How to Fly for Less! Tips & Tricks

1. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates

One of the easiest ways to score cheap flights is by being flexible with your travel dates. Airlines often price their tickets based on demand, which means flying during peak seasons (holidays, summer vacations) can be much more expensive. Here’s how flexibility can work in your favor:

• Midweek Flights: Flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be cheaper compared to weekends.
• Shoulder Seasons: Flying during the off-peak or shoulder seasons, such as early fall or late spring, often leads to lower fares.
• Red-Eye Flights: Consider flying late at night or early in the morning to take advantage of cheaper fares, as these flights are less in demand.

Using tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner’s “flexible dates” feature can help you find the cheapest days to fly.

Sign up for airline newsletters and loyalty programs: Airlines often offer exclusive discounts and promotions to their email subscribers and loyalty program members. Also our newsletters offers the best flight deals and premium fare deals.

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2. Set Price Alerts and Monitor Flight Prices

Flight prices can fluctuate daily, sometimes even hourly. By setting up price alerts on flight comparison sites like FlightJoe.com, Google Flights, or Kayak, you can monitor flight prices and get notified when they drop. This is an incredibly effective way to ensure you snag the lowest possible price.

Here’s how to set up a price alert:

• Go to a flight comparison website.
• Enter your desired departure and destination cities.
• Select “track prices” or “set up an alert” to receive notifications.

With price alerts, you’ll be in the know when a great deal comes along, allowing you to book at just the right time.

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3. Use Airline Miles and Points

Frequent flyer miles and credit card points are an excellent way to fly for less—or even for free! Many airlines offer frequent flyer programs, and certain credit cards allow you to rack up points that can be redeemed for flights.

Here are some ways to maximize points:

• Sign up for a travel rewards credit card: Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Platinum, or Capital One Venture offer generous rewards on travel purchases and sign-up bonuses.
• Join frequent flyer programs: Sign up for programs like Flying Blue, Miles & More, or AAdvantage and start earning miles with each flight.
• Transfer points to airline partners: Some credit card companies allow you to transfer points to partner airlines, giving you more flexibility in redeeming your points for flights.

Always remember to check for airline promotions, where you can earn bonus miles just by signing up or flying on certain routes.

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4. Book Early (But Not Too Early!)

Booking early is a well-known trick, but there’s a sweet spot when it comes to booking your flight for the lowest price. Typically, booking your flight 6 to 8 weeks before your departure date will yield the best results. However, last-minute flights can also be a bargain if the airline is trying to fill up remaining seats.

For long-haul or international flights, aim to book around 3 to 6 months in advance to secure the best deal. For domestic flights, booking 2 to 3 months ahead is usually ideal.

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5. Take Advantage of Error Fares

An error fare is when an airline accidentally lists a flight for much cheaper than its usual price due to a glitch or human error. If you spot one of these, don’t hesitate—book it immediately! Airlines often honor error fares, and they can lead to some of the most astonishing flight deals you’ll ever find.

To stay informed about error fares, subscribe to newsletters or follow flight deal websites like World Traveler Club, Secret Flying, or The Flight Deal, which alert users to these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

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6. Use Flight Search Engines and Budget Airlines

Use flight search engines: Utilize flight search engines like Google Flights, Travel-Booker, Skyscanner, and our flight booking tool  to compare prices across multiple airlines and find the best deals.

When searching for flights, don’t overlook budget airlines. Airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines offer significantly lower fares than traditional carriers, especially for short-haul flights. Be aware, though, that budget airlines often charge for extras like checked bags, seat selection, and onboard meals.

To get the most out of flying budget:

• Pack light: Stick to carry-on luggage to avoid additional fees.
• Bring your own snacks: Save on in-flight food and drinks by bringing your own from home.
• Check airports: Some budget airlines fly out of secondary airports that may be farther from the city center, so factor in transportation costs.

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7. Mix and Match Airlines

While it’s convenient to book round-trip flights with one airline, sometimes it’s cheaper to mix and match airlines for your outbound and return flights. Use comparison tools like Momondo or Kiwi.com to search for the best combination of airlines for each leg of your trip. These tools often combine flights from different carriers, helping you save even more.

You might also find significant savings by flying into one city and out of another, known as an open-jaw flight.

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8. Use Incognito Mode When Searching for Flights

When you repeatedly search for flights, airlines and booking sites may use cookies to track your search history, leading to higher prices as they try to create urgency for you to book. To avoid this, always search for flights in incognito mode or private browsing.

Clearing your cookies or using a different device can also help prevent price hikes when searching for flights.

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9. Consider Alternative Airports

Major hubs often have higher demand, which can drive up prices. Check out flights from smaller airports or nearby cities as an alternative. For instance, if you’re flying to New York, compare prices for JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. In some cases, flying into or out of a different airport can save you hundreds of dollars.

Be sure to factor in ground transportation costs when choosing an alternative airport, but the savings can still be substantial.

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10. Take Advantage of Layovers and Stopovers

Fly indirect routes: Sometimes, flying indirect routes or making a layover can save you money on airfare.

A longer layover or stopover can sometimes result in cheaper flights, especially on international routes. In fact, some airlines offer free stopover programs that allow you to spend a day or two in a layover city without additional costs. This is a great way to see two destinations for the price of one!

For example:

• Icelandair offers free stopovers in Reykjavik on flights between North America and Europe.
• Qatar Airways allows you to explore Doha for up to 96 hours without needing to buy a separate ticket.

This is an excellent way to turn what might have been a long layover into an exciting mini-trip.

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Conclusion: Start Flying for Less Today!

Flying doesn’t have to break the bank. By implementing these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to finding cheaper flights, maximizing rewards, and traveling more often without spending a fortune. Remember, the key to flying for less is flexibility, persistence, and taking advantage of the many tools and resources available to savvy travelers.