Cheap flights and free upgrades with expert holiday hacks

North Wales Chronicle

10-07-2025

Flying on certain days can also help reduce costs. Midweek flights - particularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays - are often the most affordable for international journeys, while Tuesdays and Fridays tend to offer the best value for domestic flights.
Travelling during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or late evenings, can result in further savings.
'By combining smart planning with the right perks and tools, you can make your holiday budget go further - without compromising on comfort or experience," says Andrew Harrison-Chinn, of travel perks and benefits company Dragonpass, with over 1300 airport lounges.
"Keeping an eye on AI-powered travel aggregators that compare flight prices and offer tailored recommendations based on your preferences can help you secure the most cost-effective options.
'Setting up price alerts using tools like Google Flights or Kayak is a smart way to track fare fluctuations and book when prices drop. You might also try browsing in incognito mode or clearing your cookies - some travellers believe this can prevent dynamic pricing based on search history, though results can vary.
"Using a VPN to check fares from different locations can sometimes reveal lower prices, as airlines and booking sites occasionally adjust rates based on your geographic region. In addition, websites like Voyage Privé offer time-limited deals on luxury holidays, giving you access to high-end stays at discounted rates."
He also recommends leveraging loyalty perks and rewards programmes.
"Many credit card providers and banks offer travel-related benefits like airport lounge access, Fast Track services, and more as part of their loyalty programmes," he says.
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'Many financial institutions benefit from extremely competitive pricing of services due to the packaging up of products as well as being able to get cheaper pricing due to larger volume of customers.
'Having a relationship with the bank or card provider will allow you access to these packages of products. Should the package of products be relevant to you, say travel insurance, airport lounge and fast track access, hotel, and flight discounts, these are very efficient ways to get more value for less cost on your travels.
"Some card providers even offer spend based rewards when you use their card abroad – for example spend X amount and get a free airport lounge visit – rewarding customers with their preferred behaviours."
Don't forget loyalty points can often be used for holidays or extras, but they can take time to earn.
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'Alternatively, there are points-based schemes which take much longer to accumulate, however when you have sufficient points these can be redeemed against flights (bookings or upgrades) or other products and services to achieve significant savings.'
His final tips are for the trip itself: "Don't forget practical tools like eSIMs when travelling abroad," he says.
"If Wi-Fi isn't readily available, using an eSIM can significantly reduce roaming charges and keep you connected without the hefty fees."