Don’t Stress About Flight Prices Rising. Here Are 6 Ways To Snag Cheap Tickets.
It feels like the world has jolted back to its regularly scheduled ways. Most major cities have lifted some, if not all, COVID restrictions, the vaccine has rolled out, and it seems like everyone on social media is outside. Plus, this new outside is a lot more expensive than what most remember before the coronavirus upended their lives. If you're ready to go outside, I hope your pockets can keep up!
With flight prices increasing, there are a few tried and true methods to snagging cheap tickets no matter the season. I've had the most luck in scoring cheap tickets by using my Chase Sapphire points strategically. I recently got a one-way ticket from Ohio to Detroit for $19.00. In addition to a free night stay at a hotel in the city. Once, I got a ticket for using my points for only $5.00 for a one-way from Washington D.C. to Ohio.
Being budget-savvy is one strategy I used to help pay off my student loans. One of my motivators to paying off $30,000 in loans was to give me the freedom to travel more. There is an art to finding a cheap plane ticket. Clearing your history browser, booking on a Tuesday, and being flexible with dates are standard methods for booking an inexpensive flight. Besides searching on popular sites like Kayak and Expedia to find deals, there are a plethora of others you should triple check before purchasing.
Here are six sites where you can search for cheap tickets, discounts, and more.
1.Google Flights
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What might seem familiar to some is not common to all. I was a bit shocked when I realized a few of my friends haven't heard of Google Flights. This site is where I begin any search for cheap plane tickets. With its simple interface, it's easier to compare flight prices across different airlines, and the calendar function makes it simple to see what flight prices are like at various times during the month.
2.Skyscanner
When planning ahead, Skyscanner is an excellent option to help you track flights. You can download the app and input in your flight information and Skyscanner will send you an alert when the price drops. Using this feature allows you to score the cheapest ticket at the right time. I also love the different options it gives you when booking a flight, such as showing you the fattest route vs. the cheapest way.
3.Scott's Cheap Flights
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Now for Scott's Cheap Flights, you'll need a paid membership to use, but one of my old coworkers used to swear by it. They pride themselves on "doing the work for you." They have two tiers of membership: Elite and Premium. Once you sign up, you input your information, such as your departure airport. Then watch your emails for the deals to start flowing in, and most deals are between 40-90 percent off.
4.Hopper
Hopper is an app that uses a data-driven approach to search the interwebs for the cheapest plane tickets and then delivers them to you. I've used the app to help me book a plane ticket from Ohio to Japan for only $600 in 2018. The app predicts future flight prices with 95 percent accuracy. When I plan for a trip, I always turn on their alert settings to make sure I get the best deal.
5.Cheap Tickets
Cheap Tickets is a great tool to use, especially if you're a student. By verifying you're a student, you can get 18 percent off select hotels with their promo code. Their flight search engine also helps you compare prices and deals to find the most budget-friendly ticket. Their website also hosts tons of content with tips for new travelers and more.
6.VPN
Dominique Jackson/xoNecole
Using a VPN might be tech-savvy, but it doesn't have to be. Downloading a VPN to your computer is relatively easy. According to VPNMonitor, "A VPN allows you to change your IP address to another location while keeping your browsing activity anonymous — this way, you can browse flight deals from around the world without booking sites tracking your data and increasing prices."
Downloading a VPN, plus clearing your cookies and browsing history, and even searching for a flight from a private browser can help lower flight prices.
See you outside, sis! (Safely, of course.)
Featured image by Getty Images
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage