Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Be Flexible with Dates and Destinations

One of the best ways to find a cheap flight is to be flexible with your travel dates and destination. While it's nice to have a set plan, last minute changes in your schedule can lead to big savings. Being open to flying on different days of the week or visiting a nearby city instead of your first choice opens up a world of flight deals you may have otherwise missed.

Weekend getaways are convenient, but avoiding peak days like Fridays and Sundays can slash airfare costs. Flying midweek on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday tends to be cheaper, especially if you can fly the redeye hours. The savings add up, with midweek flights often $100 or more less than weekends for the same route.

Being flexible on destination helps ensure you aren't fixated on one place. If your dream trip is Paris but flights are outside your budget, see if flying into Brussels or Amsterdam could work instead. Both cities have cheap train tickets to Paris, and you may discover you like Belgium or the Netherlands just as much!

The key is searching a few different city pair options to compare prices. Don't assume Paris is out of reach financially. Plug in Paris flights and check, then try other nearby hubs. You may luck out and find a Paris deal after all, especially if you can fly budget carriers.

Flexibility has paid off hugely for savvy travelers. One family had their hearts set on Hawaii but were discouraged by the $1,000+ flight costs over spring break. Rather than abandoning the idea, they looked at flying into the West Coast first then onward to the islands later in April. The two-part trip was hundreds less, and they explored LA and San Francisco before the Hawaii portion.

Another couple wanted to vacation in Europe but found flights were excessive for their June trip. They decided to push back their travels by two months into August. That short shift outside peak summer led to 40% savings on airfare, making the whole trip possible on their budget.

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Use Flight Search Engines for Broad Scans

Cast a wide net with flight search engines to uncover airfare deals you’d otherwise miss. Sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner and Momondo are invaluable for getting a bird’s eye view of prices across airlines and routes. Rather than checking individual airline sites, use a search engine to scan hundreds of options in one go.

Search engines shine for flexibility. Pop in your home airport, dates and let the magic happen. Keep origin and destination fields blank to browse destinations worldwide. Enter multiple destination cities to compare airfares side-by-side. See which hubs offer the best fares for your dates.

For specific trips, search engines verify you’ve found the best deal. Plug in your planned route and travel week to scan prices. Check if your airline has the lowest fare or if there are cheaper options.

Search engines consider nearby airports too. If Chicago is pricey, see if Milwaukee or Indianapolis offer savings. This geographic flexibility is invaluable for pinpointing the cheapest region to fly into.

For budget travelers, search engines prevent tunnel vision. It’s easy to fixate on one airline's prices rather than considering the full market. Shake things up by searching all airlines without bias. Sign up for price alerts and let great deals come to you.

Savvy couples swear by this strategy. One pair living in Phoenix wanted a Caribbean getaway. They’d flown American Airlines for years but had flexible dates. Checking search engines revealed Delta offered $150 less per ticket to Cancun. Taking the cheaper Delta flights meant 4 extra days of tacos and margaritas in paradise.

Another couple was ping-ponging between flying JetBlue or United from NYC to Portland, Oregon. Both seemed pricy. A broad search opened their eyes to budget carrier Spirit Airlines. Despite Spirit's lack of frills, the low fares couldn't be ignored. Spirit's direct route was $250 cheaper total over United or JetBlue’s itineraries. With all the craft breweries to visit, the couple happily pocketed the savings.

Moral of the story: search wide before booking. Look beyond your home airport, go-to sites and favorite airline. Saving hundreds means more adventures on the ground. Use search engines to reveal options, then book directly on the airline site.

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Check Airline Sites Directly Too

While flight search engines provide a helpful first look, always check airline sites directly as the next step. Search engines don’t necessarily show every available flight or fare. Checking airline sites directly fills in any gaps so you can book with confidence you’ve locked in the best price.

Search engines rely on tech connections with airlines to source flight data. But not all airlines participate equally across all search sites. Southwest is notoriously absent from many flight search tools while other airlines may selectively limit how their fares appear. Direct airline sites eliminate any discrepancies so you see the full flight picture.

Booking directly with the airline also ensures access to sales and deals which may not sync to search engines right away (or ever). Sign up for airline email alerts to stay on top of offers before the public. Leverage loyalty perks like special member fares published exclusively on the airline's site. These can undercut search engine prices by $50 to $100 per ticket.

While search engines are convenient, the trade-off is that you can’t complete the ticket purchase on their sites. You’ll eventually click over to the airline's site anyway to finish booking. Cut out the middleman and start your search directly with targeted airline sites for your route.

Savvy travelers swear by this strategy. One family living in Dallas wanted to fly American Airlines using miles to Costa Rica. American’s site showed reward seats available but Google Flights insisted the flights were sold out. Checking the airline directly saved them from unnecessary stress about using miles.

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Consider Nearby Airports

Expanding your airport options can unlock surprising savings on airfare. While it's second nature to default to your closest major airport, looking at alternate hubs within driving distance opens up cheaper possibilities. This airport flexibility lets you prioritize price over convenience to stretch your budget.

Alternative airports typically offer lower fares since they attract less traffic than busy mega hubs. Flying out of Ontario or Burbank instead of LAX, for example, can chop $100+ off trips since these smaller airports are hungry for travelers. Fares out of big hubs know they can charge a premium.

Nearby international airports also provide savings over gateway giants. Flying Mexico City over LAX or Madrid instead of Barcelona balances lower costs with easy ground transport to your final destination. And you get a bonus look at new cities along the way.

The key is weighing fare savings against added drive times and ground transportation. While a flight from Chicago Midway could be $50 less than O’Hare, tack on $60 for airport parking and suddenly it’s more expensive. Run the math to pick the right alternate airport.

For travel hackers willing to connect the dots, nearby airports pay off. One Denver couple always wanted to visit Croatia but found nonstop flights excessively expensive over summer. Rather than nix the trip, they discovered flights were $800 cheaper flying through Munich with a budget airline. After factoring $150 in ground transport, they still pocketed $650 in savings and got to experience Oktoberfest en route.

Another savvy couple based in Phoenix scored crazy low fares to Hawaii by flying out of smaller Ontario, California instead of LAX. Yes, they drove 5 hours each way. But with airfares slashed in half, they happily cranked up the tunes for the road trip and enjoyed 10 full days in paradise.

Nearby international airports also unlock deals. A Boston family scored $1,000 in savings traveling to Israel by departing from Toronto instead of Boston or NYC. For just a 1 hour added drive, it was a no brainer. Plus their kids got a bonus day enjoying Niagara Falls on the way home.

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Fly at Less Busy Times

Timing your trip to avoid peak crowds can unlock major savings on airfare. Flying when demand dips equals better deals as airlines discount seats to fill planes. Whether you can shift your dates a few weeks or travel off-peak entirely, moving your flights to less busy times rewards flexible travelers.

Aim for shoulder seasons just before or after the summer rush or winter holidays. Mid-January through March, late April into May, and September through mid-December all typically offer lower fares as families with kids in school have limited travel options.

Similarly, aim for off-peak days for more choice and savings. Fridays and Sundays tend to be pricier as everyone heads out for weekend getaways. But you can often save $75 or more per ticket by flying midweek when business travel dips on Tuesdays through Thursdays. Redeye and early morning flights are also less in demand if you can handle disrupted sleep.

Another prime travel hack? Book the first flight of the day, which tend to have extra availability and the lowest fares as early birds get the deals. Same goes for overnight red-eye flights which help maximize your destination time (just bring eye masks and noise-canceling headphones).

Savvy travelers plan around peak demand patterns to fly for less. One New York couple wanted a Caribbean beach vacation over Christmas but balked at the 2x inflated fares. Rather than ditching the idea, they pushed back their trip to mid-January. With the holiday rush over, airfares dropped $400 per ticket.

Another family living in LA aimed for shoulder season savings for summer Europe flights. Rather than risk sky-high airfare over July 4th, they shifted their dates to late May into early June. School was still in session so crowds were lighter and flights dropped a solid 30%. They got to enjoy lovely springtime weather before peak rates kicked in.

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Watch for Sales and Error Fares

Watching for sales and error fares can unlock unbelievable flight deals, but you have to be vigilant and ready to act fast. Sales crop up around holidays, after bad weather, and when airlines introduce new routes. Error fares happen when the airline accidentally sets the wrong price, honored if booked during the glitch window. Spotting these deals takes work but delivers big savings.

Sign up for airline and travel deal newsletter alerts to stay on top of discounts. Follow airlines, travel blogs, and agency accounts on social media for pop-up sales. Check booking sites daily or set price alerts in your route to get pinged when airfares drop.

For error fares, check blogs like Secret Flying that quickly publicize glitches found by eagle-eyed readers. The key is being ready to book fast, whether it’s 3am or midday. Error fares disappear in hours once the airline discovers the incorrect pricing. You can always cancel within 24 hours for free if schedule or routing doesn’t work out.

When Hong Kong Airlines had an error sale from NYC, friends Megan and Brad pounced, each grabbing $150 round-trip tickets. The nonstop West Coast to Hawaii flight a teacher Craig snagged for $130 turned out to be a computer glitch, but he was able to confirm his booking during the short window. Another family of five jetted from Atlanta to Cancun for just $220 total during a Delta Airlines flash sale.

Watching for sales and errors requires work, but being ready to pull the trigger nets huge rewards. Sign up for deal alerts, check special promo pages, and jump on social media posts advertising sales. Follow key travel blogs and Twitter accounts known for sharing errors fast before airlines fix glitches.

While not every cheap fare pans out, persistence and preparation pay off. Keep an open mind about dates and destinations. Pack a go bag you can throw in the car and go. Avoid obsessing over airline brands and be ready to book whatever is cheapest.

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Use Miles and Points

Frequent flyer miles and credit card points unlock nearly free flights if you play the points game right. Travelers who strategically earn and redeem miles can slash costs by up to 90% compared to paying outright. With a little work, those mile balances cover flights, hotels, and more so you jet set for less.

Start by signing up for frequent flyer programs with airlines you expect to use most. Credits from any airline in an alliance accrue across partner airlines, so choose flexible programs like Star Alliance (United, Air Canada) over less transferable ones like Delta.

Next, apply for travel credit cards offering big mileage bonuses, ideally on your primary airline. Use the cards for everyday purchases to rack up points quickly. Check if bonus categories like groceries, dining, or gas accelerate your earnings.

Always book flights with your chosen airline to grow your frequent flyer balance. Enter your account number when booking other partner airline flights too.Sign up for a dining program like Delta SkyMiles Dining to convert meals out into bonus miles automatically.

Miles expiration and blackout dates can trip up newcomers. Check program rules so your points don’t vanish. Book award flights using miles as far ahead as possible, ideally 10-11 months out for greatest flexibility. Last minute awards can require heavy mileage redemptions.

Transferrable points from credit cards offer added redemption options. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One all allow transfers to multiple airline and hotel partners. This provides flexibility if your chosen airline lacks award availability.

Unlock Savings in the Sky: Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights - Get Refundable Tickets for Possible Cancellations

While finding the cheapest airfare may be the main goal, don’t let rock-bottom prices lead to non-refundable tickets that lock you in. Booking flexible, refundable fares creates a safety net in case plans go sideways. Sure, you’ll pay more upfront. But refundable tickets bring peace of mind and can still deliver savings with the right strategies.

The key is timing refundable bookings strategically. Typically, they make the most sense when your travel dates aren’t 100% set yet. Book refundable when your plans may shift. Then if needed, you can tweak dates or destinations without big fees or losing your entire fare.

Refundable fares also provide insurance for spontaneous travel when non-refundable tickets could backfire. Let’s say a great last minute deal crops up or your schedule miraculously opens for a getaway. Refundable tickets let you jump on opportunities.

If you must lock in non-refundable fares due to budget constraints, consider refundable tickets for part of your itinerary. For instance, book refundable flights if self-driving between cities where you control the pace. Get non-refundable tickets for flights home where dates are fixed.

Refundable fares involve tradeoffs, like pricier tickets and potentially change fees. But for many travelers, the guarantees are worth it. Friends Amy and Rachel always spring for refundable tickets when planning beach getaways, since they’re weather dependent. The policy paid off when a tropical storm derailed their Cancun plans. Rather than losing hundreds in sunk flight costs, they shifted their trip to sunnier Los Cabos.

Another savvy couple prioritizes refundable fares when planning amidst big life events, like upcoming weddings and family visits. Since precise dates aren’t always set far in advance, refundable tickets provide wiggle room. The couple also swears by refundable fares anytime they’re planning an adventurous international trip with multiple loosely structured legs. This built-in flexibility lets them stay longer in spots they love without wrecking their budget to change flights.