty of Africa’s nature,
people and artificial structures drops and cities. It ranges from the annual wildebeest migration in
Kenya and Tanzania, the pyramids and Pharaohs ancient history in Egypt to the pulsating city
life in South Africa. However, the cost of airfare normally forms part of your travel costs and
especially when you are travelling across continents, to, for instance, the African continent.
Thankfully, with some careful planning and a few tricks up the sleeve, you’re sure to grab those
cheap flights that will make your dream of visiting Africa within the budget. In this case, you can
save on your travel funds greatly by using different booking methods, flexible dates for traveling
and the right times to book.
Start Your Search Early
The best thing to do is be as early as possible when looking for flights because the rates could be so good. Airlines usually put tickets on sale 11 months before the given date, and often in this period, the ticket prices are cheaper comparatively when the date is near. That way you will be likely to get a broader range of cheap fares especially for long-haul flights to Africa if you begin your search early enough. Bear in mind that the rates for last-minute reservations are normally considerably higher as compared with other time of the year or even now compared to the holidays, summer, or large events.
Moreover, starting your search on the Web ahead of time provides a possibility to track down
how the flight prices change in the process. Most flight comparison interfaces have a feature
where a user can input their preferred airlines or rout and get notified when there is a change in fare. It means, you won’t be able to miss any important price cutting indicators that are often printed by the manufacturers. Also, it enables you to look for a variety of possible time and routes when the travelling is still at an early stage. Since the range is vast, you are able to choose your departure and arrival points in the most flexible way so that you make sure to get the best price possible. That way, you will be better placed to book cheap flights and best fit your African
escapades.
Be Flexible with Travel Dates and Airports
Flights are cheaper when you do not fix yourself on certain dates and specific airport of
departure or arrival. Departing during weekdays especially in the middle of the week is cheaper than to set off during the weekend. Some people plan their travel to require a flight on the weekend and because of this, the airlines realize high demand and hereby increase the prices.
Also, booking a flight as a domestic route during less popular times, as a means of keeping off the summer holiday and Christmas may prove costly since prices drastically shoot up during the end of the year and during the summer holidays. Temperatures at these times are reasonably good yet there is normally a reduced demand due to the low and high seasons respectively.
It only takes some research and calculations in order to determine the specific days of the month when the saving is the highest.
Another tip on how to cut on cost is to try and get into different airports close to the destination. There are lots of big cities that have satellite airports that are generally not as costly and aren’t all
that far away from the core city. For instance, instead of buying a ticket to Johannesburg you will search for a connection to places like Durban or Cape Town where tickets are cheaper. From there you may take a regional flight or say a bus or a train in order to reach the final destination.
Apart from this advantage of saving on costs, this approach is also an opportunity for one to visit other parts of the country, which one may not have considered traveling to, in the first instance. This could lead to a more enriched means of travel and possibly have more possibilities for the traveler to get to find what they are looking for on the way.
Use Flight Comparison Tools
Organize your flights through an online flight search engine, popular platforms are Skyscanner and Google Flights, or Kayak. These platforms are helpful sources which enable you to check different airlines and booking sites in order to select the cheapest offers. Some of these tools also make provision for notifications when prices of tickets decrease so that you will not need to constantly search for tickets. Also, some of them might have options like “everywhere’ or ‘entire month” that let you find the cheapest places or months to go, if you are not very picky. This way, it will be much easier to determine which opportunities will be less costly for your African travel expedition.
Some comparison tools also offer convenient tools like fare calendars which display the price floor over a certain date. What makes this a great visual aid is that you are able to identify quickly the cheapest travel windows – this tool is effective for decision making. Looking at these calendars, you will be able to come across with the best of both worlds when it comes to cheap airfare and convenient schedule for the trip. In addition, ensure you delete your browser cookies or better use an incognito mode when searching. Many airlines implement the strategy of charging higher price rates each time the same customer repeatedly searches for a flight, so by following the above simple steps a customer will not be overcharged for a flight.
Book Connecting Flights
It is without a doubt that there can be nothing much convincing as the direct flights, since they sometimes prove faster and even easier way to arrive at the said destination, what be all-important at times, but they come at a much higher cost. If you want to choose an even cheaper ticket, then you should buy a connection as these flights are usually cheaper. Most airlines have connecting flights, and you can have a layover in any of the biggest airline centers like Istanbul, Dubai, or Addis Ababa which can help on the pricing model.
Connection flights suggest longer trips but at the same time it can be much less expensive for really lengthy flights to Africa. Maybe the extra time you spend on traveling is justified by the price difference that you can spend sightseeing more.
There is also something to choose open jaw tickets where you fly into one city and out of
another. This approach can sometimes be lucrative more so if you are planning to visit a number of places in the country or continent. For instance, you might book a flight from that’t be paid a lot for flying from Nairobi to Nairobi but you use a layover in Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines, then fly back from a different African city such as Cape Town or Addis Ababa. Even if they add to the overall time spent on the trip, they give a person the perfect opportunity to look at one more city as an added value to the trip. When you start factoring in the layovers and open-jaw tickets, not only do you make your experience more varied but you are also saving your money in the process.
Sign Up for Newsletters and Loyalty Programs
Anyone who is very connected to the internet knows that extensive knowledge of airline
newsletters and travel deal websites are so aptly designed to deliver unique discounts,
promotions or even flash sales. If you choose to form part of these newsletters, you receive
timely notices of special offers which are time bound simplifying your shopping. With this kind of alerts several airlines produce periodical newsletters to the customer with the up-to-date information about the flight and the related offers on the market. The sign-up for these services also enables the consumer to be aware of the offers on the market and get notified about the sales that just came up in your necessary travel category.
Besides, it is also wise to sign up for the airline’s loyalty programs as a way of cutting on cost in future travel. We make our clients build up some points or miles each time they embark on a flight, which they can later use to gain a discount, a free flight, or even status upgrade. There are also other existing benefits as other tiers too, which include priority boarding, additional checked baggage allowance or access to airport lounges to make your traveling experience even more special. Regardless of how many times a year you travel, the points earned can prove just as useful, building up and offering one good savings on flights in the next two or three years. Do not forget to look for airline and credit card affiliation programs, because if you register your card with a certain airline, you get the possibility to gain extra points, or have a cash back, which makes the travelling absolutely free of charge.
Monitor Currency Exchange Rates
Since the difference in exchange rates affects the total cost of your ticket, you should also take this into account when booking your journey with an international airline. Customers who make reservations with an airline that charges in a different currency stand to gain from any favorable change in the exchange rate. This implies that you may purchase the same flight for a lot less money—or any other currency—than someone who made their reservation at a different time when the conversion rate was different.
The majority of these cards are simple and have foreign transaction fees, which lessens the
overall advantages of these high rates. Assuming, for example, that you are traveling with a
South African airline and that the ticket is offered in rands or South African dollars, a better
exchange rate would result in a significantly lower ticket price than if you were charged in US
dollars or euros. Sometimes, a sudden change in the exchange rate will work to your advantage therefore, keeping an eye on the global currency trend and taking the appropriate action at the right moment can help you save a significant amount of money on your trip.
Consider Budget Airlines and Alternative Routes
Flights to and within Africa are offered by numerous low-cost airlines. These airlines frequently offer substantial savings, even though they might not offer conveniences like checked baggage or in-flight meals. Look for flights to neighboring nations or cities, and finish your trip with an overland or short regional flight.
In Southern and East Africa, for instance, FlySafari and Fastjet provide reasonably priced
regional flights. Sometimes it is less expensive to combine a low-cost international flight with a regional connection than to book a direct flight. Just be sure to account for additional costs and transit times when weighing your options.
Avoid Hidden Fees
Make sure you read the contractual jargons provided before booking your ticket to avoid being shocked by other extra costs incurred. Low-cost carriers are specifically notorious for charging extra fees for products like boarding passes, bags, carry-ons, or even a seat preference. In order to get actual optimum fares, you should consider these other expenses when determining the overall cost of your ticket.
Also, know when there may be additional charges towards altering or even changing your flight ticket. In the case of your travel intents are rather a bit vague, consider the probability that tickets with more liberal conditions will prove less expensive on the whole. Awareness of possible fees help one be prepared with his bid in order not to be shocked somewhere along the line. That is why, using the same approach, it is possible to divide and evaluate all potential expenses, which in turn adds confidence to the trip.
Book at the Right Time
Seasons are vital factors to consider when it comes to matters of booking a flight because timing is everything. Such studies reveal that tickets bought on Tuesday or Wednesday are usually cheaper as compared to other days of the week. Besides, getting your tickets two to three months before the time of your intended travel is another way of getting your tickets at fair prices with guaranteed availability. But this may take long depending on the country, season of the year, or any other reason that may occur. For instance, one may get the best rates during the holiday season or during eventful days and, therefore, book way in advance for a better deal.
On the other hand, if you are intending to travel during low tourism seasons, you might get a
chance to finally find certain offers that manufacturers have made available at a bare-bones
bargain basement price. It therefore goes without mentioning that when it comes to the booking of a flight, timing is actually everything and it is this that one needs to consider keenly if they are to get a fair deal for their pockets.
Use Stopover Opportunities
Some of the airlines located in hub cities offer free or low cost ground stopovers, this means that for a little extra you can hop off the plane and take a ground conveyance to another city of your choice rather than have to buy another ticket. For instance, those heading to Africa can use magnificent stop over deals provided by Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates. In many cases these packages are cheap for upgrading your trip as they often contain cheap accommodation, sightseeing, and other perks. If you can spare the time, before you head to your next stop, it is good to take a little detour to the next destination and learn or appreciate a new icon or the people.
Leverage on Credit Card Rewards and Travel Miles
With tickets prices constantly rising when traveling always look for ways to Redeem frequent
flier points or credits cards. While most ‘free’ frequent flyer programs enable you to barter miles for significant fare reductions, certain travel credit cards reward dollars spent in airfare with cash back or sign-up bonuses. For instance, while card like American Express Platinum or Chase Sapphire preferred gives points for spending that may be redeemed for airline partners. They go well hand in hand with flash sales or with promotion fares, that results in substantial cost cutting.
As a result, in order to ensure that you are point lobbying effectively it becomes your
responsibility to manage them.
Consider Group Bookings
Group reservations should be considered in any case, ranging from the immediate family or
friends or a large party because sometimes you get big discounts. And if you are a frequent flyer during certain periods, you can be assured that airlines will always offer you tickets at cheaper rates just because you are buying them in large quantities. To get the best bargain for a single passenger will cost you more than if you bought your tickets as a group.
Asking about the group discount from the airline itself is necessary because such offers are rarely published on the Internet or via more traditional means. Some airlines may offer group
passengers a lower price, better or simply different options for changing the flight; It’s always
good to take the time to call the airline to ask about group fares. Some airlines may offer some extra discounts and ensure that each passenger in the group travels with the same conditions and that the cost per passenger is less than on individual tickets.
Take Advantage of Error Fares
It’s then recommended to consider other ways of booking flights that will help you secure
cheaper tickets other than the usual so called booking channels. One option is that you can also bid for your flights on Flight Priceline where you have the chance to offer your price and perhaps use dynamic pricing to acquire better deal. However, there is no guarantee that your bid shall be successful, though this option can help save much of your money especially where you have flexible plan on your travel.
There is also the opportunity to subscribe to the services where you will be informed about the cheapest flight option based on different filters. These networks often provide the clients with the possibility to get some bonuses which are not provided in most of the other booking websites, such as flash sales or a mistake price. You can book cheaper flights for these services, and get more flight possibilities if you utilize time-sensitive deals and dynamic price models.
Explore Alternative Booking Methods
It creates a valuable need to search for a different channel to look for the cheaper tickets apart from the ordinary booking techniques. On websites like Priceline where one may be able to set his own price for a flight which can be less expensive through dynamic pricing is bidding. Although this approach may not guarantee success, it helps you spend little cash on doing so, especially if you are not very fussy with your traveling dates or destinations.
Another way is to take advantage of subscription services such as Dollar Flight Club, which
gives you a heads up on flights that are priced according to your profile. These networks often offer promos which you can’t find on regular booking platforms which include lower prices and mistake fares. It provides the opportunity for using the dynamic pricing and the presence of promotions because all these services offer the possibility of making reservations.
Plan Your Trip Around Flight Deals
If you don’t have certain dates or city choices that are set in stone, try to plan your trip by the
flight prices instead. Thus, you can get the best deals if you do not lock yourself to a particular country or cities within Africa that you would ideally love to visit, as it may take you to places you never wished to go. Seizing opportunity is made possible by the fact that being flexible can lead to its benefit as flight costs may change with factors such as demand, time of the year, or airline promotions.
For instance, it may be an excellent chance to go to a country that was not on your list of places to see if there is an amazing deal out there. You might come across something new hiding in plain sight or something different that you would never thought of going to. Thus, deciding your travel destination is flexible and you can yet have an amazing and inexpensive trip fully guided by flight discounts.
In Conclusion
Getting an inexpensive flight to Africa requires knowledge, flexibility, and planning knowledge. There is always a method to significantly decrease travel costs, and this can be achieved through starting the search for the flights early, using the flight search engines and using other options like the low-cost airline or having a connection.
Additional ways by which your trip can be rendered even more valuable include the use of
stopover opportunities, credit cards and membership rewards. By following these tips, you will be on the right track of discovering Africa beauty without having to overspend. Do not hesitate to innovate in order to reach better deals for you and your business, and welcome the preparation as part of the process. It is possible to wander round Africa and remain frugal if you work hard and look for the right opportunity.
