‘Cheaper may not be smarter’ when booking connecting flights for trip | Travel News | Travel

A travel expert has warned tourists looking to save money that getting a connected flight may cost more money in the long run.

To escape the cold weather, many tourists are planning to book a holiday somewhere warm without breaking the bank.

However, posting to the Reddit group r/TravelHacks, the social media user @c0ffee-connoisseur noted that what travellers save in money, they make up for in discomfort.

They explained: “I think I have come to my realisation that booking flights that are cheaper may not be smarter in some cases. A direct flight would have been three hours. Yes, it would be more expensive, but the total travel time is only three hours.

“A non-direct flight total time [would be a] four-hour flight and an hour layover. [I] realised that I ended up getting to my location late at night and at the same time, sitting on a plane is super uncomfortable. [I] will not put myself through that pain again.”

In the post, @c0ffee-connoisseur recalled saving money on a recent trip by booking a connecting flight, as opposed to a direct journey.

Whilst this flight was cheaper, it was nearly double the length of a direct flight, including an hour’s layover at another airport to get on the second flight.

The Reddit user also noted that, like many, they find flying rather uncomfortable, meaning it is worth considering paying a little more to spend less time on board.

Another Reddit user, @travellingcoffee, also highlighted that layovers can add additional stress to a journey, particularly if one flight is running late.

One traveller wrote: “My wife is not a fan of flying so the least number of hops for her the better. With the unpredictability of on-time flights lately and getting to your connection on time, it’s not worth the stress for us.

“Unless it’s unavoidable like a flight from Canada to Europe, we are not from a large centre so we would need a connection to a larger airport, then overseas.”

Commenting on the post, a number of other members of the r/TravelHacks group warned that spending more time at the airport could also see tourists spend more money.

One Reddit user added: “Also figure in the cost of any in-terminal purchases – food, Starbucks etc – that you’ll usually get during the layover if you don’t have access to a lounge that includes them.”

Another responded: “Seriously! Airport prices are outrageous. I read a story recently about someone paying $9 (£7.15) for a small bag of chips [crisps]!”