Who among us doesn’t dream of traveling the world and discovering new places? The question is just how to find cheap flights, because our unfortunate wallets sometimes can’t keep up with our dreams, right?
Flying can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be!
After nearly a decade of budget travel, gathering experiences, and extensively searching the internet for the best deals, I want to share my proven tricks for cheap flying with you.
If you’re tired of paying a fortune for airline tickets, this article is just for you!
1. How to Find Cheap Flights? Be Flexible – That’s Essential!
Seriously, flexibility is your best friend when searching for cheap flights. If possible, don’t stick like glue to specific dates.
The difference between a Tuesday flight and a Saturday flight can amount to several hundred dollars! Mid-week is usually the cheapest time to fly because most people plan weekend getaways.
Even better if you can be flexible about your destination. Always wanted to see Asia? Great, but does it have to be Thailand in February? Maybe Vietnam, Malaysia, or the Philippines will be cheaper at that time?
Compare different destinations and be open to surprises. Some of my best trips started with the question: “Where can I fly for $50?“.
2. Flight Search Engines – Your New Best Friends
You’ve probably heard of Skyscanner or Kayak, but do you really know how to use them like a professional? Here are a few tricks:
- Search entire months instead of specific dates. Most search engines have a “whole month” option that will show you the cheapest days to fly.
- Use the “everywhere” option as your destination. Seriously, try it! Enter your departure city, and choose “everywhere” or “anywhere” as your destination. You’ll be surprised how cheaply you can fly to some places.
- Compare different search engines. Each has access to slightly different offers. Check Momondo, Google Flights, Azair, or eSky – sometimes the differences are substantial.
My personal favorite? Kiwi.com with its “radius search” function, which allows you to search for flights not only to a specific city but also to all airports within a radius of, for example, 100 miles.
A brilliant hack when planning a trip around a region!
3. Incognito Mode Is Not a Myth
Have you ever heard that flight prices increase when you check the same destination several times? It’s not an urban legend!
Airline websites use cookies to track your interests and sometimes raise prices when they see you’re really interested in a specific flight.
The solution? Always search in incognito mode or regularly clear your cookies. You can also try searching from another device or through a VPN, pretending you’re from another country.
Sounds like spy tactics? Well, it kind of is – it’s a war for your money!
4. Newsletters and Price Alerts – Don’t Miss Out on Deals
Catching a super deal often requires being in the right place at the right time.
Subscribe to airline newsletters and special deal services, such as Fly4free or Secret Flying.
You can also set price alerts for specific destinations. Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak allow you to monitor prices and notify you when they drop.
I personally snagged tickets to New York for half the normal price this way – I simply got an email that the price had dropped, and within 15 minutes I had booked my flight.
Speed is crucial because the best deals disappear quickly!
5. Flights with Layovers – Sometimes More Cost-effective
Sure, direct flights are convenient, but is it worth paying several hundred dollars extra for that comfort?
Flights with layovers are often much cheaper. If you have time and don’t mind a longer journey, you can save quite a bit.
Bonus: a layover can be an opportunity for a quick tour of another city! If you have a layover lasting more than 6-8 hours, you can often leave the airport and do some sightseeing.
Some airlines, like Singapore Airlines, even offer free city tours for passengers with longer layovers. Two in one!
But be careful: make sure you have enough time for your connection. The minimum is usually 1.5 hours at European airports and 2.5 hours at larger international airports.
Better to spend an extra hour at the airport than miss your connection and get stuck for good.
6. Budget Airlines – Yes, But Use Your Head
Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines – these names are synonymous with cheap flying for many of us. Sure, you can find flights for $20, but remember that the final price can be completely different.
Basic rule: read the fine print and calculate the total costs. Budget airlines often charge fees for:
- Checked baggage (and sometimes even for carry-on larger than a small purse)
- Seat selection
- Airport check–in (instead of online)
- Card payment (yes, this too!)
Imagine: you find a flight for $25, but you need a suitcase (+$38), want to sit next to your friend (+$10), and forgot to check in online (+$25). Suddenly your “cheap” flight costs almost $100!
That’s why always compare the final price, not just the basic one. Sometimes traditional airlines with all fees included end up cheaper than “budget” ones with add-ons.
7. Error Fare – Airline Mistakes to Your Advantage
Error fares are mistakes in booking systems that result in absurdly low ticket prices.
Such opportunities are rare, but when they appear, you might fly to Tokyo for $250 instead of the normal $875.
How to find them? Follow specialized sites like Secret Flying or the aforementioned Fly4free. React lightning–fast – such offers sometimes last only an hour or two.
Remember: airlines sometimes cancel such tickets, although in Europe, consumer law often sides with you.
So don’t book anything that can’t be changed (like hotels without cancellation options) until a few days have passed since purchasing the error fare and you’ve made sure the ticket is confirmed!
8. Use Loyalty Programs – It Really Pays Off
Maybe you think loyalty programs are only for businesspeople who fly weekly? Wrong! Even flying 2-3 times a year, you can collect valuable miles.
The key is joining the right airline alliance. The three largest are:
- Star Alliance (including Lufthansa, LOT, Turkish Airlines)
- SkyTeam (including KLM, Air France, Delta)
- Oneworld (including British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia)
Choose one of them and try to fly with airlines belonging to the same alliance. You can later exchange the collected miles for free flights, upgrades to business class, or other privileges.
Additional tip: check credit cards linked to loyalty programs. Sometimes you can earn thousands of miles right at the start, and later get points for everyday purchases.
My friend funded herself a free flight to the Amsterdam this way – she simply paid for everything with a card that collected miles.
9. Best Time to Book – Not Too Early, Not Too Late
When is the best time to buy airline tickets? It depends on the destination and season, but there are some general rules:
- Domestic flights: 1-3 months before departure
- Long–haul flights: 2-5 months before departure
- Holiday season and holidays: even 5-7 months earlier
Contrary to popular opinion, booking a year in advance rarely gives the best prices.
Airlines usually start with average prices, then lower them, only to raise them again as the departure date approaches.
Last minute? Sometimes gems appear, but it’s a lottery – don’t count on it if you have specific vacation plans.
10. Split Reservations When Traveling in a Group
Shocking but true: sometimes it’s cheaper to book tickets separately, even when traveling together!
Why? Because booking systems show the same price for everyone in the group – meaning the price of the most expensive available ticket.
Example: there are 2 tickets left at $75 and 3 at $125. If you’re searching for 5 people, everyone will get the $125 price.
But if you make two separate reservations (2+3), two people will fly for $75, and three for $125 – you save $100!
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11. Don’t Fear Unconventional Solutions
Sometimes it’s worth thinking outside the box:
- Check flights from neighboring airports – maybe a flight from Seattle instead of Portland will be half the price?
- Consider hidden city ticketing – sometimes a flight with a layover, where your destination is the layover point, is cheaper than a direct flight to that city. (Note: airlines don’t like this practice, so don’t overuse it and remember it only works with carry–on luggage and one-way!)
- Hunt for charter deals – sometimes travel agencies sell off single seats on charter planes for pennies.
How to Find Cheap Flights? Summary
Now you know how to find cheap flights! Searching for cheap flights is a bit like a game – it requires patience, cunning, and a bit of luck.
But believe me, the satisfaction of hunting down a super deal and the ability to see more of the world for the same money are worth the effort!
Finally, some heartfelt advice: don’t focus solely on price. Sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra to avoid a nightmarish 8-hour layover or landing at 2 AM. Your time and comfort are valuable too.
Good luck hunting for deals, and let me know what methods you have for finding cheap flights. Or maybe you’d like to share your best caught flight? Drop me an email – I’d love to hear your stories!
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