I vividly remember my family hiring a travel agent to book our holidays when I was a young girl. I think some of my family still do! Now, I’ve actually become an Independent Travel Agent myself!

I CAN understand why my family booked through travel agents. At the agency, one can casually waltz in, recline in a comfy chair, have a cup of tea and merely state when and where to the wizard behind the desk.

Sounds like a dream, I know! HOWEVER, I volunteer internationally. Also, having MS can make life and travel a bit more unpredictable. When I search for a flight, it has to be uncomplicated, at a bargain price and from whichever rural town I find myself in.

Unlike some of my family, I mostly book online from my phone. After trying out a few methods over the years, I’ve perfected my online flight search. Now, I want to teach you how to fly frugally like a volunteer with 3 ridiculously easy steps! Whether you’re searching for gap year flights or you’re planning a family trip abroad on a budget, this guide is for you!

This post may contain affiliate links and/or ads which means at no additional cost to you, I may receive compensation for qualifying clicks and/or purchases. I do not receive compensation from Camphill for this post nor is Camphill affiliated with this post. This post represents my opinion and my personal experience.

1. My frugal flight search begins with Google Flights

I used to be an advocate of the old method of clearing cookies throughout the booking process and searching for flights via an incognito/private page UNTIL the pros over at the travel search engine Skyscanner debunked this myth for me– along with a few others! What do you think about this method? Comment below!

At the Camphills where I have volunteered, the length of holiday time and holiday allowance varied from place to place. In terms of length, I have received anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks of holiday per volunteer year.

Bear in mind, the other volunteers are also receiving a similar amount of holiday time so it’s important to be quick in deciding when you’ll book!

Once I have a general idea of when and where I want to travel to, I enter it into Google Flights and casually scan for the cheapest flights. While I’m here I can take suggestions from Google on popular destinations, the cheapest days to travel, price trends, etc.

There’s also an open calendar feature which allows you to scroll through months at a time and view the estimated price for that day. It’s a fantastic overview!

Fret not, volunteering at Camphill does not only involve solo travel planning! As you meet other like-minded individuals, the spontaneous weekends away, road trips and camping trips will come in due course. After the long hours and constant interactions, you will be happy to take some time off to exhale and process!

Take into consideration that if you start your volunteer year already having ideas for travel plans, family and friends visits or festivals, it’s best to bring it to your coordinator/supervisor ASAP. It’s polite and it increases the chances of you getting the time off!

Many people have asked me, can you fly if you have MS?

First, it’s very important to note that MS is experienced differently by everyone diagnosed–even if two people with MS are related! The rate that MS progresses and the body parts most affected also vary per MSer; therefore, flying with MS will not look the same for all of us. Your ability to fly will most likely be based on the advice of your medical team, your mobility needs, health and comfort levels.

Generally, yes you can fly with MS unless otherwise advised by your medical professional. However, I am not an expert. When in doubt, be sure to defer to the advice of your medical team first. If you rely on mobility aids, communicate your needs clearly to the airport staff.

Your mobility aid will most likely have to go through the security scanner. If you’re a solo traveller this may mean that airport staff will have to either support you as it is being scanned or provide you with a chair, for example, as you wait. Don’t suffer in silence though! Self-advocate and arrive at the airport with sufficient time to get through check-in and security with greater ease.

2. Once I have found dates with flight prices I can afford, I enter the dates into Skyscanner

Now that I have narrowed my holiday dates down to the best deal, I enter them into the Skyscanner flights search engine.

Skyscanner has a decent look ahead calendar feature (displays flight prices for months in advance) but I’ve found that I often come across loads of magnifying glass icons for some searches. This icon requires a manual search to be performed on each day in question and this can be quite time-consuming. For this reason, I begin my frugal flight hunt with Step 1.

Before performing your Skyscanner search, I would recommend selecting both boxes for “Add nearby airports.” This way you’ll have the opportunity to view even MORE money-saving options! Tips on finding the absolute cheapest flights on Skyscanner here.

Once you get going, Skyscanner will make suggestions to get you the best deal. If you are flexible, simply changing your travel dates by a day or two can result in a more direct route at a better price or a very cheap flight with some layover time, for example.

If you’re feeling adventurous, have a go at their flight search engine and don’t be afraid to enter “Everywhere” as your destination!

3. If I am not booking immediately, I set up a Price Alert on Skyscanner

Whether I use the price alert feature on Skyscanner or not is hugely dependent on how much time I have to book.

How it works: Near the top of your search results page, you’ll find what looks like an alarm bell. Click the bell on the search result you’re most interested in (you can set up more than one price alert!) then enter the email address where you’d like to receive the alerts. Now, whenever there is an increase or a drop in the price, you’ll be notified! Read more about price alerts and their benefits here.

With these alerts, you’ll really notice just how unpredictable the airline game of pricing can be! Prices may drop steadily for a few days and then sharply increase the next without warning. To see what I mean, try it for yourself! It’s quick and FREE to set up an alert! Just start a random search in the above widget and create a price alert for a few days. After you’ve had enough, you can easily disable it.

Waiting for the right bargain flight can be a gamble. When I feel satisfied with a price, I book!

Finding a bargain flight is no longer as complicated as it used to be. Every year it seems that they are becoming more affordable and easier to find. The above steps are free to use and don’t necessarily require a travel agent. If you can be a wee bit flexible, you’ll be flying frugal like a volunteer in no time!

Happy (bargain) flying,

B the travelling MS x