Iceland in June- Save 42% with this hack, flight from Indianapolis only $461
How would you like to find yourself at the top of the world, soaking in the steamy bliss of the Blue Lagoon? Stop pinning other people's travel photos and grab your passport. I'm going to get you there for less with a travel hack that will turn your world upside down. A little bit of research can go a very long way to save on airfare. Say you wanted to jet off to Iceland to wander the depths of an ice cave, climb a glacier, hike to an obscure natural hot spring, or see puffins dive from their summer homes along a black sand beach. You might head to Priceline to see how cheap you could get a flight. You'd find that for June 1 - 7 this year, the cheapest flight they can find would be $785. Ouch! That's a price that keeps a lot of people home.
I will show you how to cut that price nearly in half with a little bit of planning and a little bit of calculated risk. The first thing to know is that there are airlines that do not participate on the big search engines like Priceline and Hotwire. If you depend on those websites to plan your travel, you are missing out on great fares from less expensive airlines. Also, each airline operates out of a set of airports, and for the best deals, you want to book directly with airlines that operate out of your destinations. When you book a flight with a connection that requires the coordination of two different airlines, you are paying for their cooperation in your fare. You can save a significant amount of money by booking two separate tickets when there isn't a direct flight from where you are and where you want to go. The first ticket will get you to a hub that services the airline that will get you to your second hub. Still with me? Ok. I'm going to walk you through this trip to Iceland.
2. So now we just have to get from Indy to Boston on the right dates. So I open a new browser window and go to Skyscanner. This is an invaluable resource when it comes to travel planning. This isn't the end-all be-all of cheap fares. Just as with Priceline and Hotwire, this website doesn't include all airlines. Their fares also aren't completely up to date. Their data updates as people complete searches, not as fare prices change. While it isn't perfect, I find it is the best place to start when investigating for low fares between two airports. They have a month fare calendar option and you can also easily adjust the scheduled flight times which is very important when booking two separate tickets instead of a flight with a connection on one ticket. The mobile version of Skyscanner is lacking some good tools, so check it out on desktop for the best experience.
4. At this point it is very important to check your flight times. You are creating your own layover by booking two separate tickets. The rule I go by is at least a three hour layover for domestic travel and four to five hours for any international flight. You might even book a longer layover for the peace of mind. Sometimes it even makes sense to book your second ticket for the next day and take the night to explore your layover city. If you're traveling internationally or you've checked any bags, you'll have to leave the terminal and go back through security at the second airport. Delays happen, and if for some reason a problem with your first flight causes you to miss your second flight, the airlines are not obligated to help you out as they would be when you book the single ticket. Another way to minimize this risk is book all four legs of your journey, the there and the back, as four separate one way tickets. When you've booked a round trip flight and for some reason you miss the first flight on the ticket, they will automatically cancel the return portion of your ticket. This is no bueno. By booking four one way tickets, you are ensuring that if something does go amiss with one of your flights, your remaining flights will still remain intact.
5. Leave your luggage at home. I'm a firm believer in traveling with carry on luggage only. I usually only pack a backpack. This is considered a personal item and it's free to travel with, though some airlines do have size and weight restrictions. I find it very easy to live out of a backpack for a week. It really is do-able, I promise. I will sometimes pack a carry on IF it's free. By not checking any bags, you save the cost of paying for the bag, which can be up to $50. You also eliminate the risk that your bag will be lost and the need to wait for it at baggage claim and possibly save the hassle of going through security a second time.
And that's how to get to Iceland from Indy for a week in June for only $461. It's true there's a little risk involved, but you're saving $324 per passenger. That means if you're traveling as a couple you're saving $684 which would cover your accommodations for the week, and to me that's worth the risk. Yolo, ya know.