When booking a flight, one overlooked mistake often costs you tens or hundreds of dollars — a misspelled name, a hidden fee, the wrong currency, or a ticket that looks cheap but comes with no baggage at all. Below are the 8 most common mistakes and a concrete tip on how to avoid each one.
1️⃣ Name doesn't match the passport
Your first and last name on the ticket must be spelled exactly as in your passport. Fixing an error is often a paid extra ($18-55) or simply impossible, so double-check before you pay.
With low-cost carriers (Wizz Air, Ryanair) a name change is especially expensive — sometimes as much as a whole new ticket.
2️⃣ You see the baggage price last
A low base fare is tempting, but baggage, seat selection and check-in are often paid extras. Always calculate the final total including baggage — sometimes an "expensive" ticket is cheaper once the full package is bundled. On extra fees, see the airline ancillary fees guide.
3️⃣ You pay in the wrong currency
Some sites automatically offer a foreign currency or "payment in your bank's currency" (DCC) — that rate is almost always worse. Choose to pay in your home currency or the ticket's original currency and let the bank do the conversion. Details in the flight payment currency guide.
4️⃣ You trust a dubious OTA
A cheap third-party site (OTA) can sometimes deliver real savings, but changes, refunds and support are painful. In a dispute the airline tells you "contact the OTA" and the OTA says "contact the airline." On when it's better to book directly, see the direct vs OTA booking guide.
For an expensive ticket or a complex route, book directly from the airline — changes and refunds are far simpler.
5️⃣ The remaining 4 mistakes
- Not checking the connection time — too short is risky, too long is exhausting
- Forgetting the visa or ETIAS — a cheap ticket is useless without a visa
- Buying at the last minute — better to book early or at the right time (see when to buy tickets)
- Not setting a price alert — price alerts save you time and money
Avoiding these 8 mistakes saves you real money on a plane ticket. Before you buy, compare dates and prices on the Travel365 price calendar — leaving a day earlier or later can sometimes cut the price sharply.
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