Use budget airlines where available
Low-cost carriers are a great way to save money on one-way flights, especially for short-haul routes. Airlines like Spirit, Frontier, Wizz Air, AirAsia and Scoot often offer significantly lower base fares than traditional airlines. Just be aware of extra fees for baggage, seat selection and onboard services—and factor those into your total cost.
Mix and match airlines
Instead of booking a return flight with one airline, try combining two one-way tickets with different carriers. This not only opens up more options but can often lead to savings, especially on international routes. For example, you could fly from New York to Paris with JetBlue and return with French Bee, potentially saving money while also choosing more convenient times.
Use buy now, pay later
Even if you don’t find a low fare, you can still manage your budget by using a buy now, pay later option. At Alternative Airlines, we offer flexible payment plans through providers like Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm and PayPal Credit. These let you spread the cost of your flight over weekly or monthly instalments, which is ideal if you’re booking on short notice or need more time to budget.