HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS TO AFRICA
Traveling to Africa on a budget can be challenging, but experienced travelers use smart strategies to reduce expenses. This extensive guide provides all the information you need to secure affordable flights to Africa from any location.
TOP TIPS FOR SECURING CHEAP FLIGHTS TO AFRICA
BOOK EARLY FOR DISCOUNTED AFRICA TICKETS
The key to finding cheap airfare to Africa is to book as early as possible. Flights become available for purchase around 11 months before departure, giving you almost a year to secure low fares. Since there are limited flight options to Africa that fill up quickly, booking a year in advance ensures you get a cheap seat before they are all taken. Set a reminder as soon as you decide on your travel dates to ensure you buy discounted Africa tickets with plenty of time.
BE FLEXIBLE WITH AFRICA TRAVEL DATES
If your schedule allows for flexibility, you can save significantly on flights to Africa. Airfare prices vary based on the season, day of the week, holidays, and events across the continent. Understanding these fluctuations can help you find cheap plane tickets to Africa.
Peak travel times, such as July and August, attract many tourists from America and Europe during school holidays. Similarly, Southern Hemisphere destinations like South Africa see increased prices during their peak season in December and January. To save on airfare, consider traveling during shoulder seasons right before or after these peak periods.
Certain days of the week also offer cheaper flights to Africa. Weekends are generally more expensive, especially Fridays, while Thursdays and Sundays tend to be the cheapest days for intercontinental flights. Even choosing between Monday or Tuesday versus Wednesday or Thursday can make a difference in airfare costs.
School holidays significantly impact airfares, with prices doubling when children in America and Europe are on extended breaks. Plan your trip during school terms to avoid these price hikes. Shifting your travel dates by a week earlier or later can reveal significant savings.
Be aware of major holidays and events in Africa that could increase prices. For instance, Ramadan affects Muslim countries by limiting food services. Safaris are more expensive during the Great Migration from July to October. Music festivals and conferences also affect prices. Research the local calendar of your destination before finalizing travel dates to find the cheapest times to fly to Africa.
INDIRECT ROUTES EQUAL CEAP FLIGHTS TO AFRICA
While nonstop flights from America to Africa are convenient, they come with higher price tags. Booking indirect routes with stopovers can save you a significant amount on airfare. Although this requires more time and planning, it greatly reduces travel costs.
Typically, the cheapest routes connect through countries that formerly colonized parts of Africa. For example, flights from the U.S. to South Africa often stop in London, while Germany is a common layover for flights to Namibia. France channels indirect traffic to and from its former West African colonies.
Certain global airlines use these colonial connections to offer discounted tickets at rates much lower than their American and European counterparts. Airlines like Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, and Kenya Airways offer affordable flights to Africa through their hubs in Istanbul, Addis Ababa, Dubai, and Nairobi, respectively. From these hubs, flights to other African destinations are available at reduced rates.
The downside of these indirect routes is the extended layovers, which can last over 10 hours. Account for lodging and food costs during long stopovers when calculating the total cost of the trip. Some countries also require transit visas, so factor in any visa fees.
Despite the additional logistics, the cost savings of indirect routes are substantial. Expanding your search to include one or more stopovers guarantees lower ticket prices.
LEVERAGE FLIGHTS COMPARISON SITES
Experienced travelers book their discounted flights online instead of paying commission fees to travel agents. This approach uses flight comparison websites like Skyscanner, Momondo, and Google Flights to compile all available fares and present the cheapest options.
These meta-search sites gather discounted ticket listings from airlines and discount travel agencies. Their efficient sorting algorithms help identify the lowest prices for any given route. These platforms also allow for flexible date searches over several months to find the cheapest times to fly.
Many flight search tools offer customizable price alerts when fares drop below a set threshold. For instance, you can set an alert for Cape Town flights if they fall below $750. This lets travelers quickly take advantage of temporary sales.
Students and budget travelers under 26 should also check with student travel agency STA Travel, which often secures exclusive discounted ticket allocations that are not available through mainstream sites.
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO FINE PRINT
The lowest price displayed on flight search sites does not always reflect the full cost. Ensure you click through to see what is included in the ticket price before making a final decision.
Many budget airlines attract customers with low base fares but add fees for checked baggage, seat assignments, food, and even payment processing. These additional fees can turn a cheap flight into a poor value.
Be thorough in evaluating the final price, including taxes, add-ons, and exclusions. Avoid options that use low introductory rates only to inflate costs at checkout. The cheapest flight can become quite expensive after accounting for all additional fees.
CONSIDER FULL TRIP COSTS
When comparing flight options and stopovers, consider the total trip cost beyond just the airfare. A shorter layover saves on hotel costs but allows less time for rest, while an overnight stopover requires spending on lodging and meals.
The cost of destinations also varies significantly. For example, Johannesburg might be cheaper overall than Cape Town, even if the flight to Cape Town is less expensive. Consider the cost of lodging, food, transportation, and activities at your destination when evaluating flight options.
LOCAL CURRENCY VALUES MATTER TOO
Africa’s 54 countries use numerous currencies, and exchange rates can impact the real cost of travel. A flight that seems cheap in U.S. dollars or Euros might require large sums of local currency upon arrival.
Cross-reference listed fares with current exchange rates in your destination country. A $500 ticket might seem affordable until you realize it converts to 50,000 South African Rand. Understanding these conversions helps determine if advertised airfares are genuinely good deals.
BOOK CONNECTING SINGLE FLIGHTS AS A SINGLE TICKET
When planning a multi-city African itinerary, purchase the entire journey on a single ticket. Booking separate legs with different airlines or agencies might save money upfront but carries significant risks.
If a delay or cancellation causes you to miss a flight, having a single integrated ticket means the airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no extra charge. This protection is lost when flights are booked separately. Missing one segment booked separately forces you to buy new tickets for the remaining journey, often at higher last-minute rates.
While booking connecting flights separately might seem convenient, a single unified ticket offers better protection against potential disruptions. The small initial savings do not outweigh the risk of significant additional costs due to fragmented flight arrangements.
USE REWARD MILES AND CREDIT CARD POINTS TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS TO AFRICA
Frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs offer another way to find reduced flights to Africa. Accumulating miles and points through travel-focused credit cards allows you to redeem awards for flights instead of paying cash. American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One Miles each offer flight deals if you use the right card combinations.
These programs allow cardholders to earn points or miles through everyday spending. Using your rewards card for regular purchases like groceries, gas, utilities, and other bills quickly adds up, allowing you to convert these points into free flights.
Be cautious of cards with high annual fees and tempting sign-up offers. Analyze the full program details to ensure the chosen travel cards provide sufficient rewards.
With some effort, these rewards can fund dream trips to Africa at reduced rates or even for no cash outlay, aside from taxes and fees. Invest time in understanding loyalty programs and credit cards so points can cover cheap African adventures.
HAPPY AND SAFE TRAVELS TO AFRICA
With these comprehensive tips and tricks for finding affordable airfare, you can start planning budget-friendly African vacations. Follow the guidance in this guide to secure cheap flights to amazing destinations in Africa that suit your interests, schedule, and budget. Safe travels with plenty of money saved thanks to flight deals!