It’s not cheap to fly these days, no matter which airline you choose. But the good news is that you can still find affordable fares from Atlanta right now. To find them, you’ll have to employ some specific strategies.
You may already know that Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world’s busiest in terms of traffic. But how can you save money when you flight to and from there?
This article is going to look at some ways you can get the most out of your airfare when flying from Atlanta.
How To Get A Cheap Flight From Atlanta
Let’s start by looking at specific airlines that fly out of Atlanta regularly. While many carriers have operations in Atlanta, four main ones are actually competing for market share.
Out of those carriers, the only airline with a real hub at Hartsfield is Delta Air Lines, which is based in Atlanta. You may be interested in taking advantage of Delta’s Basic Economy fares, which are cheaper.
Here’s what we will consider in this article:
- Buy a Flight at the Best Time
- How To Track Airfare With Google Flights Price Alerts
- How To Set Fliters On Google Flights
- Use Google Flights Explore
Be aware that some of the flights you see will be for economy or basic economy fares, so you’ll want to watch that. You’ll also want to be mindful of TSA wait times in Atlanta.
Clear Your Browser Cookies: Some believe that airlines may track your searches and increase prices if they see you’re interested in a particular route. Clearing your cookies or using private browsing mode can help avoid this.
Be Open to Connecting Flights: Direct flights are often more expensive than flights with layovers. Being open to connecting flights can sometimes result in significant savings.
Use Airline Rewards Programs: If you fly frequently, consider signing up for airline rewards programs to earn points or miles that can be used for discounted or free flights.
1. Buy a Flight at the Best Time
Getting a cheap flight depends on several factors, including when you book, the time of year, and the day you choose to fly. Here are some key tips for finding the best times to book and fly at a lower cost:
Best Days to Book Flights
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Research suggests that Tuesday afternoon is often when airlines post their best deals, as many airlines release weekly sales. Wednesdays are also good days to find discounts.
- Book 6-8 Weeks in Advance: The sweet spot for finding cheap domestic flights is typically 6 to 8 weeks before departure. For international flights, booking 2 to 4 months in advance is ideal.
- Avoid Last-Minute Booking: Last-minute fares can be expensive, especially for domestic flights. However, in rare cases, airlines might offer last-minute deals to fill seats (but this is more common for less popular routes).
Best Days to Fly
- Cheapest Days to Fly: Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays is usually cheaper because fewer people travel on these days.
- More Expensive Days: Fridays and Sundays are typically more expensive since they are popular travel days for business and weekend getaways.
2. How To Track Airfare At Hartsfield
You can track the prices of your airfare by setting up Google Flights price alerts. Here’s how to set up a price alert:
To do that, put in your origin and destination airports and add the dates you’d like to travel. You’ll see a Track Prices button that you can toggle and it will send you emails as prices fluctuate.
3. Use Google Flights Filters
Google Flights is a great way to get cheap fares. To get the flight that you want, you can use an array of filters on Google Flights.
- Bags
- Stops
- Airlines
- Price
- Times
- Connecting Airports
4. Don’t Know Where To Go? Use Google Flights Explore
The beautiful thing about Google Flights, is that you can use Google Flights Explore to find cheap flights out of Atlanta.
The key to finding a good price is not have any destination in mind. Let Google Explore show you the cheapest airfare and you can score a great deal.
To use Google Explore, type in your home airport (you can put Atlanta or ATL), and leave the departure box blank. Once you search, the Google Flights Explore map will show you all the cheap flights that you can fly to from Atlanta.
Once you book your travel on Google Flights, you’ll be able to enjoy your trip knowing that you took advantage of one of the great ways to save money.
Final Word
Check for Discounts: Some airlines offer discounts for students, seniors, or military personnel. Additionally, some credit cards offer travel rewards or discounts for booking flights.
Follow Airlines on Social Media: Airlines sometimes announce flash sales or special deals on their social media channels.
When it comes to cheap fares, you have to be strategic to find the lowest prices. The key is to refresh your browser after you find a cheap fare.
Once you locate a fare that meets you budget, it’s time to make sure your travel packing list is in order.
Looking for some places to go? Check out these U.S. cities where you can travel for cheap.
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