Let’s be honest! We all are attracted to deals that are much more affordable, especially when we’re considering to travel and explore new destinations. Of course, we want to save bucks while booking online flights.
Lucky for us, as our modern lifestyles are so closely intertwined with the internet, we all can enjoy the luxury of sitting at our homes, comparing air tickets online, and booking the most affordable ones. However, we always wonder if we’ll get better deals at a ticket counter than on online aggregators or airline websites. Truth being, the debate around whether we should book online, call an airline directly, or visit a travel agent is inevitable and unending.
Coming to the real question, ‘can I save money by buying an airline ticket at the airport, or should I compare flights online and book air tickets online?’
Here, we answer that question for you, once-and-for-all.
Booking online might help you explore the cheapest possible options
A significant benefit of booking tickets online is that you can compare air tickets online from different airline flights, browse through the available discount options, and even view alternative routes to your destination. Other excellent benefits of booking flights online include:
- It is highly convenient because you don’t have to burn fuel riding to an airport counter. And, of course, you don’t have to wait for service or get pressurized into booking on the spot without considering it through.
- Not only can you compare airfares when booking online, but you can even compare flights online along with the add-on services it offers. You can browse through any number of options and choose the one that doesn’t create a hole in your pocket.
- You save a lot of time with early check-ins online. All you have to do is visit an airline’s website, fill in your details, print your boarding pass or get it on your phone.
- Cancelling or changing your travelling route is much simpler when you compare air tickets online. You can cross-check the cancellation charges and read all its rules before buying air tickets online. This avoids paying an ‘extra external fee’.
Booking directly from the airline service desk: Is it feasible?
Some people like booking directly from the source- the airline service desk, in hopes of getting a cheap air ticket. However, the sad truth is, ticket prices at the airline are always higher than expected.
Gone are the days when people used to wait at the airport to purchase tickets. Even airlines know so, which is why they’ve transitioned their role into checking in passengers, assisting them with checking bags, arranging upgrades, helping passengers find new flights and other such related customer services. In case you do end up buying a last-minute plane ticket, the fares would surely discourage you from attempting it again.
Of course, there are exceptions to it as well, primarily depending on the airline you’re flying with, your destination, and the route you take. But usually, unless travelling for business, people like to pre-book everything in advance because it’s safer that way, and you don’t have to indulge in additional service charges.
Our verdict: Always book flights online
While travelling, either for leisure or business, you obviously would want to save up money if you can. Nobody likes spending extra on air tickets. Instead, you would like to spend it on your trip. So, next time you’re thinking if it’s cheaper to buy a ticket at the airport, don’t waste precious hours driving all the way down there only to be disappointed by the prices.
