Studying abroad is an exciting milestone for Nigerian students. But those flight tickets can cost a fortune! Booking affordable flights is essential to keeping costs in check.
In this detailed guide, we provide insider tips, resources and best practices to help Nigerian students find and book the most budget-friendly flights to overseas universities.
Whether you are headed to schools in the UK, Canada, USA, Malaysia or elsewhere, apply these proven strategies for getting airfares from Nigeria at the lowest possible prices.
How to Get the Cheapest Flights from Nigeria
Follow these key steps:
- Be Flexible with Timing and Connections: Being flexible with your departure date opens up affordable options. Flying midweek is cheaper than weekends. Connecting flights can cost less than nonstop ones. Explore alternatives.
- Expand Your Search to Nearby Airports: Sometimes flying out of Abuja or Port Harcourt can be much cheaper than Lagos for the same destination. Check fares from multiple Nigerian airports.
- Use Flight Comparison Sites and Apps: Instead of checking individual airline sites, use metasearch engines like Skyscanner to compare fares across hundreds of airlines and websites. Apps provide alerts on price drops.
- Avoid School Holiday Periods: Ticket prices shoot up during popular school break travel times like December holidays. Avoid these peak dates.
- Sign up for Travel Alerts and Newsletters: Airlines and travel sites send promotional fares to subscribers that provide big savings.
- Book Early for the Best Prices: Airfares tend to get more expensive closer to the travel date. Book at least 1-2 months in advance for lower fares.
- Check for Student and Youth Discounts: Many airlines offer discounted student fares from Nigeria. Have your ISIC or ID ready.
- Consider Budget Airlines: Carriers like Air Arabia offer cheaper flights from Lagos to international destinations like Egypt.
- Leverage Sales and Deals: Watch for fare sales on airlines, big price drops around holidays, and other promotional offers.
- Use Credit Card Points and Miles: Signing up for a travel rewards credit card allows you to accumulate points and air miles to offset flight costs.
Detailed Guide on Finding Cheap Student Flights from Nigeria
Let’s explore these strategies and resources in greater depth:
Be Flexible with Date and Route
One of the easiest ways to reduce airfare is having some flexibility. Here’s how:
- Flying midweek is cheaper – Flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday typically have much lower fares than weekends.
- Alternative airports save money – Sometimes flying out of Abuja or Port Harcourt to your destination is cheaper than departing from Lagos.
- Consider connecting flights – A flight with one stop can cost less than a nonstop option for the same destination.
- Explore nearby dates – Check fares a week before or after your ideal departure date. Just a few days can make a difference!
Having this flexibility allows you to find better flight deals from Nigeria. The savings add up.
Use Metasearch Engines and Booking Apps
Checking individual airline websites is extremely time consuming. Instead, use metasearch engines and flight booking apps.
These allow you to enter your route and dates and instantly compare options across hundreds of airlines, travel sites, and online agencies for the lowest fare. Some top flight search platforms include:
- Skyscanner – Finds the cheapest days and flexible dates to fly
- Google Flights – Fast and easy search with price tracking
- Momondo – Cashback rewards when booking through app
- Kiwi – Provides exclusive promo fares and deals
The key is identifying flight search tools that include both major and budget airlines operating from Nigeria. Using these sites slashes search time and surfaces affordable options you may miss when checking manually.
Enable price alerts and notifications so they can let you know when rates for subscribed routes and dates drop. This allows you to book at the lowest points.
Avoid Peak Travel Dates
Airfares around popular travel periods can be astronomically high. These include:
- Christmas and New Year holidays in December-January
- Easter holiday period
- Eid al-Fitr holiday dates
- Summer travel months of June-August
When planning your flights from Nigeria, avoid peak dates and seasons when demand is very high. Being a little flexible with your departure can help you travel during cheaper off-peak periods.
Sign Up for Email Alerts and Newsletters
Most airlines and travel sites offer email newsletters with exclusive flight deals and offers. For Nigerian students looking to fly abroad affordably, these are invaluable resources.
Sign up for updates from:
- Your preferred international airlines flying out of Nigeria
- Budget carriers like Air Arabia that operate in Nigeria
- Aggregator sites like Travelstart that offer discounted fares
- Student and youth travel sites like STA which share student flight deals
These newsletters provide early access to seat sales, flash deals, promo codes and seasonal discounts you won’t find elsewhere.
Book Early as Prices Rise Closer to Travel Dates
Airfares from Nigeria to international destinations rise significantly as departure dates near.
Booking earlier provides substantial savings. Aim to finalize flights at least 1-2 months before your travel period. This locks in lower fares before costs jump higher.
Many Nigerian students also book their return tickets in advance together with initial departure flights. This provides cost assurance and peace of mind when budgeting the full cost of air travel.
Check for Student Airfare Discounts
Leading global airlines including top Nigerian carriers offer special discounted fares for students under age 25 or 30.
Have your ISIC or university student ID ready when booking flights and requesting student rates. Student discounts are available on both one-way and round trip tickets.
Some sample student flight discounts include:
- Arik Air – Up to 25% off
- British Airways – 10-15% off
- Lufthansa – 25% off
- Emirates – 10% off
- Delta Airlines – Discounted student rates
Combining student airfare offers with other tips in this guide can help maximize savings on flights from Nigeria.
Consider Budget Airlines for International Flights
While reputed legacy airlines like British Airways have wide global route networks, budget carriers can have cheaper fares and robust regional connectivity.
Some options for Nigerian students to check include:
- Air Arabia – Flies from Lagos to Egypt and United Arab Emirates hubs starting under ₦150k for a round trip. Offers student discounts.
- FlyDubai – Affordable flights connecting Lagos and Abuja to Dubai and beyond. Discounted student fares.
- EgyptAir – Budget rates from Nigeria to Egypt and Middle East destinations.
Comparing budget airline pricing can uncover significant savings versus mainstream carriers for certain international routes from Nigeria.
Watch for Flight Deals and Promotions
Marking your calendars with major fare sale dates can score you massive savings. Watch out for:
- Major end-of-year sales in December.
- Back-to-school deals in September.
- Holiday promos around Easter and Eid.
- Airline anniversary and birthday promos.
- Price drops using flight tracking apps and alerts.
- Student flight coupons and promo codes.
Setting sale alerts and being ready to book when special fares drop helps secure the lowest possible rates from Nigeria.
Use Credit Card Points and Miles
One overlooked way to reduce flight costs is through travel rewards credit cards. These cards allow you to earn points and air miles as you spend which can be redeemed for free flights.
Cards like Afro Millennials Visa give up to 3 points per $1 spent. Accumulating enough points from your regular spending can offset a large chunk of airfare costs.
If parents apply for a card on your behalf, their usage can rack up points towards your flight. Just ensure it’s a travel rewards card with no foreign transaction fees.
Booking Strategies to Save Money
Follow these best practices when booking flights:
- Double check visa requirements before purchasing tickets.
- Read fare rules carefully – some airlines have rigid change policies.
- Avoid booking on public WiFi networks and use VPNs for security.
- Confirm required COVID-19 tests and health forms are ready before departure.
- Book refundable fares if possible to lower risk.
- Call airline and provide your student ID number to request discounts.
- Pay with a card that has Trip Delay and Cancellation protection.
Savvy flight booking yields major savings. Work these techniques for the lowest fares!
Common Questions on Student Flights from Nigeria
Which is cheaper, booking directly with airlines or on third-party sites?
It’s best to check both airline sites directly and third-party search engines/apps when looking for the cheapest fares. Comparison is key, as pricing and sales can vary across sources.
How soon before my flight should I book for the best deals?
Aim to book at least 1-2 months in advance for lower airfares. Prices often jump significantly in the 2 weeks prior to departure dates.
Can budget airlines be trusted for safety on international routes?
Major budget carriers follow the same international safety protocols and standards as full-service airlines. Check their safety records but they typically offer reliable service.
Is it better to fly nonstop or take a connecting flight?
It depends on the route and dates. Sometimes nonstop flights are indeed more expensive. Comparing options including connections can unlock cheaper fares in many cases from Nigeria.
Can I change my current flight booking to take advantage of lower fares?
Most airlines allow you to change your booking but may charge fees based on the fare rules. Some may only offer credits for future travel. Read terms before booking.
Key Takeaways
Finding and booking affordable flights from Nigeria as a student takes some time and effort. Start early, use flight search tools, stay flexible, book during sales, and take advantage of student discounts and loyalty programs.
Applying these tips will help you keep airfare costs in check so you can focus your budget on the incredible experiences waiting at your overseas university!
