Cheap Student Flights
After a long semester of early-morning classes and late-night study sessions, the first thing on many students’ minds is getting as far away from campus as possible. The following resources will help you find out how to find cheap student flights so that your budget doesn’t stop you from getting the most out of your limited free time.
Best Travel Sites for Student Flights
When you’re ready to book a flight, whether it’s abroad or within the United States, you’ll want to use a student-oriented travel search site. Sites like Kayak and Expedia are great when you’re willing and able to pay full-price for flights, but when you’re a college student, you may not have to.
The following sites are catered specifically to students and will help you find the flights within your timeframe at the lowest cost:
- StudentUniverse
StudentUniverse should be your first stop whenever you’re planning a flight. StudentUniverse can even set you up with your hotel stay and tour packages.
- STA Travel
Similar to StudentUniverse, STA Travel is a youth- and student-oriented travel company that can help you get the best deals on flights and travel packages.
- CheapOAir
CheapOAir is another great site to check out when you’re researching student airfare. Check out their special section that’s dedicated just o student travelers.
- Generation Fly
Generation Fly is a program offered by Lufthansa for U.S. students aged 12-25 with valid .edu email addresses. This site offers the most benefit if you’re traveling to Europe.
Cheap Flights for Studying Abroad
High travel costs can be especially frustrating when your study-abroad program requires you to purchase a pricey plane ticket. Luckily, many international airlines and travel companies offer deals for students traveling abroad.
Expect Layovers
Your flights to and from your abroad destination will still undoubtedly be your biggest travel cost, but you can save money if you’re traveling to a smaller-sized city or town. Small cities don’t have large, international airports, so you’ll need to layover in a larger city before departing to your final destination, bringing the cost down quite a bit. When you’re traveling on a budget, be prepared to accept less-than-ideal travel conditions, including layovers.
Best Travel Sites for Study-Abroad Students
Your biggest travel expenditure when you study abroad will be airfare to and from the United States. But while you’re overseas, you’ll also want to make sure you have the time and the means to see everything you want to see and travel as much as possible.
The best way to get the most of your free time abroad is to use a budget airline search engine, like one of the following:
- Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is a great site with a search tool that’s perfect for students traveling abroad—especially in Central and South America. The next time you want to get away from campus for a weekend trip, check out their flight search tool or even book a tour. - Skyscanner
Skyscanner includes all of the best budget airlines in their results, so if you’re traveling from one international destination to another, this site is the perfect tool for you.
Budget International Airlines for Students
Watch for these popular budget airline names when you’re booking your international or overseas flight:
- Ryan Air
- WizzAir
- EasyJet
- IndiGo
- AirAsia
- JetStar
- Azul
Save Even More Money on Airfare
Learning how to find cheap student flights is an excellent first step if you’re traveling during your college years. But there are also some simple tools and tricks to keep in mind while you’re traveling as a student and years into the future.
Time is Money
A good rule of thumb when you’re trying to book a cheap student flight is to reserve your flight as early as possible. However, prices can fluctuate throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to set a fare alert on your favorite travel/airfare search site. Sites like StudentUniverse allow you to set an alert for when prices on your flights drop to their lowest rates.
Watch Out for Extras
Another good rule to follow whenever you travel is read the fine print for hidden extras and fees. A flight may at first seem cheaper than all the others, but if it seems too good to be true, it just might be. Watch out for these common airfare traps:
- Small comforts – Budget airlines are notorious for charging for every little thing. Make sure you add your travel necessities (like water) to the cost of your ticket or check to make sure you can bring your own supplies on board.
- Transfers and transport – With some budget flights, you could fly into a small regional airport that’s hours away from the city center where you need to catch your next flight. When that’s the case, you’ll need to pay for transport to get you wherever you need to go, on time.
- Baggage – Budget airlines often charge more for baggage to make up for their lower prices. Check whether you’ll be charged more than usual for checked bags or for carry-ons.
- Details -When you’re traveling with a budget airline, make sure you’ve got every detail covered, from arriving early to print an extra copy of your ticket. Every little misstep could cost you real money when traveling budget air.
Travel Light
The last thing you want when you’re traveling on a budget is to be weighed down by bags upon bags of luggage. Budget airlines usually charge more for baggage than normal airlines to make up for their bargain-barrel prices, but even major airlines are no slouches when it comes to hidden baggage fees. When you want to save money on airfare, make sure to pack just the essentials and leave room in your luggage for any gifts and purchases you might want to bring back home.
Ways to Free Up Some Cash So You Can Travel As a Student
College is expensive, that’s for sure. You need to figure out ways to save money while in school to help finance any traveling. Things such as buying and selling used textbooks alone could save you enough money for a trip. Creating a budget is another easy way to free up some cash. You would me amazed how much money is wasted on stuff that’s not necessary when you don’t budget properly.
How to Travel as a Student
During your college years, it is essential to learn how to find cheap flights for students. Whether you’re traveling abroad for your studies, joining your friends on a spring break adventure, or traveling home to see family for the holidays, the resources above will help you get the most out of your student travel budget. At the end of the day if you aren’t able to travel as a student, you could always find a job that allows you to travel post-graduation!
