Saving Money by Flying More
Saving Money by Flying More
In the peculiar world of airline pricing, sometimes flying more can actually cost less. You’ve probably seen those low fares with multiple connections that seem less convenient. While nonstop flights are in high demand, connecting flights can be easier to book, and sometimes, by manipulating stopover rules, you can actually save money. Here’s how to use this to your advantage.
Scenario 1: Chicago to Dubai with a Bonus in the Maldives
Imagine you want to fly business class to Dubai and experience Emirates Business Class. You check flights from Chicago and see that the cost is around $6,800 per person in business class. However, if you add a long weekend in the Maldives, the price drops to $5,625. That’s quite the saving, and you get to enjoy an over-the-water bungalow!
Scenario 2: Denver to Tokyo with a Stop in Saigon
Next, let’s say you want to fly nonstop from Denver to Tokyo on United in Polaris class. The cost is $8,135. But if you add a long weekend in Saigon, where you can indulge in Bahn Mi and Pho, the price drops to $6,274. Not only do you save money, but you also get to explore another destination! It also will let you try out ANA’s business class.
Scenario 3: Los Angeles to Peru with a Hidden Savings
Finally, consider a trip to Peru, with most travelers heading to Machu Picchu, which means flying to Cuzco. While there’s no business class within Peru, LATAM offers Cabina Premium and while they don’t have the best business class international, it’s not the worst either. . If you separate out the cost of that ticket, you’ll see a modest savings a few hundred bucks. But the real benefits are that the baggage allowance from the long-haul business class flights extends to your entire itinerary and that your contract of carriage between you and the airline represents your whole trip, not just a part of it. For example, if the Cuzco-Lima Leg is delayed and you miss the flight to LA, it’s on the airline to get you accommodated. If it’s two tickets, you may be screwed. What if there was civil unrest in Cuzco (like there was in January 2023? If flights cancelled in and out of Cuzco, then you could cancel your whole ticket for a refund, instead of just part of it. There are reasons to separate tickets sometimes, but generally more flights on less tickets is better.
Those are just some examples. You never really know where you’ll find value like this on flights until you look.
Below flights are all business class with the exception of the LaTam flight within Peru, it’s the closest that aircraft can come to business class. Premium Economy.
Flight Option 1
EK 236 O MON 10FEB25 Chicago/ORD - Dubai/DXB 07:45PM 07:10PM TUE 11FEB25
Operated By: Emirates, Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 13h 25m
EK 235 O TUE 25FEB25 Dubai/DXB - Chicago/ORD 09:45AM 02:55PM
Operated By: Emirates, Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 15h 10m
Total Fare: 6835.80 USD Price per adult (1): 5118.00 USD + Taxes 1717.80 USD
Flight Option 2
EK 236 O MON 10FEB25 Chicago/ORD - Dubai/DXB 07:45PM 07:10PM TUE 11FEB25
Operated By: Emirates, Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 13h 25m
EK 652 O THU 20FEB25 Dubai/DXB - Male/MLE 09:40AM 02:55PM
Operated By: Emirates, Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 4h 15m
EK 2211 O MON 24FEB25 Male/MLE - Dubai/DXB 11:30PM 03:00AM TUE 25FEB25
Operated By: FLYDUBAI, Aircraft: Boeing 737MAX 8 Passenger, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 4h 30m
EK 235 O TUE 25FEB25 Dubai/DXB - Chicago/ORD 09:45AM 02:55PM
Operated By: Emirates, Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 15h 10m
Total Fare: 5625.10 USD Price per adult (1): 3327.00 USD + Taxes 2298.10 USD
Flight Option 1
UA 143 P MON 10MAR25 Denver/DEN - Tokyo/NRT 12:30PM 03:45PM TUE 11MAR25
Operated By: United, Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 12h 15m
UA 142 P THU 20MAR25 Tokyo/NRT - Denver/DEN 05:30PM 01:10PM
Operated By: United, Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 10h 40m
Total Fare: 8134.50 USD Price per adult (1): 7689.00 USD + Taxes 445.50 USD
Flight Option 2
UA 143 P MON 10MAR25 Denver/DEN - Tokyo/NRT 12:30PM 03:45PM TUE 11MAR25
Operated By: United, Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 12h 15m
NH 891 P THU 20MAR25 Tokyo/HND - Ho Chi Minh City/SGN 04:50PM 09:50PM
Operated By: All Nippon, Aircraft: Boeing 787-10, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 7h
UA 7904 P SUN 23MAR25 Ho Chi Minh City/SGN - Tokyo/NRT 07:30AM 03:15PM
Operated By: ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS COMPA, Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 5h 45m
UA 142 P SUN 23MAR25 Tokyo/NRT - Denver/DEN 05:30PM 01:10PM
Operated By: United, Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 10h 40m
Total Fare: 6273.20 USD Price per adult (1): 5773.00 USD + Taxes 500.20 USD
Flight Option 1
LA 2479 I TUE 18FEB25 Los Angeles/LAX - Lima/LIM 11:20AM 10:55PM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Boeing 767-300, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 8h 35m
LA 2476 I SAT 01MAR25 Lima/LIM - Los Angeles/LAX 12:00PM 06:05PM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Boeing 767-300, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 9h 5m
Total Fare: 3304.25 USD Price per adult (1): 3160.00 USD + Taxes 144.25 USD
Flight Option 2
LA 2479 I TUE 18FEB25 Los Angeles/LAX - Lima/LIM 11:20AM 10:55PM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Boeing 767-300, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 8h 35m
LA 2063 W FRI 21FEB25 Lima/LIM - Cuzco/CUZ 02:25PM 03:45PM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-100/200, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 1h 20m
LA 2004 W SAT 01MAR25 Cuzco/CUZ - Lima/LIM 06:40AM 08:10AM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-100/200, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 1h 30m
LA 2476 I SAT 01MAR25 Lima/LIM - Los Angeles/LAX 12:00PM 06:05PM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Boeing 767-300, Baggage Allowance: 2, Duration: 9h 5m
Total Fare: 3408.82 USD Price per adult (1): 3220.00 USD + Taxes 188.82 USD
Flight Option 3
LA 2063 P FRI 21FEB25 Lima/LIM - Cuzco/CUZ 02:25PM 03:45PM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-100/200, Baggage Allowance: 1, Duration: 1h 20m
LA 2004 P SAT 01MAR25 Cuzco/CUZ - Lima/LIM 06:40AM 08:10AM
Operated By: LATAM AIRLINES PERU, Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-100/200, Baggage Allowance: 1, Duration: 1h 30m
Total Fare: 419.77 USD Price per adult (1): 238.00 USD + Taxes 92.09 USD
