Dream vacation found… and then this: the flight suddenly costs twice as much?

Who doesn’t know the feeling? You’ve found your dream vacation. Everything feels right. In your mind, you’re already halfway there. And then you check the flights and think: “Okay… that wasn’t part of the plan.”

That’s exactly what just happened to me again. I’m currently looking for a flight to Germany for a wedding in June. In March, I flew there and back for about €300, just with hand luggage. Now, over Easter, I checked again and suddenly the same flight was around €550. Same route, same connection—yet such a big difference.

Is it really just rising prices?

You hear everywhere that everything is getting more expensive. Fuel prices, war, uncertainty. And yes, of course, all of that has some impact. But honestly, I often feel like there’s also a lot of panic involved, and people quickly assume everything is becoming unaffordable.

My own example shows quite clearly that it’s often not just about that—it strongly depends on when and how you search.

What really makes a difference

Booking flights has become a bit like solving a small puzzle. But a few things genuinely help—and these are exactly the strategies we keep using ourselves:

1. Search during the week instead of weekends

   Most people look for flights on weekends—and you can often see that reflected in the prices. During the week, especially Tuesday or Wednesday, your chances are often much better.

2. Avoid holidays and public holidays when possible

   Easter was the perfect example. Same flight, almost twice the price. If you’re a bit flexible and look just before or after, you can easily save several hundred euros.

3. Play around with dates and times

   A single day can completely change the price. It’s really worth trying out different options.

4. Switch devices and search again

   I often compare between my phone and laptop and regularly clear cookies. Sounds trivial, but sometimes it actually makes a difference.

5. Don’t think too narrowly about routes

   A different airport or an extra stopover can significantly reduce the price. In the end, it’s always a question of time vs. money.

6. Travel with hand luggage only

   I noticed this myself. In March, I traveled with just hand luggage and it was noticeably cheaper. For many trips, that’s completely sufficient. For winter trips, we even have a solution for you—our rentable snow suits, which save space in your suitcase and therefore money as well.

   
   

What many people forget

These days, there are more options to travel by train again, even overnight trains. Not always the fastest option, but sometimes a great alternative. In the end, it comes down to the same question: how much time are you willing to invest, and what is it worth to you?

A small bonus from personal experience

Something I’ve noticed quite often:After booking, it can be worth checking your reservation again. Occasionally, upgrades are offered surprisingly cheaply—for example, more legroom, better seats, or simply a bit more comfort on longer flights. Not something you can plan for, but definitely worth a quick look.

My conclusion

I don’t think flying has become unaffordable across the board. But I do think it’s easy to get unsettled by everything going on and overlook how much influence you still have yourself. Often, it’s worth taking another look, comparing options, and investing a bit of time.

And if you’re at exactly that point right now, thinking, “I’d love to… but the flights…,” feel free to reach out to us. We’re happy to help with your flight search—and often, together, you’ll discover completely different options.

In a few days, after the Easter holidays, I’ll sit down at my laptop again, clear everything that can be cleared, and simply start the search all over again.