Here at Oceans 2 Earth Foundation, we understand that traveling to a volunteer destination is a huge budget factor when considering attending one of our programs. Though airfare isn’t included in the price of our projects, we still want to help volunteers find the best deals possible so you can join us on an adventure of a lifetime. Below we’ve outlined three travel tips to help you find the most affordable flights for this upcoming summer of travel.
Be Flexible
Many Oceans 2 Earth Foundation programs start on a certain day of the week, but are continuously happening. If you’re able to be flexible with your start date, that’s a great way to find the best flight. For example, if you want to go on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation program you can pick from a myriad of start dates so begin with the flights and then pick your start date based on the most affordable flight you discover. Additionally, if you’re in a metro area that has multiple airports, being flexible with where you catch your flight can be helpful. Or if you’re heading abroad, find a domestic flight to the cheapest international airport going to your destination. For example, if you’re from the United States and want to go to the Great Barrier Reef, many flights heading over the Pacific leave from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Dallas Fort Worth. Figure out which one of these exit ports has the cheapest flights to Australia and then book your domestic flight to these international hubs.
Use Flight Search Engines to Predict, But Not to Book
In this modern day, there are a plethora of digital tools at our disposal to find cheap flights. Some of our favourite places to turn to when looking for a good deal on airfare are Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Hopper. All of these websites and apps are similar in that they scour the internet for the most affordable flights and tell you when to buy your ticket, but they have different methods. Google Flights and Skyscanner are practically the same in that they are flight search engines and will give you data about how you could save more money if you change the date, destination, and other factors. You can also purchase flights through these sites, but the best way to buy your airfare is through the actual company’s site in case a delay, cancellation, or something occurs. Third-party sites are rarely helpful when something unexpected happens so booking directly is the best path. Hopper specializes in telling you exactly when to book the flight. For example, when booking an international flight, it’s best practice to do so a few months in advance. Hopper will predict and let you know when it’s the best time to book and how much you’ll save by waiting until this time.
Set Up Flight Price Alerts
While using these flight search engines, oftentimes you can set up alerts so you can be notified when the price falls. Let’s say you want to travel to Australia but you don’t know when is best or for how long you want to go but you want to be told when a great deal occurs. All you have to do is set up an alert and you’ll get an email sent to your inbox when the price lowers and then you can book your trip.
Now that you have these travel tools at your fingertips, you’re ready to start planning for your upcoming summer adventure. Head to Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers to check out our Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation and Island Reef Research and Conservation programs.
