How to Find Cheap Flights: 18 Proven Strategies That Actually Work
Stop overpaying for flights. These proven strategies will save you hundreds on every booking.
1. Book at the Right Time — The Sweet Spot
Research consistently shows the cheapest time to book international flights is 1–4 months before departure. For domestic flights, 3–6 weeks is optimal. Booking too early (6+ months) or too late (within 2 weeks) both result in higher prices. The day of week matters too: flights searched on Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be cheapest.
- Book intercontinental flights 2–4 months ahead
- Book domestic flights 3–6 weeks ahead
- Avoid searching on Sundays — airlines often raise prices on weekends
2. Use Google Flights — It's a Game Changer
Google Flights' price calendar and price grid features let you see every date and destination combination at once, making it easy to spot the cheapest days to fly. The price tracking feature sends alerts when fares drop. Set it up for any route you're considering and wait for the notification.
3. Be Flexible With Airports
Flying into a secondary airport near your destination can save hundreds. London has six airports — Luton and Stansted are significantly cheaper than Heathrow for budget carriers. Paris has Beauvais (90 min from city). New York has Newark and White Plains. Always check nearby airports in the search filters.
- Consider budget carrier hub airports
- Factor in transfer costs when comparing airport options
- Overnight buses or trains from secondary airports can cost $10–20
4. Use Fare Alerts and Flight Deal Newsletters
Services like Google Flights price alerts, Skyscanner alerts, and Scott's Cheap Flights (for USA) or Jack's Flight Club (for Europe/UK) send notifications when prices drop dramatically on popular routes. Mistake fares — where airlines accidentally underprice by 50–80% — are found almost exclusively through these services.
5. Consider Positioning Flights
A positioning flight means flying to a major hub airport to catch a cheaper international flight from there. Flying London to Bangkok via Frankfurt on Lufthansa might cost $300 less than flying directly from London. Add a budget airline to Frankfurt for $30 and you've saved $270. Check if flying out of a different nearby city makes economic sense.
6. Clear Your Browser Cookies or Use Incognito Mode
Airline and booking site algorithms track your searches and sometimes raise prices when they detect repeat interest in a route. While the impact is debated, using incognito mode costs nothing and may give you lower prices. VPNs set to different countries can also reveal cheaper fares in different markets.
7. Mix and Match Airlines — Don't Book Return with One Carrier
Booking outbound with one airline and return with another is often 20–40% cheaper than a return ticket with a single carrier. Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to check one-way prices separately. The risk is lower coordination if one flight is delayed, so buy both segments independently rather than through a third-party bundle.
8. Pack Only a Carry-On to Avoid Baggage Fees
Budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizzair, and Spirit make their profits from baggage fees. A round-trip with checked luggage on Ryanair can cost as much as a full-service airline ticket once fees are added. Learning to travel with a 20–40 litre carry-on pack and one personal item eliminates this cost entirely.
- Wear your heaviest items on the plane
- Pack versatile clothes that can mix and match
- A 40L bag can legally replace checked luggage on most carriers