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How Can I Maximize Flight Deals If I Live in a Smaller City?

Sept. 11, 2016
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3 min read
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How Can I Maximize Flight Deals If I Live in a Smaller City?
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TPG reader Bryant sent me a message on Facebook to ask about finding cheap flights:

“I see a lot of deals for international flights from New York and LA, but none from here in Buffalo. What's the best way to capitalize on flight deals if you don't live in a hub city?”

It's been a while since we saw a truly sensational mistake fare (with the exception of April's Qantas deal from LA and SF to Auckland for $225 round-trip), but there has been no shortage of impressive flight deals lately. In the past few months alone, we've seen flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo and New York to Stockholm for under $400 round-trip, along with plenty of others. As Bryant points out, most of these deals originate from hub cities or other large markets, but you can take advantage of fare sales no matter where you live.

The best strategy is to simply look for cheap connecting flights. This might seem obvious, but a lot of people seem to overlook this option and get discouraged from jumping on deals that don't serve their home airport. Ultimately, it's worth spending a bit extra to get from Buffalo to New York if, for example, you can then fly to Paris for only a few hundred dollars. Make sure to factor in any other costs you might incur by connecting, such as extra baggage fees or hotels (if your itinerary requires an overnight stay).

Similarly, you can look for inexpensive awards to set you up for an international departure. British Airways eliminated the lowest redemption level for domestic awards earlier this year, but you can still book economy flights up to 1,150 miles for just 7,500 Avios each way. American Airlines offers reduced mileage awards to (and from) a rotating list of North American destinations, including many smaller markets. Southwest and JetBlue are also good options for connecting flights during a fare sale, since award prices and cash prices are linked.

It's worth paying for a connecting flight if it helps you take advantage of a great deal. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

One nice aspect of buying a connecting flight is that you have the usual 24 hours to cancel with a full refund. If you see a great deal, you can jump on it right away and take the day to try and connect the remaining dots. If getting yourself to the departure city proves to be too costly or inconvenient, you can call the airline and get your money back. On the other hand, you may be stuck paying two change fees instead of one if your plans change beyond the free cancellation period, so there's a little added risk.

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Make sure you follow @TPG_Alerts on Twitter to catch the latest flight deals, and check out these posts for more tips on finding cheap airfare:

If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.