Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You’re Picky?
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - The Definition of a "Cheap" Flight Varies
What exactly constitutes a "cheap" flight? The answer is highly subjective and depends on your personal preferences and budget. For some travelers, anything under $300 roundtrip is a score. For others, that's still too pricey. The baseline for cheap flights has changed over the years as well.
Pre-2008, it was normal to pay $500-600 for a domestic U.S. flight. Nowadays, that would be considered expensive by many fliers. The rise of low cost carriers like Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit have driven fares down across the board. Consolidators like CheapOair have also made it easier to find discount international flights.
The other factor is where you're flying to and from. Flying from a small town to a major hub will almost always be more expensive than traveling between two busy airports. Flights within Europe and Asia are generally cheaper than comparable distances in North America. And some countries are just plain expensive no matter what - we're looking at you, Australia.
It's also important to consider what's included in the base fare. Basic economy fares from American, Delta, and United don't allow for seat selection or carry-on bags. You'll pay more upfront for those perks. Meanwhile, ultra low cost carriers like RyanAir and Wizz charge extra fees for practically everything. So a $29 flight can quickly balloon to over $100 after all the add-ons.
What else is in this post?
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - The Definition of a "Cheap" Flight Varies
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Being Flexible Opens Up More Options
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Knowing the Best Sites for Finding Deals
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Signing Up for Fare Alerts and Sales
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Considering Alternative Airports
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Traveling During Off-Peak Times
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Don't Rule Out Budget Airlines
- Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Points and Miles Can Offset Costs
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Being Flexible Opens Up More Options
When it comes to scoring cheap flights, flexibility is key. The most budget-friendly fares often have restrictions around changes and cancellations. So you'll need to go into your booking with an open mindset.
Travelers locked into specific dates are missing out on deals that could trim hundreds off their ticket price. Letting go of your ideal timeline makes space for some unbelievable bargains.
I learned this lesson when planning a trip to Portugal. My initial searches for flights from New York to Lisbon in July were coming in around $800 roundtrip. That was doable but more than I hoped to spend. Out of curiosity, I expanded my date range by two weeks on either side. And voila – flights for $500 roundtrip popped up when traveling in late June.
It was earlier than I preferred but allowed me to save a substantial amount. Plus it gave me extra time to explore more of the country at a leisurely pace. That flexibility led me to a hidden gem – Sintra – which I may have otherwise missed.
Flexibility doesn't just apply to your travel dates either. Being open-minded about layover cities and length can also unlock deals. I was searching for flights from LA to Tokyo and kept getting quotes of $900+ even months in advance. On a whim, I included a layover option and found an itinerary with a stop in Taipei for only $500 roundtrip.
The longer layover added a few hours to my journey but was completely worth it to cut my costs almost in half. Plus it gave me a chance to briefly explore another new city at no extra airfare cost.
You can also increase your flexibility by not locking in your outbound and return dates simultaneously. Booking one way fares is often cheaper overall. Just make sure to closely monitor price spikes for the second half once you've booked the first leg.
Expanding your airport options is another easy way to increase flexibility. Searching alternate airports within 100 miles of your departure and arrival cities will expose you to many more deals. A short drive or train ride is a small concession for hundreds in flight savings.
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Knowing the Best Sites for Finding Deals
When it comes to scoring cheap flights, you need to know where to look. Booking directly through airline sites rarely yields the lowest fares. Instead, you’ll get the best bang for your buck using metasearch engines and online travel agencies. I rely on a combination of different platforms to reveal the deepest discounts.
Google Flights is one of my go-to's thanks to its easy-to-use interface and powerful filtering capabilities. The calendar view makes it simple to visualize flight costs by date. And the ability to select specific cabin types, carriers, and trip lengths gives you granular control. I love finding hidden gem deals by entering flexible origin and destination airports.
For international flights, Kiwi.com is a top resource. Their algorithm excels at uncovering discounted routes on lesser-known budget airlines. I recently used them to book a $350 roundtrip ticket from Berlin to Tokyo on Scoot Airlines. Saving over $200 compared to other sites made the extra layover completely worthwhile. You can “hack” Kiwi's platform too by entering multiple destination airports to reveal more options.
When chasing error fares, Secret Flying is a must-use tool. These mistakenly-priced tickets pop up when airlines input the wrong fares. Secret Flying curates and verifies error deals globally so you can swoop in and book before the airlines fix them. I’ve scored $550 roundtrip flights from the US to both Japan and Australia thanks to their alerts. You need to act fast though, as these golden ticket deals can vanish in as little as 48 hours.
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Signing Up for Fare Alerts and Sales
One of the easiest ways to find cheap flights is by signing up for fare alerts and monitoring sales. This passive strategy takes the work out of endless searching and brings the deals right to your inbox. I've saved hundreds of dollars this way without spending hours scouring flight search engines.
The first step is to identify airlines that fly the routes you're interested in. Sign up on their websites to receive emails about offers and discounted fares. For example, Air France sends deals from the US to Europe while Cathay Pacific advertises sales to Asia. Tailor your alerts by opting in to specific departure cities and destinations.
Online travel agencies like Expedia also have alert functionality. You can track price drops for specific flights or set up broad notifications for regions and travel seasons. Activating price tracking on your preferred itineraries guarantees you'll be alerted to any discounts. Often major sales will appear on OTAs before airline sites.
Metasearch engines are another source of customized alerts. Google Flights lets you save specific searches and notifies you when fares drop or dates open up. Their price tracking feature sends a graph of historic flight costs so you can pounce when airlines release award inventory.
Mighty Travels takes metasearch a step farther with their automated Deal Finder tool. It continually monitors thousands of possible flight combinations across partner sites. You'll receive email alerts whenever a discount fare pops up along your preferred route and date range. It's a major time-saver compared to manually comparing options.
Social media accounts are another useful alert resource. Following airline and fare deal pros on Twitter and Facebook surfaces cheap fares in real-time. Oftentimes followers will share special promo codes and unpublished sales only available through links. I've discovered 72-hour flash sales that weren't advertised anywhere else thanks to timely alerts from bloggers I follow.
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Considering Alternative Airports
Expanding your airport options is key to unlocking the cheapest flights. Limiting yourself to only one departure and arrival city severely restricts deal potential. But searching within a wider radius can expose you to major savings you’d otherwise miss.
I ignored this advice for years and always lost out as a result. My hometown is Milwaukee, so I’d only search MKE flights thinking it was convenient. Meanwhile, friends were getting way better fares routing through Chicago or Minneapolis.
The penny finally dropped when I moved to Denver last year. Initially, I made the rookie mistake of only looking at DEN. But then I decided to experiment with alternate airports within a few hours’ drive. And that flexibility led me to some mind blowing discounts I never imagined were possible from Colorado.
Recently, I needed to book a trip to LA. Flights from DEN were pricing at $350+ roundtrip even months ahead. Out of curiosity, I expanded my search to include nearby airports like Colorado Springs and Albuquerque. And suddenly fares dropped over $100 for routings through those smaller hubs.
The best part was the airports were each less than a 2 hour drive from home. So for just the cost of gas, rental car, or shuttle, I opened up access to much cheaper flights. The savings of $100+ easily covered the ground transport and bags me extra cash to enjoy in LA.
Other flight hackers have reported similar success expanding their origins. One clever couple lives in Manchester, NH but always searches Boston Logan (1 hr drive) and Providence, RI (90 mins). They saved over $800 on tickets to Europe by routing through those alternate airports versus Manchester.
Another frequent flyer based in Austin said he rents cars and drives to Houston or San Antonio when he finds significantly cheaper deals from their airports. For him, the 3 hour drive is worth it to save hundreds on international flights. And he turns the drives into enjoyable mini road trips.
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Traveling During Off-Peak Times
Shaving hundreds off your flight tickets is possible by simply traveling during off-peak times. This strategy allows you to take advantage of lower demand seasons to score big discounts. But it does require flexibility in your schedule and avoiding busy travel periods.
Peak travel revolves around major holidays, events, and school breaks. Airfare skyrockets in the summer when students are on vacation and families head off on holidays. Other peak times include Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s when people are visiting loved ones. Flights also spike for events like Oktoberfest in Germany or Carnival in Brazil that draw big crowds.
Meanwhile, off-peak encompasses the rest of the year outside these high-demand blocks. The specific dates vary by region and route - a beach vacation in October is off-peak versus August for example. But generally fall, winter and early spring see far lower prices as travel demand dips post-summer.
Savvy travelers willing to fly against the grain are handsomely rewarded. A Londoner told me she always visits friends in Australia during their winter (June-Aug) when airfares plunge nearly 40%. For her, braving chillier temps Down Under is worthwhile to avoid the painfully high fares during peak spring/summer.
When I was planning a trip to Scandinavia last year, everyone told me to never go in winter. But I took a gamble on early February dates and was stunned to find roundtrip flights for only $320 from LAX to Copenhagen. Had I flown just two months later in April, the exact same itinerary would’ve cost $150+ more.
A Seattle couple also reported scoring $550 roundtrip fares to Paris for March this year versus $900+ for June/July. Even tacking on weather-appropriate clothes and activities, they still spent hundreds less than a summer visit. For travelers who prioritize maximizing time over ideal weather, this gamble often pays off.
Venturing to destinations during shoulder seasons - the intervals between peak and off-peak - also unlocks value. A friend visiting Japan always targets November and April when she finds airfares around 30% cheaper compared to just a few months later. The weather splits the difference between summer heat and winter snow too.
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Don't Rule Out Budget Airlines
When chasing cheap flights, don’t make the rookie mistake of ruling out budget airlines. Many travelers dismiss these no-frills carriers as cramped or unreliable. But the savings compared to legacy airlines are just too good to ignore. Flying budget can easily halve your fare, freeing up cash for in-flight comfort upgrades. With planning, budget airlines take you exactly where you want to go, only lighter in the wallet.
My friend Amanda was skeptical the first time I suggested Spirit Airlines for a weekend trip to Vegas. But once she compared the fares side-by-side, she was sold. Where American and Delta wanted $350+ for the LAX to Vegas roundtrip, Spirit offered $150 base fares for the exact same dates.
By saving over 50%, Amanda could afford to reserve Spirit’s “Big Front Seat” with extra legroom and still pay less overall than standard economy on other carriers. She gladly paid $50 extra for an assigned seat but figures she still saved about $200. Enough to stretch her Vegas budget that much further.
Jeffrey took things up a notch when he scored $400 roundtrip flights from Florida to Copenhagen on Norwegian Air. The cheapest Delta fare for his dates was $750, so going budget airline saved him a cool $350. Since it was a longer international route, he opted to upgrade to Norwegian’s premium cabin for around $200 more.
Even after paying to upgrade his meals, seat, and bags, Jeffrey still spent nearly $150 less than the basic Delta ticket. He had plenty left over to indulge in some signature Scandinavian dining and take home gifts from Copenhagen's baked good shops.
I’m a total convert after discovering how much budget carriers opened up affordable Europe trips that would’ve otherwise been financially out of reach. My favorite app, Kiwi, specializes in uncovering discounted routes on lesser-known budget gems. Last fall, I used Kiwi to book a $350 roundtrip ticket from Berlin to Tokyo on Scoot Airlines. Saving over $200 compared to other sites made the extra layover completely worthwhile.
Are Cheap Flights Myth or Reality When You're Picky? - Points and Miles Can Offset Costs
One savvy way to make cheap flights a reality, even when you’re picky, is maximizing points and miles. Travel hackers who strategically leverage loyalty programs and credit card perks can completely offset the cost of airfare. The key is understanding how to efficiently earn, redeem, and boost your mileage balance.
Andy has mastered the art of traveling the world almost completely free thanks to points accrued through work travel and strategic credit card applications. He focuses on cards that offer huge sign-up bonuses for meeting initial spending requirements. Last year, he scored 120,000 American Airlines miles for getting approved and spending $3,000 on a new Citi card in 3 months.
Combined with his frequent business trips that help him earn elite status, Andy never pays cash for economy seats. He strategically times credit card applications to keep his points balance flush when he has personal trips planned. Last summer, he redeemed miles for roundtrip flights to Hawaii for him and his wife worth over $1,000.
Jen takes a similar approach by opening specific cards that earn the most miles on her biggest spending categories. As a new foodie Instagram influencer, most of her costs are dining out and gourmet groceries. She uses the Capital One Savor Rewards card to get 4x points on those purchases, which she transfers to Emirates Skywards for premium class redemptions.
Last fall Jen cashed in 300,000 miles for a roundtrip business class ticket to Dubai worth $7,000. She treated it like a work trip by shooting content at the world’s most luxurious restaurants and hotels. It was an incredibly rewarding and nearly free business and pleasure trip thanks to her strategic points earning.
Even those starting from zero points can quickly build up balances for discounted travel. Sign-up bonuses from 2-3 cards could net you enough for a roundtrip domestic ticket if timed properly. Consider cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred that offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months. Pair that with a United or Southwest companion pass and you could fly two for nearly free.