Tips for finding your next flight

As the temperatures start falling and leaves start changing, you’re likely thinking about travel plans for the winter, perhaps heading to the West Yellowstone Ski Festival, the Birkie or maybe even a ski trip to Europe.

Guests on our Lumi Experiences trips often ask for tips about when, where and how to choose flights. Here are a few of our insider tips, specifically for skiers.

Plan ahead - it is almost always less expensive to purchase flights earlier than later. The app Hopper helps predict airfares and suggests the best time to buy.

Use an aggregator - websites like Google Flights aggregate offers from many airlines and can be a quick source to find the best fares. Beware! To offer a low sticker price, many airlines now lead with their “light” fares, which often only include a carry-on. If you plan to bring skis, make sure your ticket includes the baggage allowance you need ahead of time and avoid excess baggage penalties at check-in.

Consider “Multi-city” routes - one common myth is that it is always less expensive to buy a round-trip ticket than a multi-city ticket, where your origin or destination is not the same in both directions. Multi-city routes often cost no more than a regular round-trip ticket. For example, it may even cost less to fly into Munich and out of Zurich than it does to fly round-trip to either airport. If you want to visit two different cities at the beginning and end of a trip, check out pricing for the multi-city route. It may cost less than you think!

Baggage fees - if you are traveling with a ski bag, you’ll likely want to book your ticket with two bags. Sometimes, airlines allow you to check a boot bag for free with your ski bag. If this is the case, you may not need to pay for a second checked-bag if you can fit enough gear in your carry-on. Remember to double-check the size limits for the boot bag. If you’re traveling with someone, you may be able to put both of your skis into one bag.

Collect your miles - Don’t want to take the time to set up a frequent flyer account or take the time to find your number? You may be missing out on future flight deals. The miles you earn from one trip to New Zealand could mean a free flight to Yellowstone Camp next fall.

Travel insurance - With Covid-19, there is a lot more uncertainty about air travel than there used to be. We now recommend that all of our guests purchase travel insurance. Many past Lumi guests recommend TravelEx Insurance. There is also a calculator for Allianz Travel on the Lumi site. Even if you’re not taking a Lumi trip, you can still buy travel insurance through these sites.

Offset your carbon - As skiers, we often see the impacts of climate change impact snow conditions. Air travel seriously increases your carbon footprint. Can you carpool or drive to that ski destination? If you must fly, most airlines give you the option to offset your flight emissions. It’s a small step, but go ahead and check that box when purchasing your flight.

If you’re still thinking about where you want to travel this winter, the 2023 Nordic World Championships in Planica, Slovenia might be a great option. We still have limited space available for Week 1 – the perfect opportunity to ski in Slovenia & Italy, and cheer on your favorite World Cup skiers in person! Sign up by October 31 and save $200 / person.

Hopefully these tips help as you search for flights to your next adventure!

See you on the trail,
Garrott Kuzzy