The Best Tricks for Finding Cheap Flights

Who doesn’t love traveling for a great price? Especially when you can save on what’s usually the most expensive part: the flights.

Finding cheap flights is a dream for many and can be incredibly useful when you want to save money for spending at your destination or when you want to travel affordably without missing out on anything. With a few smart tips, you’ll be able to explore the world your way without emptying your wallet 😛

So take note of our personal tips for finding cheap flights:

1. Not All Search Engines Are Created Equal

Finding cheap flights is easier with search engines like Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Kiwi. These tools compare hundreds of airlines to offer you the lowest fares.

But what sets these search engines apart, and what are their strengths?

Skyscanner

A perfect ally for finding flight deals. It allows you to search by month and see which day of the month is the cheapest. This is incredibly helpful when choosing which day to travel, as long as you have some flexibility. You’ll also notice that depending on the day you choose to depart, the return price may vary. So, play around with it!

Kiwi

One of the most well-known search engines, which also has a monthly calendar to see which days are more affordable. Additionally, it guarantees all connections, even between different airlines. This allows you to find flights at lower prices than Skyscanner, while maintaining the same level of security. If you miss a connection, Kiwi will rebook you on the next flight to your destination.

Google Flights

Works great when you want to go with the flow: if you have flexible dates or are even open to different destinations, this is where you’ll find the best flight deals. Plus, you can view everything on a map, making it easier to compare prices depending on which part of the world you want to visit.

Secret Tip: Use it late at night, and you’ll see.

2. Get Ready: Low-Cost Airline + Minimal Luggage = Guaranteed Success

One of the essential elements for finding cheap flights, as long as they’re not transatlantic since luggage is usually included, is to travel light.

If you book with a low-cost airline, luggage won’t be included, and adding it might cost almost as much as the flight itself, which usually isn’t worth it.

So, if you decide to travel with a low-cost airline, get one of those viral backpacks from Amazon that truly work wonders: you can fill them up as much as you want, and they’ll have the perfect dimensions to avoid any problems when boarding.

3. If You Don’t Know Hopper, You’re Wasting Time

This is one of our star allies for finding the cheapest flights: the Hopper App.

It’s a tool designed to help you find bargain flights by analyzing millions of flight prices daily. It uses advanced algorithms to predict price fluctuations and recommends the best time to buy. Plus, you can set up price alerts for your destinations of interest, receive notifications when prices drop, and take advantage of exclusive offers.

4. Try Flight Comparators, and If It Doesn’t Work… (Stay Tuned for the Trick)

Finding the most affordable flights can be quite a challenge, but with a little cunning and time, you can achieve it. Take a look at the flight you’re interested in on a flight comparator like Skyscanner or Kiwi, and after checking the combinations, go to the airline’s official website to create your own. For example, the comparator may show you an outbound flight with one airline and a return flight with another; test if these prices are real and create your own flight mixes.

It might be more cost-effective to make your own flight combinations and buy them separately as two one-way tickets instead of a round trip. Yes, it’s proven that getting two one-way tickets is often more advantageous.

5. If You Don’t Want to Stay Connected All the Time: Set Up Alerts

Price alerts are an effective way to find cheap flights. By setting alerts for your favorite destinations, you’ll receive notifications when prices drop. This helps you buy at the right moment and save money.

6. There Are Magic Days When Flights Are Cheaper!

Buying at the right time is crucial for finding cheap flights. From experience, and this is a secret just between you and me, Sundays are the best day to buy flights!

We also advise avoiding peak hours (like midday or late afternoon) and opting to buy flights at night or very early in the morning.

7. What Alternative Airports Are There?

Finding cheap flights sometimes means considering alternative airports. Flying to a nearby airport can be much more economical. Compare prices and decide if the additional journey is worth it.

To reach that airport, you’ll likely have to take another mode of transportation like a train or bus, and you’ll need to ask yourself: is the savings worth it compared to the second transport and extra travel time? Sometimes it is, and by a lot.

8. Get Ahead of the Rest (and If You Can’t, Use Hopper)

Booking in advance is one of the most well-known tricks for finding affordable flights. Although it’s not always a hard rule, buying tickets 2-3 months in advance usually results in better prices. For very popular destinations, consider booking even earlier.

9. Fly at Inconvenient Times

The cheapest flights are often found at less popular times. If you take the flight that nobody wants at 6 or 7 in the morning, it’s likely to be much cheaper than one at noon. But consider: if I fly at dawn, will I need to take a taxi? Will there be public transport? Will someone take me to the airport? Because what you save on one side might end up costing you more on the other.

10. Use Rewards Programs (Only for Long Distances)

Taking advantage of rewards programs is another strategy for finding cheap flights. Accumulate miles every time you fly and use them for free or discounted tickets. Additionally, travel credit cards can give you extra points.

But be careful, this will only work for long-distance flights or whenever you’re flying with non-low-cost airlines.

11. Sometimes a Layover Can Be a Good Idea

Consider flights with layovers to find cheaper options. Although direct flights are more convenient, they are often more expensive. Layovers can significantly reduce the ticket price. Maybe a 2-hour wait isn’t a big deal and helps you save €100 on your trip—what do you think? Short layovers are highly recommended if you’re not in a hurry to reach your destination.

Extra Tip: Do you know what skiplagging is? Check out this article to find out.

12. Clear Your Browser’s Cookies

To find cheap flights, clear your browser’s cookies. Sometimes, prices increase based on your previous searches. Use an incognito window to avoid this problem.

Extra Tip: Change the search engine's location or currency, as prices are not the same in all countries. Your origin is considered when setting prices.

Finding cheap flights isn’t impossible. With these secret tips to save on travel, you’ll be ready to discover the world without overspending. The key is to learn certain tricks and invest a little time to find your perfect flight. If you need help with that, don’t hesitate to contact us—we’ll be happy to give you the best recommendations based on what you’re looking for.

And, let’s keep traveling! The world is there to be explored.

Ana