Fly for Less: Top Tips for Finding Cheap Flights

Whether you’re new to traveling by plane or a seasoned veteran of your local airport, you know that one of the most challenging parts of planning a trip is finding affordable, and reasonable, flights. However, with research and strategic timing, you can score some major deals on your next trip!

Here are my top tips:

1. Be flexible with your travel dates

In terms of choosing your travel month, traveling in the off-season, or at the margins of the off-season, of your destination is a great way to visit your dream destination at a lower cost. Just make sure that the off-season doesn’t coincide with a rainy season!

On a more precise level of choosing your dates of travel, be flexible with your departure and arrival days. For example, you may be able to find a cheaper nonstop flight on a Tuesday than a multi-leg flight on a Thursday. Look into the flight itineraries out of your local airports!

2. Use price comparison websites

Skyscanner, Kayak, Google Flights— the list of travel price comparison websites is nearly endless. These sites allow you to compare flight costs across airlines, and each site has its pros and cons. I’ve found that Skyscanner will find the cheapest flights, but oftentimes at the trade-off of adding a day’s layover onto your travel. Google Flights is my go-to site to find flights that have a good balance between price and travel time!

3. Sign up for alerts

Many airline websites and travel apps (including Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights) have a price alert feature where you'll receive notifications when the price of a flight you're interested in drops. This can be a great way to snag a seat on a cheap flight.

4. Be open to any airline

Common advice on how to save money on flights is to fly with one airline loyally. While this can work, it takes a long time to build up travel points with a specific airline. If you want to travel now, and not wait five years to accumulate points, budget airlines offer cheaper flights than traditional airlines. The catch is that they usually charge extra for things like checked baggage, seat selection, and in-flight meals. If you're willing to pack light and bring snacks, you may be able to save a lot of money on your flight!