How To Get Cheap Flights As A Student

If you're desperate to book a holiday but you're on a student budget, you may be wondering whether there are ways to get cheap flights as a student - after all, flights usually make up a big proportion of travel costs.

You'll be pleased to hear there are a number of things you can do to keep the costs of flights as low as possible - you just need to do a little bit of planning ahead.

Here are our top tips on getting cheap flights as a student, making it easier than ever to travel on a budget.

Can I get student discount on flights?

Yes! This is one of the main ways you can get cheap flights as a student.

With your TOTUM student discount, you can make huge savings on everything from flights and hotels to excursions and airport parking.

When it comes to finding cheap flights specifically, you can get exclusive student discounts with the likes of Jet2, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Secret Flight Club, TUI, Expedia, lastminute.com and more!

Here are some of our best flight offers currently for students:

• Save up to £600 per couple on package holidays to Florida with TUI

• Get £100 off package deals over £1,500 with Expedia

• Get up to 10% off flights with Emirates

• Get £30 off holidays over £150 with lastminute.com

How to find cheap flights

As well as making the most of your student discount on flights, here are some more savvy tips and tricks to try out to get cheaper flights...

1. Be flexible with your travel dates

You may have seen airline employees revealing to the public that flights are cheaper on certain days at certain times, and this is definitely something to consider when booking your next trip.

Many travel websites will allow you to state how flexible your travel dates are, allowing you to view the cheapest flights within a specific month or week. As a result, you may find that you're able to significantly cut the cost of your trip just by shifting your departure day or time slightly.

One flight attendant actually revealed that the cheapest days to book a flight are Saturdays and Sundays, however the cheapest day to actually fly on is a Tuesday. This likely won't always be the case, but it's worth putting it to the test if you're in a position where you can be flexible with your travel dates!

2. Use flight comparison websites and apps to find the cheapest flights

Flight comparison websites are another excellent way to make sure you're getting the cheapest flight possible.

By using the likes of Skyscanner, you can compare hundreds of flights to find the cheapest option available, but can also filter the flights to ensure they still meet your requirements. For example, if you know you want a direct flight, you can set this requirement as a filter to view the cheapest direct flights.

Another fantastic way to find cheap flights is Secret Flight Club, which emails subscribers with the best deals on flights so that you can snap up affordable airfare before anyone else.

Secret Flight Club members share insider tips, strategies and secret resources to uncover hidden flight discounts, mistake fares and promotional offers that are not widely known to the general public. Recent deals include return flights from London to Milan for just £10, and from Manchester to New York for just £257.

On average, Secret Flight Club members save up to 81% on flight deals!

TOTUM members can get a discounted £12 per year/£1 per month membership - don't walk, run...

3. Check out budget airlines and connecting flights

Budget airlines may have fewer amenities (you're not going to get the luxury of reclining seats or TVs to keep you occupied during the flight) but one thing you can almost guarantee is that their flights are a fraction of the cost of 'normal' airlines.

Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air can often offer flights from as little as £10 - although it's worth noting that you will typically face further charges for reserved seats and baggage.

Even with these extra charges though, you can find some real bargains when it comes to cheap flights.

What's more, if you're happy to split your travel into separate flights, you may find that this significantly lowers the cost of the overall journey. Connecting flights may extend your travel time, but in return you'll usually save a decent amount of money. Use flight search engines to find connecting flights that can help reduce your overall travel costs.

4. Book in advance

While we can sometimes hit the jackpot with an excellent last minute holiday deal, you can typically expect to pay less the further in advance you book your flight.

If you know when you're looking to fly, book ahead of time. This is also a great way to spread the overall cost of your flights, as many airlines and operators will allow you to pay a deposit followed by instalments until nearer the time of your departure, meaning you won't have to drop a big lump sum in one go.

5. Look out for cheap flight and accommodation package deals

Package deals are often a fantastic way to cut the cost of your flights, especially for students travelling on a budget.

Whether you're looking for a 7-night all inclusive stay at a beach resort or a city break in Europe, you can be sure to find a great package deal combining both flights and accommodation from the likes of TUI, Jet2, lastminute.com, On The Beach Holidays, and Love Holidays.

You'll also likely find that airport transfers, excursions, or hotel meals are thrown in for free, which is perfect for students as it makes travelling a breeze.

Some of our best holiday package deals currently on offer include:

• Save up to £600 per couple on package holidays to Florida with TUI

• Save £600 per couple on July and August 2023 river cruises with TUI

• Save up to £100 per couple to Turkey this May and June with First Choice

• Save up to £300 per couple to Kefalonia this summer with First Choice

6. Wait for promotional offers and sales and set up Google alerts

Finally, you can keep a lookout for seasonal promotional offers and sales from leading airlines and travel agents to secure super cheap flights.

Limited-time deals can help you to make major savings on airfare, so we'd advise following airlines and travel companies on social media as well as subscribing to any newsletters they may have to receive notifications about their flight discounts.

Similarly, you can set up Google Flights alerts to notify you when specific flights you have been browsing have dropped in price.

You can do this by simply entering your travel details, clicking the 'Track prices' toggle, and check your emails for updates on the cost of flights for your trip.

Save money on all your flight and holiday essentials with TOTUM

Whether you're taking a long haul trip or a domestic flight, we're here to help you make big savings!

Remember to check out our travel discounts for students, professionals and apprentices to get cheap flights, accommodation and more for your next trip...

Why not also check out some of our guides to budget holiday destinations:

• TOTUM's Best Asian Holiday Destinations for 2023

• TOTUM's Best Holiday Destinations in the Americas for 2023

• TOTUM's Best Travel Deals For 2023

• Top Eight Cheap European City Breaks for 2023

Join TOTUM Student for FREE to access hundreds of student discounts on big-name brands like ASOS, Apple, Myprotein, boohoo, Samsung, and more!

Sign up for FREE, download the TOTUM app, and enjoy the latest offers, vouchers, coupons and more at your fingertips. Find out more here or download the app for Apple or Android to get started today.