This article contains affiliated links.
Flying can be expensive! When you need to get from point A to point B sometimes its the most effective way to do it. Here are a 3 savvy tips to help you fly on a budget.
Personally I have flown a lot especially when I went to state out of college and had to fly home often for holidays or school breaks. I became accustom to flying as cheap as possible pretty quick as I didn’t have much money while in school. I learned to pack tight and pick the essentials for a 2 week or summer break in a personal item and a carry on bag if I was lucky. Packing tight and well will have to be an article for another day as it didn’t fall into the top 3 tips I would suggest for flying on a budget. As a college student, I was not very savvy and often found myself unprepared for travel. A major kicker for me and my budget was food. I ended up sending a lot of money on airport food which would later land me in a pinch with my budget. Food tends to be a pain point for most budgets which leads me to my first tip.
1. Bring Snacks
Did you know that you can bring food through TSA? I sure didn’t! Till on a flight home, I sat next to a very kind Mom of 2, we were stuck on the Tarmac waiting for a gate for 30 minutes and counting, when her youngest declared she was about to “die of hunger” I chuckled and agreed with a resounding “me to!” Her mom reached down and pulled out a gallon zip locks of glorious snacks, and let her daughter pick out a snack. Simultaneously her and her daughter offered me a snack, starving and ill prepared, I was ecstatic and said yes! I asked while munching down on a deliciously mess Nutrigrain bar how she was able to get all the sacks on the plan. I thought it had to be a special pass or something only when you are traveling with children but she said “you can bring most snack items through TSA”. I was shocked. From that day forward snacks has always had a special space in my carry on items. It’s was and is a game changer for my budget and has leveled up my comfortability while traveling.
I love to snack but why get by on granola bars when you could bring so much more. Heck pack a meal! Packing a meal can save you from purchasing over priced food inside the airport or if you have a late night flight bringing a meal with you could be better than paying for overpriced late night fast food. (If they are even open, I flew on a late night flight that landed at midnight, in a small town and all the food places were closed. I ended up settling on vending machine chips to hold me over.)
On vacation, I know it’s nice to eat the local food spots and try new things. Book a hotel with a continental breakfast and have a large breakfast that could tied you over to dinner.
2. Pack Drinks
When I travel with just a personal item and carry on bag, I try to stay away from bringing actual drinking liquid through the checkpoint because my toiletries tend to take up the allotted liquid one person can bring through the checkpoint.
The way I get around this is: I bring 2 empty water bottles with me whenever I travel but epically when I fly. One for water and one to add a drink packet to. You can bring one if you are really tight on space but for me I found that I prefer separate bottles. To ensure I am getting enough water and don’t have to try and wash out a drink mix till I arrived at my destination. If you are tight on space, but still want 2 bottles a collapsible water bottle, is great for traveling.
Ideas:
- Drink Packets – No matter your favorite bring a single serving size packet with you.
- Gatorade zero packets are one of my families go to travel options
- Zipfizz – are a great way to get a kick of caffeine, cram in extra vitamins and curb your fizzy drink craving on the go!
- Water Enhancers – like MiO or crystal light are great to bring along as well just make sure they are in a separate bag in case they leak.
- Pack tea packets or instant coffee grounds – a great substitute for your morning coffee or tea on the go!
- Instant coffee in a single serving pack work great when you need a coffee on the go.
- Want hot coffee or tea? – most places like McDonalds or other coffee shops have hot water on tap and will give it to you for free.
- Bring your own Alcohol ( be sure to follow your airline and TSA rules & to be on the safe side don’t open your alcohol till you are safely at your destination.)
- For a short trip or if your destination has a higher price on alcohol bringing alcohol this little tip could save you some cash.
3. Saving on Airfare & Sign up for free rewards
Get all your rewards! One thing I wish I would of done sooner is to sign up for the free rewards on the airlines that I frequently flew because these programs are typically free to join with a name and an email address and offer extend ways to redeem their points or miles for discounts, free products, flight awards or insider perks. These various benefits, can be free in-flight Wi-Fi or priority boarding.
Still not sure if you can bring that food or drink with you check out TSA’s food guidelines here:
Hey TSA! What Food Can I Bring?
Thank you for reading my “3 Savvy Tips To Fly On A Budget!”