What Are The Best Strategies For Scoring Cheap Flights Online?

Traveling can be an exciting experience, but the cost of airfare often makes it more challenging than it needs to be. In today’s world, finding cheap flights online is essential for savvy travelers who want to make the most of their budgets. Thanks to the abundance of flight search engines, comparison tools, and expert tips, scoring an affordable plane ticket is no longer as difficult as it once was.

This article will explore the best strategies for finding cheap flights online, including expert tips, tricks, and tools to help you save money. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just looking to book your first flight, these strategies will guide you through the process of booking a budget-friendly ticket.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Use Multiple Flight Comparison Tools: Websites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak can help you find the best prices and flexible travel options.
Be Flexible with Travel Dates: Adjusting your travel dates by just a few days can lead to significant savings.
Sign Up for Alerts and Rewards Programs: Take advantage of price alerts and frequent flyer programs to score discounted flights.
Consider Alternative Airports and Routes: Sometimes flying into a nearby airport or choosing a connecting flight can be cheaper.
Monitor Flash Sales and Mistake Fares: Stay on top of limited-time promotions and fare errors to find unbelievable deals.

Use Flight Comparison Websites and Tools

Flight comparison websites are the foundation of finding cheap flights online. These platforms aggregate data from various airlines and booking websites to show you the best prices available. The key is to know which tools to use and how to leverage their features to your advantage.

Popular Flight Comparison Websites

Google Flights: Google Flights is a versatile search engine that offers a variety of filters to help you find affordable flights. It allows you to explore multiple destinations, track prices, and compare flights across different airlines.
Skyscanner: Skyscanner allows you to search flights from all major airlines and booking platforms. It also features an “Everywhere” search option, which shows you the cheapest flights to various destinations.
Momondo: This platform is known for displaying a wide range of flight options and alternative routes. It provides insights into the cheapest times to fly and can often uncover discounts that other websites might miss.
Kayak: Kayak aggregates results from many travel websites, offering you a comprehensive view of available flights. It also has price prediction tools to help you decide whether to book now or wait for lower prices.
Hopper: Hopper is an app that specializes in predicting the best times to buy flights, with a color-coded calendar that shows you the cheapest and most expensive travel dates. It’s great for those looking to book in advance.

Key Tips for Using Comparison Tools

Be Flexible with Dates: The more flexible you are with your travel dates, the more options you will have for finding a cheap flight.
Set Alerts: Most flight comparison websites allow you to set up price alerts. This way, you’ll be notified when prices drop for the flights you’re interested in.
Clear Your Cookies: Some booking websites may raise prices based on your browsing history. Clear your browser cookies or use incognito mode to prevent this from happening.

Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates

The timing of your flight can significantly impact the price of your ticket. Flying on certain days of the week, during off-peak seasons, or avoiding holiday rushes can save you hundreds of dollars.

Best Days to Fly

Tuesdays and Wednesdays: These days are generally cheaper because fewer people travel midweek. Flights on these days tend to be less in demand and therefore more affordable.
Thursdays: While Thursdays are more expensive than Tuesdays and Wednesdays, they can still be cheaper than flying on weekends.
Saturdays: Saturday flights often offer deals, but be aware that some airlines may charge higher prices for early morning or evening flights.

Best Times to Book

Book in Advance: Booking your flight well in advance—ideally 4-6 weeks before your departure—can often result in cheaper prices. For international flights, aim to book 2-3 months in advance.
Off-Peak Travel: Avoid flying during peak travel seasons like summer or the holidays. Traveling during the shoulder season (spring and fall) can result in lower fares and fewer crowds.

Use Airline Reward Programs and Credit Cards

Frequent flyer programs and travel rewards credit cards are excellent tools for saving money on flights. These programs allow you to earn miles or points for every dollar spent, which can later be redeemed for free or discounted flights.

Frequent Flyer Programs

American Airlines AAdvantage: AAdvantage members can earn miles that can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, and more.
Delta SkyMiles: Delta’s SkyMiles program is known for offering great redemption options for both domestic and international flights.
United MileagePlus: United Airlines offers a robust rewards program with a variety of redemption options.

Travel Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Known for its generous sign-up bonus, this card allows you to accumulate points that can be redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for discounted or free flights.
American Express Platinum: With perks like airport lounge access and earning 5x points on airfare purchases, this card is perfect for frequent travelers.
Capital One Venture Rewards: This card offers 2x miles on all purchases, which can be redeemed for flights through Capital One’s travel portal.

Use Airline Mistake Fares and Flash Sales

Mistake fares occur when airlines or booking sites accidentally list flights at significantly lower prices than intended. These fares often arise due to technical errors or mistakes in pricing. Flash sales, on the other hand, are limited-time promotions that airlines release, offering discounts for a short window of time.

How to Find Mistake Fares

Follow Social Media: Many travel deal websites and bloggers post about mistake fares as soon as they surface. Following accounts on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook can give you an edge in securing these cheap fares.
Sign Up for Newsletters: Subscribe to newsletters from sites like Secret Flying, Airfarewatchdog, and Scott’s Cheap Flights. They regularly share information about mistake fares and flash sales.
Monitor Travel Forums: Websites like FlyerTalk have communities of seasoned travelers who are quick to identify and share deals, including mistake fares.

Use the “Nearby Airports” Option

When booking a flight, try expanding your search to nearby airports. This strategy can lead to significant savings if you’re willing to take a short train or bus ride from your destination airport to your final destination.

Use Nearby Airports Feature: Many search engines like Skyscanner and Google Flights allow you to check flights departing from or arriving at nearby airports. This can often reveal cheaper options that are just a short distance away from your primary airport.

Book One-Way Flights Instead of Round Trips

While it may seem counterintuitive, booking two one-way flights can sometimes be cheaper than booking a round-trip ticket. Some airlines offer better deals on one-way flights, or you can mix and match different airlines for the best overall price.

Mix Airlines for Best Deals: Consider booking a one-way flight on one airline and the return flight with a different carrier. You might find better deals or availability by doing this.

Consider Alternative Airports and Routes

Another great way to save on flights is by considering alternative routes. Sometimes taking a connecting flight or flying to a different city can result in substantial savings.

Connecting Flights: Nonstop flights are often more convenient, but connecting flights can sometimes be significantly cheaper. Be sure to compare both options before booking.
Secondary Airports: Major cities often have more than one airport, and flying into or out of secondary airports can help reduce your ticket price.

Consider Alternative Travel Routes and Methods

While flights are often the most direct and time-efficient way to travel, exploring alternative routes, including train or bus travel for part of your journey, can result in cheaper airfare. Sometimes combining air travel with other forms of transport can lead to significant cost savings.

Use Multi-City Search Options

Many flight search engines allow you to enter multiple cities and will offer prices for flights that visit those locations in sequence. This is a great option if you’re planning to visit more than one destination. For instance, booking a multi-city flight to fly from New York to London, then Paris, and finally back to New York could be cheaper than buying three separate one-way flights.

Consider Layovers

Non-stop flights are usually preferred for their convenience, but opting for flights with layovers can be much cheaper. Some travelers even use long layovers as an opportunity to explore an additional city for a few hours or a day without significant extra cost.

Pro Tip: If you choose a layover, be sure to look at the total travel time and weigh whether the cost savings outweigh the added travel time. In some cases, the savings may be worth the inconvenience of longer travel times.

Book Flights at the Right Time of Day

While flight prices are generally determined by demand, there are certain times of day when airlines may offer better prices. The best time to book flights may vary based on the region, the airline, and the time of year, but here are some general insights to consider:

Best Times of Day to Book Flights

Late Night or Early Morning: Flights are often cheaper when booked during off-hours. This is because fewer people are actively searching for flights during late-night hours, so airlines may lower prices to fill unsold seats.
Midweek Bookings: In addition to flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, booking flights on these days, when there’s less competition for seats, may yield a better price.

Best Time to Travel

Avoid Peak Hours: Flights at peak travel times, such as midday on Fridays and Sundays, are usually more expensive due to higher demand. Choosing flights at odd hours or less popular times can help reduce costs.

Leverage Social Media and Travel Deal Websites

Social media platforms have become a hub for finding last-minute flight deals and mistake fares. Travel deal websites and groups also provide regular updates on discounted flight opportunities. Here’s how to make the most of social media and these travel deal websites:

Follow Travel Deal Accounts

Twitter: Follow accounts like @TheFlightDeal, @SecretFlying, and @Airfarewatchdog to stay updated on mistake fares and flash sales. These accounts often post deals that aren’t widely advertised elsewhere.
Facebook Groups: Join travel deal Facebook groups where members post discounted flight offers, including mistake fares and last-minute flight sales. Facebook groups like “Cheap Flights Deals” and “Flight Deal Alerts” are excellent resources.
Instagram: Some travel influencers and bloggers regularly post about hidden flight deals or sale alerts that they have discovered. Make sure to follow accounts dedicated to travel deals for the latest opportunities.

Check Travel Deal Websites Regularly

There are websites specifically designed to track and share cheap flights and limited-time offers, such as:

Scott’s Cheap Flights: Known for providing incredible flight deal alerts, including international mistake fares and deep discounts, often with limited-time availability.
Travelzoo: Offers curated lists of travel deals, including discounted flights, vacation packages, and hotel offers.
Secret Flying: This website alerts users to mistake fares, flash sales, and error rates for airlines across the world.

Consider Booking in Bulk or Group Deals

If you’re traveling with a group of people, consider looking for bulk ticket deals or contacting airlines directly for discounts. Many airlines offer group booking discounts for ten or more passengers, which could potentially save a significant amount of money.

Group Discounts

Group Booking: Airlines offer discounts for large groups, often with the ability to reserve a block of seats at a discounted rate. For large family vacations, weddings, or business trips, be sure to inquire about group discounts.
Travel Agents: Some travel agents specialize in group bookings and can help you find discounts and deals that aren’t always available online.

Take Advantage of Airline Alliances

If you don’t mind flying with multiple airlines, you can take advantage of airline alliances to book cheaper flights. Airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and Oneworld allow you to book multi-leg trips with several airlines under a single booking.

Benefits of Airline Alliances

Easier Connections: You can travel more efficiently between different carriers while taking advantage of lower prices for multi-leg flights.
Frequent Flyer Miles: If you belong to one frequent flyer program, you can usually earn and redeem miles across all airlines in the same alliance.
Better Coverage for International Travel: Airline alliances often provide better options for international travel, with one ticket covering multiple destinations across different airlines.

Use “Airfare Booking Hacks”

A few “hacks” can also make a huge difference in reducing the price of your flight ticket. Some of these strategies include booking flights through regional airline websites or utilizing certain web browsers that enhance your search experience.

Airfare Booking Hacks

Use Different Search Engines: Some search engines may provide different results or special discounts that others do not. Experiment with search engines like Google Flights, Momondo, or CheapOair to compare results.
Try Booking in Local Currency: Sometimes, booking your flight in the currency of the country from which the airline originates can result in better prices due to exchange rate fluctuations. For example, booking a flight with a European airline in euros could sometimes be cheaper than booking in U.S. dollars.
Look for Hidden City Ticketing: This is when you book a flight to a destination with a layover in your intended destination. For example, if you’re flying from New York to San Francisco but have a layover in Chicago, you can get off the plane at Chicago instead. However, be cautious, as airlines sometimes penalize this practice.

Keep Track of Airline Sales and Discounts

Many airlines offer seasonal sales, flash sales, or discount promotions during particular periods of the year. Understanding when these sales typically happen can help you book flights at the most affordable price.

Airline Sales Periods

January and February: Airlines often have post-holiday sales in the early months of the year, as demand decreases following the holiday season.
Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Some airlines release limited-time deals during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping weekends.
End-of-Season Sales: Airlines often release discounts at the end of summer or winter, as they clear out seats for the next season. Keep an eye on these promotions.

Also Read: How Can You Create The Perfect Air Travel Plan For Your Next Trip?

Conclusion

Finding cheap flights online is an essential skill for budget-conscious travelers. With the right strategies, tools, and flexibility, you can save money and enjoy your travel experience without breaking the bank. Whether it’s using flight comparison websites, taking advantage of airline reward programs, or booking one-way flights, there are plenty of ways to score great deals.

If you follow these strategies, you can easily find affordable flights that will allow you to travel without breaking the bank. Your dream vacation is only a few clicks away—apply these tips, and start planning your next trip!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When is the best time to buy cheap flights?

The best time to buy cheap flights is typically 6-8 weeks before departure for domestic flights and 2-3 months before for international flights. Prices tend to rise as the departure date gets closer.

2. How do I know if a flight price is a good deal?

You can use flight comparison tools to track flight prices and check if they’re within the expected range. Websites like Google Flights and Skyscanner show price trends and provide insights into whether you’re getting a good deal.

3. Is it cheaper to book a flight at night or during the day?

Flight prices don’t necessarily change based on the time of day, but booking flights early in the morning or late at night can help you avoid higher demand periods and potentially save on tickets.

4. What are the best airlines for budget travelers?

Low-cost airlines like Southwest, Spirit, Ryanair, and EasyJet often offer affordable flights, though they may charge for extras like baggage and seat selection.

5. How can I get alerts for cheap flights?

Sign up for price alert notifications on flight comparison websites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak. Additionally, consider subscribing to newsletters from travel deal blogs.

6. Are there any apps that help you find cheap flights?

Yes, apps like Hopper, Skyscanner, and Kayak are excellent tools for finding cheap flights. They allow you to monitor prices and receive alerts when they drop.

7. Can I get a refund if I book a mistake fare?

Refunds for mistake fares depend on the airline’s policy. Some airlines may cancel your booking, while others might honor the price, but it’s important to act quickly when you find a mistake fare.