Cheap Flights: How to Find the Best Deals for Your Next Big Adventure
Cheap Flights: How to Find the Best Deals for Your Next Big Adventure - Be Flexible with Dates and Destinations
One of the best ways to find cheap flights is to be flexible with your travel dates and destinations. While it's tempting to lock in specific dates for a trip, staying open to different departure and return dates can lead to big savings. Being willing to fly on less popular days of the week like Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays often results in lower fares compared to peak travel days like Fridays and Sundays. If your schedule allows, consider traveling during shoulder seasons instead of peak summer and holiday times. Flying in May or September versus July and August opens up cheaper options.
Expanding your destination possibilities beyond a single city or country can also unlock deals. Maybe you've been dreaming about Paris but are open to somewhere else in Europe. Use flight search engines to look at fares to various cities across the continent during your target travel window. You might be surprised at the price differences and inspired by a deal to Madrid or Prague instead. This flexible approach works for domestic travel too. Search a region like the Midwest or Southeast if you don't have your heart set on one specific place.
While the thought of researching multiple destinations and travel dates can seem daunting, online tools make it easy. Flight search engines let you enter a region like Europe or the US and see a calendar view of fares with the cheapest dates highlighted. It only takes a minute to move your departure date around by a week or two and watch the prices change. If you find a great deal during off-peak times to a city you hadn't considered, go for it! Being spontaneous and taking advantage of a good price to a new destination can lead to an amazing trip full of pleasant surprises.
Cheap Flights: How to Find the Best Deals for Your Next Big Adventure - Use Flight Search Engines for Initial Research
Flight search engines should be your first stop when looking for cheap airfare. Sites like Google Flights, Kayak, and Skyscanner are invaluable resources that allow you to easily search prices across hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies. They provide a broad view of options and are ideal for initial research.
I always begin my flight search on Google Flights. Its flexible date grid is genius - just enter your route and it will show a monthly view of prices color coded by day. This makes it simple to identify the cheapest travel dates at a glance. You can also refine your search by stops, departure times, airlines, and more. It's an efficient way to explore all possibilities for your route during a given time period.
While Google Flights excels at flexibility, Kayak's "explore" tool is great for targeting specifics. It lets you filter by exact travel dates, preferred airlines, number of stops, and various amenities. I use it when I know my ideal flight parameters and want to hone in on options. Kayak also displays a graph showing whether prices are trending up or down. This helps gauge if you should book now or wait.
For exploring destinations, Skyscanner is my go-to. Its "everywhere" search allows you to enter just a date range and see the cheapest places to fly worldwide. The map view makes it easy to visualize and pick a spot. I've discovered some amazing locales this way. You can also select a country or region to focus the search. This is useful for location-flexible trips.
Cheap Flights: How to Find the Best Deals for Your Next Big Adventure - Check Airline Websites Directly
First, it ensures you have the full picture of available fares. Flight search websites rely on feeds from airlines, which means they don't always capture every last seat or fare class. By going to the airline site, you access the most up-to-date inventory and any web-only sales they may be running. I've scored seriously cheap last minute deals this way that never popped up on Kayak or Google Flights.
In addition, booking directly with the airline allows you to earn miles and perks. Many airlines give extra points for purchasing tickets on their own website versus a third party. Signing up for frequent flyer programs is free and miles can add up to free flights fast. Direct bookers also gain access to preferred seat selection - a nice bonus.
Speaking of seats, airline sites give you visibility into the full seat map when choosing your position. While you may have to pay extra for roomier Economy Plus seats or early boarding, the airline version often shows more options. I've snagged exit rows for just $20-30 more each way by booking directly. Those few extra inches of legroom make a big difference on long flights.
You'll also have an easier time making changes down the road when you book right with the airline. Calling them directly versus contacting an outside agency for modifications just feels simpler to me. Many airlines waive change fees if you booked direct too.
Finally, using the airline site provides peace of mind that what you see is what you get. No surprises or hidden gotchas. The booking process is straightforward and all rules and conditions are clearly presented. I find airline sites to be more transparent than OTAs in this regard.
Of course airline websites aren't without limitations. Their search functionality is rarely as slick as dedicated flight platforms. And they only show their own options - you miss out on comparing across multiple carriers. I see airline sites as complementary to flight search engines, not a replacement.
Cheap Flights: How to Find the Best Deals for Your Next Big Adventure - Consider Nearby Airports
Expanding your airport options is a simple yet powerful way to unlock cheaper flights. While your instinct may be to search only your closest hub, looking at surrounding airports can reveal savings. I've routinely found significantly lower fares by widening my origin and destination airport possibilities.
My home airport is LAX, but I always check Long Beach (LGB), Orange County (SNA), Burbank (BUR), and Ontario (ONT) too. Despite being under an hour away, pricing differences abound. Certain routes can be hundreds less out of alternate SoCal airports thanks to lower demand and fees. I don't mind a short drive or shuttle to save big.
On a recent trip to Hawaii, I was stunned to find roundtrip flights from Long Beach to Honolulu for only $260 versus $480+ out of LAX. For a party of four, that was nearly $800 in savings. And the 15 minute Uber ride to LGB was well worth it.
Shifting departure locations provides flexibility in accessing budget carrier hubs as well. Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant open up ultra-cheap domestic options from alternate airports. I can hop on a $39 one-way Frontier flight out of Ontario rather than pay $129 on a major airline from LAX.
Avoiding crowded mega hubs also means less headache and stress. Opting for Oakland over SFO or Burbank over LAX means smaller crowds, shorter security lines and easier parking. For a couple extra miles of driving, the airport experience becomes much more pleasant.
The same idea applies for your destination city as well. I usually search Boston along with Providence and Manchester when planning trips to New England. Fares don't always align. For a NYC weekend I check all three metro airports - JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.
I use Google Flights' airport search map as a starting point to identify possibilities within 50 miles of my origin and destination. Then I can quickly add them one by one and check prices. You can also filter multiple nearby airports using the "see flights from other airports" tool.
Cheap Flights: How to Find the Best Deals for Your Next Big Adventure - Fly at Less Busy Times
The days and times you choose to fly can have a huge impact on ticket prices. Flying when most other people are not traveling often unlocks substantial savings. By being attuned to busy versus slow periods and willing to adjust your schedule, you can avoid crowds and high fares.
Weekends, especially Fridays and Sundays, tend to be the priciest days to fly. Business travelers head out or return from trips, and families take weekend getaways. If your plans allow, try departing on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday instead. I recently saved $127 on a roundtrip LAX-SFO ticket simply by shifting from Sunday to Tuesday travel.
Similarly, peak holiday times around Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Years, and Spring Break come with sky-high airfare. But right before or after these rush periods, prices plummet. Last October I flew Miami-San Francisco for just $98 roundtrip by going the week before Thanksgiving versus over the holiday. Hopping on a flight the day after Christmas rather than before can mean hundreds in savings.
Beyond days, flight times also impact fares. The early morning and late evening flights that business travelers favor come with premium pricing. Mid-day, red-eye and connecting flights are generally the cheapest options. If I don't need to be in my destination first thing, I'll gladly take a noon or mid-afternoon departure over a 6am jam-packed 7am flight. A late night arrival is worth it to save $150.
While less convenient, red-eyes can unlock remarkable deals, especially coast-to-coast. Who doesn't want to save $350 on an LAX-JFK roundtrip by sucking it up on an overnight haul? Pack comfy clothes, bring earplugs and catch up on sleep at your destination. It's one night for a great fare. Similarly, adding a connection rather than insisting on nonstop flights can seriously reduce costs.
Lastly, traveling during shoulder seasons - the periods between peak and off-peak times - is a winning move. Early December, January, and May offer a calm flying experience and mild weather in many destinations. You'll avoid the crowds and elevated prices of summer and holidays. One couple I know pots amazing Italy deals every May. With proper research on events and climate, shoulder season travel can be ideal.
Cheap Flights: How to Find the Best Deals for Your Next Big Adventure - Use Credit Card Rewards and Miles
Maximizing credit card rewards and miles is my not-so-secret weapon for scoring nearly free flights. As an obsessive deal hunter, I’ve become a master at accruing and redeeming points across cards to unlock incredible airfare values. With a robust rewards strategy, your dream trip can cost just cents on the dollar.
I open strategic cards solely for big sign-up bonuses - some net 60,000, 80,000 or even 100,000 points for hitting minimum spend. That’s enough for several roundtrip tickets or posh Business Class seats to Europe. By timing major expenses like an upcoming tax payment to meet minimum spend organically, I avoid interest and quickly collect points.
The best rewards cards for airfare offer bonuses for not just signing up but also ongoing perks. My primary cards give 3-5x points on all travel purchases, so flights, hotels, car rentals and more stack up fast. Since you’d spend this anyway, why not earn thousands of points you can redeem for free travel while doing so?
Transferrable points that move between airline and hotel programs offer maximum flexibility. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points - these lucrative currencies keep you from being locked into one airline or property. I mix and match transfers to book whatever flight has the best value at the moment.
Don’t forget to pool points within a household for bigger redemptions. Between my spouse and I, we can combine stashes to splurge on aspirational flights like Singapore Suites. Even sharing with family and friends works. I recently transferred Amex points to my sister to cover her honeymoon flights completely free.
Redemption strategies are key to maximizing value. I target 1-1.5 cents per point and hold out for deals that meet or exceed that rate. This isn’t hard with flexible currencies - it just takes monitoring award charts and sales. Signing up for mileage program newsletters helps spot flash sales and award chart sweet spots. Being open to whatever dream destination or airline has a sale is useful too.
Timing flexibility raises your chance of outsized value redemptions. Last-minute flights are notorious for insane cash prices but reasonable award rates. United once charged $3,000 for SFO-HNL but only 70,000 miles - over 4 cents per mile in value. Even a $500 domestic ticket can be snagged for 25,000 miles, double the usual 1 cent valuation. Jump on bargains when award space aligns with last-minute plans.
Finally, don’t overlook lesser-known programs of smaller airlines. Many are members of alliances, so you can still redeem for their partners worldwide. Airlines like Alaska and Avianca offer quirky award chart loopholes perfect for maximizing redemptions. Digging into programs beyond the majors unearths hidden gems.