Flight mistakes that will cost you time, money and your sanity ✈️😬

After years of living abroad and traveling constantly, I’ve made pretty much every flight-related mistake in the book, and I keep making them, because, oh well, life! Some cost me money, some cost me sleep, and a couple nearly cost me entire trips. Here are the 11 I see happening over and over again, including to myself. 👇

1️⃣ Not being flexible with your dates when searching for flights

Flying on a Tuesday instead of a Friday can sometimes cut the price in half. Most booking platforms have a calendar view that shows prices for the whole month; use it. Being even one or two days flexible can make a significant difference, especially on popular routes.

2️⃣ Only checking one booking platform

No single platform has the best price every time. Search on at least two or three — Google Flights, Skyscanner, and the airline’s own website are a good starting point. Booking directly with the airline also tends to make things simpler if anything goes wrong.

What may happen is that your (US) credit card may not be accepted if you book with an airline from some other countries. In this case, it will be easier to book your flight through Booking.com or Expedia. And while at it, you may want to check for some packages.

3️⃣ Not checking nearby airports

If you live within a reasonable distance of more than one airport, always check both. Flying from a smaller regional airport can sometimes save you a significant amount, even after factoring in the extra travel time to get there.

Or sometimes it’s the other way around. Bigger airports have more flight options and therefore more competition, and lower prices. It takes 30 seconds to check, and it’s often worth it.

4️⃣ Ignoring the total price and focusing on the base fare

That incredibly cheap fare starts looking very different once you add a checked bag, a carry-on, a seat selection, and any other extras the airline charges separately. Always calculate the total cost of the flight, including everything you actually need, before deciding it’s a good deal.

5️⃣ Choosing an airline just to collect miles, without comparing alternatives.

I did this once. I was so focused on building up my miles count that I booked without even looking at other options. It was only afterwards, when I actually stopped to think about it, that I realised another airline had a direct flight to the same destination, no stopover, cheaper, and would have saved me hours of travel time.

I felt genuinely silly. Miles are great when they make sense, but they’re not a good enough reason to ignore a faster and cheaper alternative. Always compare first, then factor in the miles.

6️⃣ Not selecting your seat at booking

Especially on long-haul flights. Leave it to the airline, and you’re gambling with your comfort for potentially ten hours or more. Middle seat, back row, directly in front of the galley, these are real outcomes that happen to real people every day. Pick your seat when you book, even if there’s a small fee.

7️⃣ Booking a connection with too little time between flights

Airlines will sell you connections that are technically possible but leave almost no margin for a delayed first flight, a long gate walk, or a slow immigration queue. As a rule of thumb, never book less than 90 minutes for a domestic connection and at least 2.5 to 3 hours for an international one. The cheap itinerary is not worth missing your connection.

8️⃣ Not double-checking the flight time in the right time zone

This one has caught out more experienced travelers than you’d think. Your flight departs at 00:30 — is that midnight tonight or tomorrow? Is that local time or the time zone you searched in? Always confirm the departure time against the local time at the airport. Always.

9️⃣Packing things in your carry-on that will slow you down at security

Liquids not in a clear bag, a laptop not ready to come out, a belt you forgot to take off, shoes that take forever to remove, these are the things that hold up the entire security line and make you that person everyone is quietly furious at. Have everything ready before you join the queue.

The same logic applies in reverse. Never pack anything of real value in a checked bag — and that includes important medication, travel documents, cash, electronics, or anything you genuinely cannot afford to lose or go without. If the airline loses your luggage, and it does happen, you want those things on your person.

🔟 Checking in a bag when you didn’t need to

If you can travel carry-on only, do it. You skip the check-in queue, you skip the baggage carousel on arrival, and you eliminate any risk of the airline losing your luggage. It requires a bit more planning, but once you get used to it, going back to checked bags feels like a step backwards.

1️⃣1️⃣ Not downloading the airline app or your boarding pass before you land

Airport Wi-Fi is unreliable, your data roaming might not be active yet, and the last thing you want is to be frantically trying to load your boarding pass at the gate with a queue of people behind you. Download everything you need before you board the first flight.

PRO TIP: Not reading my blog for travel advice 😅

I’ve made all of these mistakes, so you don’t have to.

Before you go, you may want to check out other helpful tips

11 Common Travel Mistakes That Waste Your Time and Money
Top 31 Travel Mistakes Even Travelers pro make. Are you one of them?