By Rebecca K. Worthington

When is the best time to purchase a cheap flight? Ask friends and family, and some will tell you to buy far in advance; others will urge you to wait until the last minute. Today we’re sharing five quick tips to help you save money and enjoy easy travel once and for all.

1. Which days of the week should I book? According to airfare forecasting apps like Hopper, you should aim to book Tuesday through Thursday. However, some experts believe this isn’t as important as other factors. So, if you can lock in a good deal on a Friday, do it.
2. Don’t book too early, and don’t wait until the last minute. A recent study by CheapAir.com found that you’ll get some of the best pricing if you book 21 to 121 days before traveling.
3. Shop around. The best deals aren’t always on third-party sites, which are in the game to make money and one of the ways they do that is by marking up airfare. Make sure you’re checking your favorite airlines, as well as third-party sites and apps.
4. Follow your favorite airlines on social media. They use these platforms to inform followers of special offers and promotions.
5. Notify your credit union or bank before you travel. It’s our job to protect you from identity theft, and if we spot transactions from an unfamiliar location, we may assume your card is being used fraudulently and block the card from being used. Just let us know when you’re going away (and where), and we’ll share it with our fraud detection system.

There you have it! Five quick tips to help you save money next time you fly. Safe travels from Benchmark Federal Credit Union!

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Rebecca Worthington is Vice President of Marketing with Benchmark Federal Credit Union, which has branches in Phoenixville and downtown West Chester. Celebrating more than 75 years of service, Benchmark FCU is the only federal credit union to exclusively serve Chester County. Visit Benchmark’s Mortgage Center to view rates, apply for a mortgage, or calculate a payment. 610-429-1600; BenchmarkFCU.org.