Finding cheaper flights is often one of the biggest challenges when planning a trip. However, with a few savvy travel hacks and strategies, you can significantly reduce the cost of your airfare. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just looking for a budget-friendly way to book your next vacation, here are the best tips and tricks to help you score the cheapest flights.
1. Book at the Right Time
The timing of your flight booking can have a huge impact on the price. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, research has shown that booking your flight early is one of the best ways to save money.
- Book in Advance: The general rule is to book domestic flights 1-3 months in advance and international flights 3-6 months ahead of time. Airlines usually release the cheapest seats first, so if you book early, you can snag these low fares before prices go up.
- Avoid Last-Minute Bookings: While it’s tempting to hope for last-minute deals, this strategy often backfires, as airlines typically hike prices close to the departure date. Exceptions do exist for unsold seats, but it’s risky to wait if you’re planning a vacation.
- The Cheapest Day to Fly: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are often the cheapest days to fly because they are less popular travel days. Mid-week flights are usually less crowded, and airlines are more likely to lower prices on these dates to fill up planes.
2. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates and Times
Flexibility is key when it comes to finding cheaper flights. Airlines vary their prices based on demand, and flights during peak seasons or popular times can be significantly more expensive.
- Avoid Peak Travel Seasons: If possible, avoid flying during busy times like holidays, summer vacations, and weekends. Traveling during the off-peak season, or the “shoulder season,” can yield much cheaper fares. For example, flying to Europe in the fall or spring tends to be more affordable than summer.
- Fly at Unpopular Times: Flights that leave early in the morning or late at night (the so-called “red-eye” flights) are often cheaper. Travelers prefer flying during the day, so airlines lower prices for flights at less convenient times.
- Use Fare Calendars: Websites like Google Flights and Skyscanner offer fare calendars, which allow you to see the prices for a whole month. By using this tool, you can compare fares across a range of dates and choose the cheapest day to fly.
3. Use Flight Comparison Websites
Comparison websites are your best friend when it comes to finding the lowest airfare. These platforms allow you to search for flights from multiple airlines and travel agents all in one place.
- Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak: These are some of the most popular flight comparison tools. Skyscanner and Google Flights allow you to search for the cheapest flights across a wide range of dates and even show you nearby airports that may have lower fares. Kayak offers a “Price Alert” feature that notifies you when a flight drops in price.
- Set Price Alerts: Many of these websites offer a price alert feature that notifies you when the fare for your desired route drops. By monitoring price trends over time, you can book when the fare is at its lowest.
4. Use Budget Airlines and Hidden-City Ticketing
- Budget Airlines: Low-cost carriers such as Southwest, Spirit, Ryanair, and easyJet can offer significantly cheaper flights than traditional airlines. However, you’ll need to factor in the cost of add-ons like baggage fees, seat selection, and in-flight services. Keep an eye out for flash sales and promotions, which can offer even deeper discounts on fares.
- Hidden-City Ticketing: Hidden-city ticketing is a clever hack where you book a flight with a layover in your intended destination but don’t take the final leg of the journey. For example, if you want to fly to Chicago but a flight to New York with a layover in Chicago is cheaper, you can simply disembark in Chicago and skip the second leg. Websites like Skiplagged can help you find these flights. Note: Hidden-city ticketing has risks, such as not being able to check luggage, and some airlines frown upon this practice.
5. Take Advantage of Airline Miles and Points
One of the best ways to consistently get cheaper (or even free) flights is by taking advantage of frequent flyer programs and credit card rewards. With a little planning, you can use miles and points to drastically reduce your travel costs.
- Sign Up for Frequent Flyer Programs: Almost every major airline has a loyalty program that allows you to earn miles with each flight. Over time, you can accumulate enough miles to redeem for free or discounted flights. Join multiple programs and start earning miles with each trip.
- Use Travel Credit Cards: Travel credit cards offer some of the best ways to rack up points that can be redeemed for flights. Many cards offer huge sign-up bonuses that are enough for a round-trip ticket after meeting minimum spending requirements. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Platinum also offer additional perks, such as travel insurance and airport lounge access.
6. Use Airline Mistake Fares
Sometimes airlines make pricing errors, leading to incredibly cheap flights. These “mistake fares” can be found on travel deal websites or by subscribing to deal alerts.
- Follow Deal Websites: Websites like Scott’s Cheap Flights, Airfarewatchdog, and Secret Flying specialize in finding and sharing mistake fares. If you’re flexible with your travel plans, you can snag an unbelievable deal.
- Act Fast: Mistake fares don’t last long. If you come across one, book immediately. Most airlines will honor the fare, but there’s a small risk that it could be canceled later.
Conclusion
Scoring cheaper flights is not just about luck—it’s about being informed and strategic. By booking at the right time, using comparison tools, being flexible with your travel dates, and taking advantage of miles, points, and mistake fares, you can fly for a fraction of the normal cost. Keep these travel hacks in mind the next time you’re planning a trip, and enjoy the savings!
