After learning about Skyscanner’s ‘Everywhere’ function, I had to give it a try. So I typed in FROM: ‘Orlando’ and in the ‘TO’ field I pressed the left mouse button. A blue box saying: ‘Can’t decide where? Click here to search Everywhere’ came up below. I clicked it. Then to the right I ticked ‘Search Flights‘.
A list of destinations came up, by price, starting from the most inexpensive. High up on the list was a midday non-stop flight to Guatemala for $91.79. This fare required flexibility with the date. I had to choose a day that was three days later than the one I had typed in. Fortunately, there was flexibility; so I purchased the ticket on the spot.
In a previous post, I mentioned finding a very cheap flight to Cancun; but I didn’t buy it right then and there, so it evaporated.
BUDGET TIP: If you find a ridiculously amazing fare like this, it won't typically last long. If you are sure you want it, buy it immediatly. It might not be there when you go back, even just seconds later.
That said, the cost isn’t really under $100. With Spirit Air flights, like most or all bargain carriers worldwide, a check-in bag is not included. At the time of writing, if you purchase your bag online at least 24 hours in advance, it costs $59. If you buy online within 24 hours of departure time, you will pay $65 and if you wait until you check-in at the airport, it is $79. I purchased my check-in bag online within 24 hours. In hindsight, I would have paid $6 less had I booked 24 hours prior. It is only a $6 difference; be that as it may, I do not want to pay more than I have to.
As in my case, if you do not purchase the $59 bag check-in when you pay for the flight, Spirit will send you an email reminding you about your bag and the three different prices. If you are sure you will reach your flight, purchase your check-in bag more than 24 hours before and pay the least possible amount of $59.
The flight was listed to take three hours and 10 minutes, but it only took two hours and forty minutes. The plane was full save for a few rows in the back that were completely empty.
FLIGHT HACK: Keep an eye out for empty rows of seats. I have managed this enhanced passenger value integrity on all five flights since la pandemia. It's not uncommon to be exhausted before taking a flight. Getting three seats to oneself can be a soothing boon. Then get into fetal position and meditate. What a self upgrade.
Shout out to the pleasantly helpful and accommodating flight attendants on that Spirit Air flight to Guatemala City.
I was super happy to have achieved an amazing price on airfare. However, along with the baggage cost mentioned, it is easy to forget that this was still not the final price. To enter Guatemala -and many countries- on a one-way ticket, it is typically necessary to provide proof of a future ticket that flies you out of the country.
Many nationalities get 90 days in country automatically when entering Guatemala. So I needed to have an onward ticket within 90 days of the arrival date.
At onwardticket.com, I was able to purchase a temporary ticket out of Guatemala. I bought it about 24 hours before the flight. It gets canceled in 48 hours and costs $14. Thanks to Tony’s Travels for turning me on to that useful travel hack.
HEALTH IS WEALTH: Shell out $3 on a bottle of water or two during the flight, or pick up an overpriced H2O at the airport before boarding. Dehydrating oneself while traveling to save a few bucks is not logical. Health helps create wealth. Do not put your immune system in extra jeopardy.
While checking in, the Spirit Air ticket agent checked my onward ticket in the system. I could have showed it to her on my phone, but it was easier to hand her a print out. She took it and hung on to if for a few minutes while checking its validity. This onward ticket was not checked when going through ultra-fast customs at the airport in Guatemala City.
| $91.79 | Airfare |
| $65 | Check-in Bag |
| $14 | Return Ticket valid for 48 hours |
| $170.79 | Total Cost of Trip |
This was an airfare victory, especially in August of 2022 when cheap tickets are seemingly not as easy to acquire compared to several months ago.
Have you had any great experiences using Skyscanner? Let us know in the comments below.
