The ultimate guide to finding cheap flights

The question of where to book flights cheaply is probably the most common among travelers. Here are our best tips and answers to frequently asked questions. This is how you can find the most affordable flights.

 1. You have to be flexible

While most people think about their destination and dates first, we advise doing the opposite. For starters, look at the available prices (using Momondo or Google Flights) to different places, then decide which of the cheap options calls your name and choose the dates with cheap fares available.

Flexibility is key here – be open-minded and remember that once you get to Asia or Europe, you can find more budget-friendly options to go to other places.

Pro-tip: make sure to check multiple dates using Google Flights, which shows cheap flights for two months ahead. Sometimes moving the flight by even one day can reduce the price in half.

 2. Fly across the ocean as cheaply as possible

To get the most affordable flight, focus on crossing the ocean. This might not be the shortest way from your home to the final destination, but it’s worth it. Not only two itineraries are often cheaper than one, but you can also explore a new city.

Use Rome2Rio in order to check out local transport between destinations.

 3. Ignore “the hottest” months for travel

In the West, the cheapest periods to fly are from January to mid-May and from September to early December. And the most expensive time for travel is during summer from June to mid-August, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Sometimes these peaks in price depend on the destination, for example, around popular festivals. You won’t fly cheap to China for Chinese New Year or to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day.

 4. Know when it’s high time to buy cheap flights

It is usually recommended to book in advance: 1-3 months for domestic flights and 2-8 flying internationally.

Again, take peak seasons into account – add 1-2 months to the recommendations. If you are traveling during low-season finding cheap fares close to the date will be easier.

Bear in mind, however, that you might miss out on a potential sale.

 5. Consider the cheapest days

These generally are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, whereas Friday and Sunday are often the most expensive days to travel. There is a myth about a special time when it’s cheap to book flights (usually it’s Tuesday at 2 pm). This used to be the case about twenty years ago when the fares were loaded once a week. Today, airlines add them all the time, so fluctuations are less predictable.

 6. Know your tools for searching

Our top-3 tools for flight searching are Priceline, Google Flights, and Momondo. You can also try more complex SkyScanner, the ITA Matrix, and some plugins, but the first three should be enough.

 7. Check out Skiplagged and Southwest Airlines for cheap domestic flights in the USA

Search engines don’t show Southwest, so visit their website Southwest.com. It’s possible to find some cheap options on Skiplagged, but first, do your research on the basics of hidden city ticketing.

 8. Be quick

So you found a great deal. Act fast on it, or you’ll lose it! If it’s not an advertised sale (which is never a great option), there’s no public end-date on it. Usually, the cheaper the price, the shorter it will stay like that.

 Now let’s answer some of the common questions of travelers looking for cheap flights.

 My dates (destination) are fixed. Is it possible to track fares?

You can track your trip using Kayak or Google Flights and be notified when the price becomes less.

 What prices are considered good for roundtrips the US or Canada?

South America: $600 or less

Asia: $500 or less

Europe: $500 or less

Africa: $800 or less

Australia: $800 or less

Hawaii: $400 or less

Caribbean: $300 or less

Central America: $300 or less

There is a great offer that leaves from City 1 to City 2 and arrives in City 3. I live in City 2, can I just skip the flight from City 1 to 2?

You can’t. If you miss one of the flights, the rest of your itinerary will be canceled. The exceptions here are: if you bought two one-way tickets separately, not a roundtrip, or if you miss the very last flight of a roundtrip itinerary – that’s hidden city ticketing.

I would like to visit several cities. How should I book?

If you buy several one-way tickets, it will cost you more than a roundtrip.

The first option to save some money is to book an open-jaw flight. It is like a roundtrip that arrives in one city but departs from a different one. To go between the cities find a cheap regional flight.

Your second option is a long layover. Search for layovers longer than 9 hours in a city you’d like to visit. Or book one roundtrip from your hometown to the layover city as well as another roundtrip from there to your final destination.

What budget airlines can you recommend?

We recommend JetBlue, AirAsia X, Norwegian, and LEVEL, because they’re reliable and cheap.

Is it necessary to clear my cookies before searching?

No, it doesn’t make any difference.

Are standby fares or booking last minute good options?

The short answer is no. The long answer is last-minute deals might appear but on very rare occasions. On the contrary, often the price increases dramatically.

How to find affordable one-way tickets?

Usually, they are much pricier than roundtrip flights. Try booking an open-jaw flight instead of two separate one-ways.

Is buying basic economy tickets a good idea?

If you are sure that your plans won’t change and your standards for a seat aren’t too high, a basic economy ticket will be great for you. Otherwise, the main economy is better. Use Google Flights to see what you’re getting for making an informed decision.