Finding cheap flights doesn't have to be a mystery. With the right strategies and tools, you can consistently save hundreds of dollars on airfare. Here's everything you need to know.
1. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates
The single most powerful way to save money on flights is flexibility. Shifting your departure or return date by just a day or two can result in savings of $100-$300 or more. Mid-week flights (Tuesday, Wednesday) are typically cheaper than weekend departures.
Use calendar view on flight search engines to see prices across an entire month. This visual approach makes it easy to spot the cheapest days to fly at a glance.
2. Book at the Right Time
While there's no perfect formula, research shows some patterns:
- Domestic flights: Book 1-3 months in advance
- International flights: Book 2-8 months in advance
- Time of day: Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons often see price drops as airlines adjust to competitor pricing
Avoid booking too far in advance (more than 11 months) or too last-minute (less than 2 weeks) unless you're hunting for mistake fares or flash sales.
3. Use Price Alerts and Tracking Tools
Set up price alerts for your desired routes so you're notified when fares drop. Tools like Google Flights, Hopper, and services like FlightMate send you notifications when deals appear, so you don't have to constantly check prices manually.
Track prices for a few weeks before booking to understand typical pricing for your route. This helps you recognize a genuine deal when you see one.
4. Consider Alternative Airports
Major cities often have multiple airports. Check fares from all nearby airports — the savings can be substantial. For example:
- NYC: JFK, Newark (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA)
- Los Angeles: LAX, Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario (ONT)
- London: Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN)
Budget carriers often use secondary airports, offering significant savings even after factoring in transportation to your final destination.
5. Clear Your Cookies or Use Incognito Mode
While the impact is debated, some travelers report seeing lower prices when searching in private/incognito mode. Airlines and booking sites may use cookies to track your searches, potentially showing higher prices on repeated visits.
It doesn't hurt to compare prices in both regular and incognito modes to see if there's a difference.
6. Consider Layovers and Positioning Flights
Direct flights are convenient, but adding a layover can save you 30-50% or more. If you have time flexibility, one-stop flights often offer better value.
Sometimes it's cheaper to book two separate tickets — a positioning flight to a major hub, then a long-haul international flight — rather than one through-ticket.
7. Use Points and Miles Strategically
Credit card points and airline miles can dramatically reduce the cash cost of flights. Some tips:
- Book award flights well in advance when more seats are available
- Look for "sweet spots" — certain routes where points go further
- Transfer credit card points to airline partners for better value
- Mix cash and points for partially-paid tickets when availability is tight
8. Watch for Error Fares and Flash Sales
Mistake fares (also called error fares) happen when airlines accidentally publish drastically reduced prices — think $300 roundtrip to Asia instead of $1,200. These are rare but real.
Flash sales also occur regularly, especially during low-demand periods. Subscribe to deal alert services (like FlightMate) to be notified immediately when these opportunities appear.
9. Book Connecting Flights Separately
Budget airlines don't always show up in search engines. Sometimes booking a budget carrier for one leg and a legacy carrier for another saves money, though be careful about connection times since separate tickets aren't protected if one flight is delayed.
10. Let the Deals Come to You
Instead of spending hours searching every day, use a service that does the heavy lifting. FlightMate monitors thousands of routes and sends curated deals directly to your inbox, so you can book amazing prices without the hassle.