4 Handy Tips to Score a Cheap Flight to Paris
Jetting off to Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world is on the bucket list of many. Some visit the city for its iconic attractions, whereas others go for its romantic ambiance.
The idea of planning a trip to Paris sounds exciting, but it requires a fair amount of math. And the extensive number crunching doesn’t happen after you land in Paris but before the trip, i.e., when you book a flight.
Flight tickets to Paris can cost an arm and a leg. For instance, if you’re booking a flight from New York City to Paris, you’ll rarely see the prices dip below $500. But the good news is that finding a good deal on flights to Paris is possible.
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In this article, we’ll share a few tips that will help you score a cheap flight to the capital of France.
#1 Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates
Being flexible with your travel dates is an elemental principle for booking an affordable flight to Paris. Airline ticket prices vary significantly depending on the time of the year, the day of the week, and even the time of day.
Flying during off-peak seasons often yields lower prices. This won’t be possible if you fly during the busiest travel days, i.e., Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Use flight search tools like Cheap Air and Kayak to search for flights across a range of dates. Flying during the shoulder season– spring and fall– will be wise. The demand for flights is generally low, and the prices are also budget-friendly.
#2 Consider Alternative Airports
Sometimes, flying into a lesser-known airport close to your destination can help you save serious money. Flying to smaller regional airports or those that are farther away from the city can result in cheap fares.
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest international airport in France and the main airport in Paris. Orly Airport (ORY) is the second international airport in Paris. Ticket prices for flights into and out of these airports are often high. Instead of searching for flights that land at these airports, consider alternative airports.
The Beauvais-Tillé Airport, situated north of Paris, is a great option for budget airlines, remarks Business Class Experts. Several airlines operate regular flights from and to this airport. Among these include British Airways, HiSky, SkyUp, and easyJet.
Even business class tickets for flights that fly from and land at the Paris Beauvais airport are relatively easy on the pocket.
Booking a ticket for business class on British Airways from London Heathrow to Paris Beauvais will cost you anywhere between £147 and £200.
However, booking a business class ticket on British Airways to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from London Heathrow will cost you a pretty penny. The cheapest flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport costs £299. The fastest flight from London Heathrow to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport will cost you around £408.
For even bigger savings, consider extending the destination’s flexibility. If direct flights to Paris are expensive, look for flights to cities near Paris. You could book tickets to, say, Brussels and find affordable flight options from Brussels to Paris. Even after taking a shuttle or a train to the center of Paris, you will save a considerable amount of money.
#3 Pick a Midweek Departure Date
Leisure travelers often fly on weekends, i.e., Friday or Sunday, for week-long or weekend trips, whereas business travelers fly on Monday and Friday.
According to Travel Planners International, the less popular travel days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. That means these are the cheapest to fly. Airfares are usually lower on these days than on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays. You will be able to save a few bucks by booking your flight to Paris on the less popular travel days.
#4 Use the 24-Hour Rule to Snag a Great Price
Flight prices change in the blink of an eye. If you find a great deal on flights to Paris, don’t let it slip away. Book it right away, even if you aren’t sure about taking the trip. The 24-hour rule of the US Department of Transportation (DOT) will be your savior in this regard.
This rule states that airlines must allow travelers to hold a reservation for 24 hours without payment. Alternatively, they must allow passengers to cancel a reservation for up to 24 hours without penalty and get a complete refund. Most airlines only allow free changes or cancellations within 24 hours of purchase, though a handful offer both.
This way, you can snag a cheap flight to Paris and get a day to decide if you can take the trip. Alternatively, if you book a flight and ticket prices drop within 24 hours, you can cancel your reservation and book the flight that costs you less.
To sum things up, scoring a cheap flight to Paris is no piece of cake. It requires time and effort to grab the cheapest plane tickets to the capital of France. Follow the tips mentioned in this guide to save on airfare when planning a vacation to Paris.
However, don’t spend too many hours booking a flight in the quest for a cheap ticket. Airfares change by the minute. The moment you come across a flight deal that you’re happy with, book it then and there. Remember that you can cancel it within 24 hours if need be.
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