Flights

Beside the cost of the program, flights are often the largest lump-sum expense for a trip. At USF, most programs do not include the cost of airfare in order to allow students the flexibility to fly from Tampa or home and come early or stay late. The sooner you look and book and the more flexible you are with your flight options, the greater the chance you have at securing a cheaper flight. The later you book and the stricter your dates, times, and cities, most likely, the more expensive your flight will be.

For me, I always start on Google flights to get a general idea of the best routes and prices for where I am going. The drop down menu allows you to see other airports nearby that could be a cheaper option. For example, when flying from USF, Tampa International is the closest airport, but Orlando sometimes has better deals depending on the destination. When I flew to London, Orlando was much cheaper, so I had friend drive me the hour or so there and gave them about $15 in gas money, which was nothing compared to the $300 I saved from leaving from a different airport. With international flights, it can often be worth the drive to a larger airport because not only will you save money, but you may save time by not having as many layovers.

In addition to Tampa and Orlando, the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports often have good deals on international flights as well. Since many people at USF are from all over Florida, it might be easy to find a friend headed to one of those areas that you could stay with for a night before a flight. Though it may cost extra gas money to get to southern Florida, it could be worth the savings with the right flight itinerary.

Besides Google flights, Skyscanner and Kayak are other sources my friends have recommended using to find better/cheaper options. When searching, remember these few things to help maximize your savings:

1. Find the cheapest flight out of the US, and then book separately to get to the specific city or country needed. For example, if you are flying from anywhere in Florida to anywhere in Europe you could probably find a one-way ticket for $300. Within Europe, some flights can be as cheap as $20 from country to country or city to city and train tickets from major cities to your destination could be less expensive as well. It may be a little more of a hassle switching flights, but you could always see another city on your bucket list and have some extra money for a weekend there from your flight savings. Note that when booking flights separately, flight issues like delays then fall in your hands to take care of, so this method works best if you are stopping for an extra weekend rather than a few hours.

2. Watch for added fees, such as baggage, with discount airlines. Initially, some smaller airlines may seem cheaper, but once you go to check out, the fees add up and you could be better off booking with an airline that included everything. Especially when you may have a decent amount of luggage for your trip, the overage could really affect you.

3. Search on “Private view” or “Incognito” so your computer does not save your searches and increase flight prices due to estimated high demand.

4. Be patient and do your research. If you really want to save a few hundred dollars and add an extra weekend overseas, take time to calculate the most inexpensive route.

5. Remember only you can decide for yourself which flight is worth your money. Meaning, it might be worth it to spend $50 to fly from Tampa instead or Orlando, or $100 to arrive during the daytime rather than nighttime. If this is your first time flying internationally, you may not want to have multiple layovers or be stuck in another country for your arrival flight, but for your return flight you may feel more comfortable doing so.

6. Google flights, Kayak, and Skyscanner are great for comparing prices, but when it comes to actually booking your ticket, often doing it through the specific airline on their website is your best bet. I have often found the rates to be slightly cheaper than the rounded estimates on third party websites. In addition, if you have flight issues or cancelations, the airline can help more if you booked directly through them.

Check out this link to find out the best times to buy your flight based on your destination.