Secrets Airlines Don’t Want You to Know About Dirt-Cheap how to book cheap flights

/ Articles / By Sarah Rothschild

Traveling can be thrilling, but flight costs can be a big hurdle. Yet, there are secrets and tricks to help you get cheap flights and stretch your travel budget. We’ll share strategies to find the best deals and save on your next trip. You’ll learn how to use flight search engines and save by choosing different airports. Airlines don’t want you to know these tips¹²³.

Key Takeaways

Use credit card sign-up bonuses and airline co-branded cards to save on flights
Look into fifth freedom flights and the risks of hidden-city ticketing
Find the cheapest fares with flight search engines, including error fares and last-minute deals
Save by being flexible with your travel dates and destinations
Save more by using alternative airports and traveling during the shoulder season

Plan Ahead and Stay Flexible

Planning your trip early is a great way to find cheap flights⁴. Booking 5-8 weeks before your trip can help you avoid high prices for last-minute bookings⁵. Flying out on Saturdays is often cheaper when you book 21 days ahead⁵.

Book Flights Well in Advance

Booking your flights early gives you lower prices and more options⁴. If you spend over £100 on a flight, using a credit card can protect you⁴. You can also claim a chargeback for purchases under £100 or with a debit card within 120 days.

Be Flexible with Travel Dates and Times

Choosing different travel times can save you money⁵. Flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays is cheaper than on Mondays or Thursdays/Fridays⁵. Flying early in the morning or late at night can also be cheaper.

Avoiding busy travel times like weekends and holidays can save you a lot⁵. Flying after Thanksgiving and before Christmas can also get you cheaper flights⁴.

Being flexible with your travel plans can help you find cheaper flights⁵. Websites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, Kayak, Momondo, Ryanair, and services like Secret Flying and Jack’s Flight Club can help you find deals.

⁶ It’s a good idea to buy travel insurance right after booking. This way, you’re covered if anything unexpected happens during your trip.

Leverage Flight Search Engines and Price Comparisons

Using flight search engines and price comparison tools helps you find the best airfare deals. Sites like Skyscanner⁷, Momondo⁸, and Swoodoo let you see the cheapest flights over time⁷. By checking prices on different engines, you can see all your options and choose wisely⁸.

Google Flights is also a great tool, with a Price Guarantee program⁸. It lets passengers get a refund if the price drops by more than $5⁸. The Points Path tool compares cash fares with award rates, helping you decide how to pay⁸.

Kayak, Momondo, and Skyscanner are top flight search engines. Kayak shows fare comparisons from airlines and booking sites, with options to filter and find cheaper round-trip flights⁸. Momondo is great for finding the cheapest dates to travel, with price alerts and fare trend advice⁸. Skyscanner helps you find cheap flights anywhere by showing destinations by price, with options for different types of flights⁸.

Services like Airfare Watchdog, Dollar Flight Club, and Going offer more features, like email alerts and travel tips⁸. Booking directly with airlines can also reveal short-term deals not found on other sites⁸.

Flight Search Engine	Key Features	Ratings
Kiwi	Unique itineraries, self-transfer ticketing, hidden city ticketing, throwaway ticketing	5-star
Expedia	Beneficial for OneKey Rewards members, flights earn 0.2% in OneKeyCash and 1 trip element towards higher status	4.5-star
Skiplagged	Recommends hidden city flying, offers flight protection add-ons, service fee ranging from $10 to $35, rewards and referral program	4-star

“Comparing prices across multiple search engines is the key to finding the best deals on airfare.”

By using flight search engines and price comparison tools, travelers can find great savings and explore more travel options⁷⁸.

Utilize Layovers and Multi-City Flights

Smart travelers know that layovers and multi-city flights can save you money. By adding stopovers to your trip, you can find cheaper flights and see more places⁹.

Airlines like Turkish Airlines, Icelandair, and Qatar Airways offer special layover programs. These let you stay in their hubs for a little or no extra cost⁹. Imagine walking through Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, seeing the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, or enjoying Doha’s culture.

Explore Stopovers and Extend Your Trip

Being flexible with your travel dates can lead to big savings. Some airlines give discounts if you stay over for 12 hours⁹. This time can be perfect for exploring, trying new foods, and making memories.

Use search engines like Skyscanner or Momondo to find multi-city flights⁹. These sites can show you how to visit more places for less money than booking separate tickets¹⁰.

For a trip to Bali, think about stopping over in Singapore, Dubai, or Kuala Lumpur⁹. This might take a bit longer, but you could save a lot, cutting the flight cost from $1,000 to $500 or less.

The secret to saving money is being open to different flight paths and embracing a multi-city journey¹¹. With creativity and flexibility, you can have more travel experiences without spending a lot.

Book Directly on Airline Websites

When you find your ideal flight, booking directly on the airline’s website is a smart move. You can pay with PayPal, bank transfer, or credit card. It also makes handling changes or cancellations easier¹².

Snag Error Fares and Subscribe to Airline Newsletters

Also, signing up for airline newsletters and checking out sites like The Flight Deal can keep you in the loop. You’ll learn about error fares and other special deals that can save you a lot of money¹².

“Booking directly on the airline’s website is the best way to ensure you get the most value for your money and can easily manage any changes to your flight.”

Sign up for airline newsletters to receive updates on travel deals and error fares.
Follow popular travel deal websites to stay on top of the latest flight discounts and promotional offers.
Combine one-way tickets on different airlines to take advantage of Hacker Fares and save money over traditional round-trip bookings.

Booking directly on airline sites and keeping up with error fares and other travel deals can lead to big savings on your next flight¹²¹³¹⁴.

how to book cheap flights: The Google Flights Hack

Discover how to book cheap flights with Google Flights. Instead of picking a destination, enter where you’re leaving from and let Google show you where you can go and how much it costs¹⁵. This trick stops the site from saving your search info, which could raise prices later. Being open to different places can lead to finding deals you might miss with a regular search.

This hack is great for travelers who can change their plans¹⁵. Flights are often the biggest part of a trip’s cost¹⁵. But, this trick can cut costs. For example, a flight price dropped from $217 to $177 using this method¹⁵.

Remember, this trick only shows economy fares¹⁵. There might be extra fees or rules if you need to cancel your flight¹⁵. Yet, for those who like flexibility or live a nomadic life, this hack can be a big win in finding cheap flights to many places¹⁵.

Departure	Destination	Roundtrip Fare
New York	Atlanta	$97
New York	Toronto	$125
Various	Cancun	$270
Various	Las Vegas	$94

Using the Google Flights hack and being flexible can lead to big savings on your next trip¹⁵¹⁶.

Also, don’t overlook travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card with its 60,000 bonus points offer¹⁶ or the American Express® Gold Card with 65,000 Membership Rewards® points¹⁶. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can save you up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight by offering the first checked bag for free¹⁶.

By combining the Google Flights hack with smart use of travel rewards, you can save more and enjoy cheaper trips¹⁶.

Maximize Savings with Alternate Airports and Shoulder Seasons

Looking for ways to save on travel? Try flying into an airport not as well-known as your main destination. For example, Long Beach Airport can be cheaper than Los Angeles by $50-$100¹⁷. This trick works in big cities like Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. Choosing different airports can lead to big savings on your ticket.

Also, traveling during the off-peak season can save you money on flights and hotels¹⁸. For example, flying to Greece from New York in September might cost $435, but in peak season, it could be $906¹⁸. Traveling when it’s less busy can help you save a lot on budget travel.

Destination	Lowest Priced Flight	Airline
San Juan, Puerto Rico	$169	Frontier Airlines
Guatemala City	$203	Spirit Airlines
Tokyo	$987	ANA, United Airlines

Use tools like Google Flights to find the best deals. They show price trends and alert you to cheaper travel times¹⁷. Being flexible and open to different airports and times can save you a lot on your next trip.

“Traveling during the off-season can significantly reduce ticket prices; for instance, a ticket to Greece from NY in September may cost $435, while during high season, it could cost $906, more than double the price.”

Being open-minded and flexible is key to saving money. Look for alternate airports and travel during shoulder seasons¹⁷¹⁸. This way, you can visit your favorite places without spending a lot, making your budget travel dreams come true¹⁷¹⁹¹⁸.

Conclusion

This article has shared secrets and strategies to help you book cheap flights and save on your next trip²⁰. Planning early and being flexible with your travel times can lead to big savings²⁰. Using tools like Google Flights can help you find the cheapest flights²¹.

Looking into layovers, multi-city flights, and different airports can also save you money²². Booking directly with airlines and watching for error fares can help stretch your budget even further²². With these tips, you can enjoy amazing trips without spending a lot²¹.

Being informed and creative is key to finding cheap flights²². So, start planning your next trip today. You can visit the amazing places you’ve dreamed of while saving money²².

FAQ

What is the best time to book flights?

Travel experts say the best time to book flights is 3 to 4 months before your trip.

How can I find the best deals on airfare?

Use flight search engines and price comparison tools like Skyscanner, Momondo, and Swoodoo to find deals. “Price calendars” help show the cheapest flights within a timeframe.

How can I save money by incorporating stopovers into my itinerary?

Layovers and multi-city flights can save you money and let you see more. Adding stopovers to your trip can make flights cheaper and let you visit more places.

What is the Google Flights hack, and how can it help me find cheap flights?

The Google Flights hack is about entering your departure location and seeing a map of destinations and prices. This stops the website from raising prices later.

How can I save money by using alternate airports near my desired destination?

Sometimes, flying into airports near your destination can save -0. This works in big cities like Chicago, New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.

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