What are tips and hacks at finding cheap flights?

To find cheap flights, here are several tips and hacks that can be highly effective:

Be Flexible with Travel Dates and Times

• Being flexible with your travel dates can significantly reduce costs. Flying on off-peak days like Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays is often cheaper than flying on Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays354.

Be Flexible with Destinations and Routes

• Consider flying to a nearby airport instead of your primary destination. For example, flying to London and then taking a budget airline to Amsterdam can be cheaper than flying direct to Amsterdam145.
• Use tools like Google Flights to explore the cheapest destinations from your airport and adjust your route accordingly5.

Use the Right Search Engines

• Utilize multiple flight search engines such as Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak, Momondo, and Kiwi to compare prices. No single engine always offers the cheapest deal245.

Book Connecting Flights Individually

• Sometimes booking separate parts of your trip can result in lower prices. Use flight search engines to compare prices for individual legs and consider combining airlines24.

Take Advantage of Price Alerts

• Sign up for price alerts on various travel websites and apps to receive notifications when prices drop24.

Avoid Hidden Fees

• Be mindful of extra fees charged by low-cost airlines for services like baggage, seat selection, and in-flight amenities. Factor these costs into your overall price comparison2.

Use Incognito Mode

• Search for flights in incognito mode to avoid price increases based on your previous search history45.

Book Early (But Not Too Early)

• Booking early can often result in cheaper flights, but booking too early may not always yield the best prices. Monitor prices and book when they are at their lowest1.

Consider Budget Airlines

• Don’t rule out budget airlines, as they can offer significant savings, especially if you are willing to fly with minimal amenities13.

Use Points and Miles

• If you have accumulated points or miles, use them to book flights or upgrade your travel class13.

Look for Error Fares

• Keep an eye out for error fares, which are significantly cheaper due to pricing mistakes. These fares are usually corrected quickly, so act fast45.

Book Open-Jaw or Multi-City Flights

• Open-jaw flights (flying to one destination and returning from another) or multi-city flights can offer more flexibility and sometimes lower costs35.

Use Positioning Flights

• For international travel, consider taking a short domestic flight to a major hub to catch a cheaper international flight. This can save you hundreds of dollars3.

Check Prices in Different Currencies

• Sometimes, the same flight can be priced differently depending on the currency or country of residence selected on the search engine. Experiment with different currencies and countries to find the best deal4.

Use the 24-Hour Rule

• If you find a great deal but are not sure about the trip, use the 24-hour rule to lock in the price. Airlines must allow free changes or cancellations within 24 hours of booking for flights to or from the US35.

Travel During Off-Peak Seasons

• Avoid traveling during peak seasons when prices are typically higher. Traveling during off-peak seasons can result in significant savings3.

Use Stopovers and Layovers

• Consider flights with stopovers or layovers, especially if airlines offer free or cheap stopover programs. This can allow you to see two cities for the price of one3.

By combining these strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of finding cheap flights.