- A TikToker shared her experience of saving money by purchasing her flight ticket directly from the airport instead of online.
- While some viewers found the idea inspiring, others felt that the added hassle wasn’t worth it.
- According to a budget vacation expert interviewed by Insider, this strategy is considered risky and may not work with all airlines.
A woman claimed to have saved 50% on a flight by purchasing her tickets at the airport, but viewers were skeptical about the extra effort involved. A budget vacation expert interviewed by Insider highlighted the potential risks of this travel hack.
On August 16, TikToker Gabrielle Moore shared in a video that she had heard about this strategy and decided to try it herself at a Spirit Airlines kiosk. She waited in a line designated for “future ticket sales” for approximately 20 minutes.
In the video, she displayed a screenshot of the cost of a round trip between Myrtle Beach International Airport and New York’s Laguardia Airport if she had purchased the tickets online, which amounted to over $100. She then showed viewers the physical ticket she bought that day, indicating that she had managed to secure the same trip for $53.80.
The TikTok video received 453,000 views and over 150 comments. Several people shared their own experiences of saving significant amounts of money using this method.
“Works for Spirit and Frontier,” suggested one user.
However, experts caution about the additional risks associated with this last-minute strategy. Chelsea Dickenson, the founder of the website Cheap Holiday Expert, which offers money-saving travel tips, explained that prices and availability can vary greatly the longer you wait.
“In general, you would rarely wait until the last minute to purchase your ticket, as airfares tend to increase as the departure date nears. Additionally, this strategy can be risky in terms of availability,” she said.
Dickenson emphasized that this method is more likely to work with low-cost airlines like Frontier and Spirit, which charge fees for online ticket purchases. Buying tickets directly from the airport helps avoid these costs, but it is important to research as not all airlines offer this option.
In a comment below her video, Moore clarified that she used this method to book her tickets a month in advance, so it wasn’t a spontaneous decision. Nonetheless, many felt that the additional cost and effort of making an extra trip outweighed the potential savings.
“I would rather pay the extra $46 than drive to the airport and wait in line,” wrote one viewer, receiving over 1,300 likes.
“My airport is 2 hours away. I have to go to the airport twice: once to buy the ticket and then again for the flight. Plus, I’ll have to pay for gas and parking twice. No thanks!” read another comment.
Dickenson agreed that this tip is generally more suitable for those who live closer to an airport or frequently pass through one, but people should not expect it to guarantee savings.
“It may be worth the effort, but there is no guarantee of saving money,” she advised.
Spirit Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider’s Digital Culture team here.
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