8 Ways to Save $$$ on United Airlines

It's easy to look at airline rates and believe they've never been so expensive, but that's simply not true. For example, a TWA flight from Los Angeles to New York in June 1959 cost $168.40. In today's dollars, that amounts to $1,225. A seasoned traveler wouldn't take long to find a far lower rate if they wanted to make the same flight today. And that's the point: We're all looking for a deal. If it's a United Airlines flight you seek, here are eight ways you can keep the cost down.

1. Book early

If possible, attempt to book your ticket at least three weeks before your planned departure date. This will help you lock in the lowest price. At one time, some pretty great last-minute reservations were available, but as reported in Travel + Leisure, fewer of those sweet deals are now available. Again, finding a last-minute deal is not impossible, but your best bet is to book sooner rather than later.

2. Be flexible

Rates vary dramatically depending on when you travel. If you can, consider flying on weekends or during off-peak travel periods. The United Airlines website offers a "flexible dates" option. When you check it, a calendar pops up, showing you the best rate for each day. As long as you have a little flexibility, you can save big. When we checked, a flight between Chicago and New York City ranged from $127 to $307, depending on the travel date.

3. Use those miles or reward points

If you have earned miles or reward points through United, now is a good time to use them. The same is true if you use an airline credit card. For example, the United Gateway℠ Card card from Chase has a $0 annual fee but offers 20,000 bonus miles for new cardmembers (once you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months) and 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, gas, and transit services

In other words, you get double the points for everyday purchases like gas on your credit card, and if you're a faithful United flyer, you can quickly rack up twice the points on the money you spend with United. Once you've accumulated enough points, use them to drive down your cash costs for airfare.

4. Take advantage of alerts

Subscribe to emailed fare alerts from United or any third-party travel website that offers them. Chances are, you don't deliberately look for low rates every day, which means you occasionally miss out on a great low fare. One way to learn about the lowest fares is to go to Google Flights. Here are the simple steps you'll need to take:

• At the top of the page, select the number of stops, cabin class, and the number of tickets you'd like to purchase.
• Choose your departure airport and destination.
• To track prices for this specific route, turn on Track Prices. You can track prices solely for the searched dates or, if your travel dates are flexible, select "Any Dates."

When you track "Any Dates," you'll receive an email when the route's minimum price drops significantly. If there isn't a significant price drop, you'll receive an email letting you know more about the best available flight prices.

5. Spread your wings

Let's say you're planning a trip to Philadelphia, but the rates are currently too high. Look for other airports in the vicinity and check rates for them. For example, you can fly into the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton airport, rent a car, and be in Philadelphia in under an hour.

6. Avoid fees

If you're taking a short trip, try to get by with a carry-on bag to avoid the checked baggage fee. You can also avoid the high cost of airport and airline snacks by bringing your own in your carry-on.

A common feature of most travel credit cards is that they help you avoid fees when flying. For example, the United Quest℠ Card allows you to check up to two bags for free. In addition, cardholders receive up to $125 in statement credits once a year, covering most United purchases, including upgrades and in-flight services.

7. Consider vacation packages

If you're planning to book a flight, hotel, and rental car anyway, take advantage of package deals that can lead to significant savings. If you're a member of a warehouse store like Costco or Sam's Club, you can typically find a menu of package deals through the retailer. Robust travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Kayak each provide plenty of vacation package options and United even offers its own sweet package deals, booked through Priceline.

8. Look for promo codes

United Vacations routinely offers a menu of promo codes. Before you book, check the page to see if a promotion is running for your destination. It's an easy way to save hundreds of dollars on your trip.

Depending on how you view travel, the experience can be exciting, stressful, or a little of each. The first step is finding the best way to get where you're going. If you happen to be traveling via United Airlines, knowing there are ways to minimize the cost can make it a little less stressful.