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The Ultimate Guide to Saving Money on Flights: 7 Expert Tips and Tricks

Traveling is one of life’s greatest joys, but the cost of flights can often put a damper on your plans. Luckily, with some strategic planning and a few savvy tricks, you can save a significant amount on your airfare. Here are seven of the best tips to help you find the cheapest flights for your next small group tour or solo adventure.

Key Takeaways

  • Timing is everything when it comes to booking flights.
  • Avoid traveling during holidays, school vacations, and other peak periods.
  • Don’t have the time to constantly check for prices? Set fare alerts.

Book at the Right Time

airplane sky

Timing is everything when it comes to booking flights. Follow these guidelines to maximize your savings:

Book Early

Start searching for flights at least 2-3 months in advance for domestic trips and 5-6 months for international travel.

Optimal Booking Window

Research suggests that the best time to book domestic flights is around 47 days before departure, while international flights are best booked around 70 days in advance.

Midweek Flights

Flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are often cheaper due to lower demand.

Use Google Flights

flight in between palm trees

Google Flights is a powerful tool that can help you find the best deals quickly. Here’s how to make the most of it

Explore Destinations

Use the “Explore” feature to see prices for destinations worldwide based on your budget and travel dates.

Flexible Dates

The calendar view allows you to compare prices over a range of dates to find the cheapest options.

Price Alerts

Set up price alerts for your desired routes to get notified when prices drop.

Alternative Airports

Google Flights makes it easy to search for flights from multiple airports. Sometimes, flying from or into a nearby airport can be significantly cheaper. For example, if you live in a major city, consider checking flights from smaller airports within a few hours’ drive. The savings can often justify the extra travel time.

Use a VPN to Search for Flights

inside flight

Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can sometimes help you find cheaper flights:

Location-Based Pricing

Airlines and travel websites may show different prices based on your browsing location. Use a VPN to compare prices from different countries.

Prevent Price Hikes

A VPN can help you avoid dynamic pricing where airlines increase prices based on your repeated searches.

Consider Budget Airlines

flight anywhere

Budget airlines can offer significantly lower fares than their full-service counterparts:

Ryanair and EasyJet

Great for European travel.

Southwest Airlines

Offers low fares within the U.S. with free checked bags.

AirAsia

Affordable options for traveling within Asia.

Set Fare Alerts

airplane 3

Don’t have the time to constantly check for prices? Set fare alerts with these tools:

Airfarewatchdog

Sends alerts for specific routes.

Hopper

Predicts future flight prices and notifies you when to book.

Skyscanner

Allows you to set up alerts for any route you choose.

Use Flight Search Engines and Tools

airplane

Leverage flight comparison websites and tools to find the best deals:

Skyscanner

Excellent for flexible searches like “Everywhere” and “Cheapest Month.”

Kayak

Useful for its price prediction tool which suggests whether to book now or wait.

Kiwi.com

Kiwi is great for finding unique routing options and combining flights from different airlines for the best deal.

Book Connecting Flights

big airplane in the sky flying over ocean

Direct flights are convenient but often pricier. Consider booking flights with layovers:

Multi-City Searches

Use search engines to find cheaper connecting flights rather than direct ones.

Hidden City Ticketing

Book a flight with a layover at your actual destination (use with caution and research potential risks).

Final Word

Traveling doesn’t have to break the bank. By using these seven expert tips, you can significantly reduce your airfare costs and make your dream trips more attainable. 

Whether it’s booking at the right time, utilizing powerful tools like Google Flights, being flexible with your dates and destinations, or employing clever strategies like using a VPN, there are numerous ways to find affordable flights. Don’t forget to consider budget airlines, set up fare alerts, and explore various flight search engines and tools to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal.

With a bit of strategic planning and these savvy tips, you can save money on flights and allocate more of your budget to enjoying your destination. Happy travels and safe flying!