Flying to faraway lands seems glamorous, but one look at the sky-high ticket prices is enough to clip our wings before we can even spread them. Believe me, we too have stared dejectedly as my dream destinations mock us from travel magazines, out of our budget's reach thanks to those pesky flights.
But fret not, weary traveler! Finding budget-friendly airfare, even for exotic global hotspots, is possible for us common folk too. In this tell-all post, we'll let you in on our hard-earned secrets for scoring cheap flights without needing to sell an organ on the black market (though we can't promise your firstborn will make it out unscathed!).
From hacking online booking tools to decoding airline sales, we've picked up plenty of tricks over years of student backpacking to make our dollar stretch far and wide. Our wallet may not forgive us, but thanks to these crafty tips we've seen cut-price flights to everywhere from Easter Island to the Serengeti. Take it from this thrifting travel pro – dreaming big doesn't require a Fortune 500 salary.
So bid a fond farewell to window shopping vacations out of reach and start unpacking those destinations pinning for your wanderlust. With some strategic planning and insider savvy, scoring affordable airfare is just the ticket to everywhere your bucket list dreams of going. Read on to start cashing in!
But first...
What is a good price for a flight?
A great question! It all depends on how much time or how far in advance you're looking. If you're booking your trip just one week before departure, then $400 might seem like an affordable option.
BUT it's more likely that ticket prices will go up nearer to the date of travel and may even sell out before then. The best advice we have is: book early and book often! You'll save money on more expensive tickets, and you'll have a better chance of getting the flights you want.
The 25 Best Ways to Find Cheap Flights Anywhere in the World
Now that we've got that out of the way, let's explore how to find cheap flights to any destination.
Use Google Flights Explore to get more information on how much the flight costs
One of the best ways to determine the cost of a flight is to use Google Flights Explore. By using this tool, you can check the price of a particular flight and view all the options available. The website can also show you what fare classes are available. Usually, this will help you decide what your budget is. It also shows you the price range for different airline fares.
The first step is to go to Google Flights Explore and type in the destination you wish to travel to. You can choose to see the prices of all airlines, even budget airlines. However, there are certain restrictions. You cannot set alerts that will alert you when the price of a specific flight reaches a particular threshold. In addition, you can only set alerts for certain dates and destinations. You can also choose to get email notifications for up to five flights at a time.
Once you have entered the destination and date, you can click on the "Explore" button. Once you have selected the desired date, you can view prices for the selected airline and the chosen dates. To get the best deal, you can choose to change the language or currency of your search. You can also choose the country to see prices in your preferred currency. To view flight prices in your preferred currency, click on the flag icon next to the country.
Using Google Flights Explore is a great way to get a better idea of how much the flight costs. You can compare flights to find the best deal based on the location, price, and duration of the flight. In addition, you can track the price of a flight with the click of a button. Moreover, you can select which airlines are available to you and set a maximum price to get the lowest airfare.
Cheap flights of the day - check out what's on sale today!
Another great way to find cheap flights is through Google Flights' "Cheap Flights of the Day" feature. This will show you a list of flights that are discounted for that day only. If you are flexible with your travel dates, this could save you a lot of money on your airfare!
Explore different flight options
There are a variety of ways to fly, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, if you're looking for cheap flights, it might be worth considering budget airlines like Spirit or Frontier Airlines. However, these airlines often charge extra for things like checked bags and seat selection. So if you're not careful, your total cost could end up being more than if you'd flown on a traditional airline.
Check multiple flight search engines
Prices can vary greatly from site to site, so it's important to compare as many options as possible. Some great sites for finding cheap flights include Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Momondo.
Set up price alerts with airlines
Price alerts can be a great way to find cheap flights and save money on your travel. You can set up alerts with most airlines, and they will notify you when the price of a flight drops below a certain amount. This can be a great way to get a cheap flight, especially if you're flexible with your travel dates.
Use rewards points to get free flights
If you're a frequent traveler, it might make sense to sign up for a credit card that offers rewards points for airfare. These points can be redeemed for free flights or upgrades on your next trip. Just make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully, so you know how much your points are worth and what kinds of flights they can be used for.
Be flexible with your dates
We're creatures of habit, which makes it difficult to be flexible with how we set our schedules. And sometimes, this rigidity can lead to missing out on really cool possibilities. Set your expectations for how long you need to stay in a place, how much money you have to spend, how much time you have for exploring, what you want to do when you get there...everything.
Planning out how long something will take is great for being disciplined and sticking to an itinerary without wasting time. But if something's not working or not what you expected it to be, don't be afraid to let go and relocate your plans for the day or even the trip altogether!
Websites to find cheap flights
A website that can help you to find cheap flights is skyscanner.com. This site lists different flights for you to choose how far in advance of your travel date you want to buy the ticket. If you are looking for a cheap flight, these websites can be of great help to you!
The website cheaptacklebox.com is also great for finding cheap flights because of how many airlines they work with. This website has tickets all over the world and will do anything it can to ensure that the customer finds affordable tickets for their destination.
Check how many miles you have with your airline or credit card and see if they have any deals for you
One thing you want to consider is how many miles you have with your airline or credit card and see if they have any deals for you. Some airlines will give a discount on flights once the mileage reaches a certain number, so be sure that's something you check into!
Book flights in advance
You should book flights in advance to get the best prices. It's also good to have an idea of how long you're planning on being gone so that your flight takes off on time and you don't miss any connections along the way! If possible, try booking back-to-back flights; this can save a lot of travel time and money since you'll only be spending one night at each destination instead of two or more.
Sign up for email alerts from airlines and travel websites about new deals
It's always a good idea to sign up for email alerts from airlines and travel websites about new deals. That way, you can be the first to know when there's a sale on flights to your desired destination. You can also set up price alerts so that you'll be notified when the cost of flights drops below a certain amount.
This is a great way to find cheap flights to anywhere! So, be sure to take advantage of these tools and start planning your next vacation today.
Check the cheap flights of the day
If you're flexible with your travel dates, it's worth checking out the cheap flights of the day. Websites like Kayak and Google Flights offer a "cheap flights" option that will show you the best deals for your specific travel dates. This can be a great way to find last-minute deals and save money on your trip.
Hire a travel agent
A travel agent can help you find the best deals on flights and hotels. They have access to exclusive deals and discounts that you may not be able to find online. Plus, they can help you plan your entire trip and make sure everything goes smoothly. If you're looking for cheap flights to anywhere, a travel agent is your best bet.
Fly to nearby airports
If you're looking for cheap flights, it might be worth considering airports that are a bit further away from your final destination. For example, if you're flying to London, consider flying into Stansted or Luton instead of Heathrow or Gatwick. These smaller airports often have cheaper tickets than the larger ones.
Look for flights that go through direct airports instead of hubs
Don’t pick a flight just because it goes through your hometown; always check where exactly they're stopping in between! Sometimes flying out from one city and back into another can save you more than $100 each way since there are no connecting flights involved. Try looking up how many miles apart two cities' airports are - sometimes, even an extra hour-long drive will be worth it once you've saved hundreds by cutting down your travel time.
Book your flight early or late in the day
Flight prices tend to go up as the departure date gets closer, so it's usually a good idea to book your flight well in advance. Flights are cheapest when you fly early in the morning or very late at night, so make sure to take advantage of these times if possible (don't forget that time changes depending on how close you are to East Coast).
Consider flying out Friday afternoon/early evening and returning Sunday morning (or vice versa)
Flying out early Saturday morning and coming back late Sunday is often cheaper than leaving Friday afternoon or staying until Monday because there are fewer people traveling during these times. Plus, if your trip falls over the weekend, it's usually cheaper to fly out on Friday.
Fly during “shoulder” seasons
Try flying during shoulder season instead of high or low seasons if you're looking for cheap flights. For example, Europe is best in April and October, while the Caribbean is cheapest from December through February. Shoulder months are considered September-October and March-May, so consider taking your vacation around these times to save money!
Find cheap fares by using incognito mode and searching for "lowest prices"
As you can see, there are many ways to find cheap airfare. The first tip is to use incognito mode on your web browser and search for "lowest prices". This ensures that the sites you are accessing won't know how often you visit them. This will prevent them from increasing prices for you.
Keep an eye out for deals on Facebook
Keep an eye out for deals on Facebook and wait until the last minute to buy your ticket. If you're flexible, change your travel dates and how many days you're traveling for. When we were searching for cheap flights to southern Asia, we went on a 10-day trip instead of 12 days. That saved us about $250.
Don't forget about travel insurance
Don’t forget that some credit cards offer free travel insurance as well; check with yours before you book your flight (and make sure they don't charge extra fees for this!) Just be careful how much baggage you pack - will often charge you per bag, so you might end up spending more on travel insurance than you would have if you'd just brought a carry-on.
Don't forget about how much you will need for visa fees and foreign transaction costs
Don't forget about how much you will need for visa fees and foreign transaction costs. These expenses can quickly add up, so be sure to budget for them when planning your trip. Visa fees can range from $20 to $200 or more, and foreign transaction costs can be as high as 3% of the purchase price.
To save money on these expenses, try to pay for your trip with a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. You can also find deals on flights and hotels when booking in advance. By planning ahead and being mindful of these additional costs, you can travel without breaking the bank!
Always double-check the country's exit tax
Some countries charge this fee if you leave within 30 or 60 days of arriving (usually $35-$50). Luckily, most airlines include it in their ticket costs so it's just added onto the total cost but double-check anyway! This is especially important when traveling through South America where almost every country charges its own individual entry/exit taxes which are usually very expensive.
Use an aggregator site like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Momondo to compare sites' prices across multiple carriers at once
One of the most effective ways to find cheap flights is to use an aggregator site like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Momondo. These sites combine various flight data from many different airlines in order to show you the cheapest airfare.
My favorite thing about these sites is how they'll tell you how much cheaper flights are right now compared to how expensive they were three weeks ago. They have saved me a lot of time and money over the years.
So, how do you use these sites? All you need to do is type in your departure and arrival cities, the dates of your trip, and how many people will be flying. The site will then show you a list of flights with the cheapest prices first. You can also filter by airline or time of day.
I highly recommend using an aggregator site like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Momondo when looking for cheap flights - it's one of the best ways to ensure that you're getting the best deal possible!
Don't book without reading the fine print!
When you're booking flights, it is important to read the fine print carefully. Otherwise, you might be surprised by the hidden costs or restrictions when you arrive at your destination.
We learned this lesson when we booked a flight to China on our phones. We got charged for two seats (even though we were only flying solo) and ended up with no legroom in economy class because they had given our seats away. If we'd read the booking terms in advance, we could have avoided these problems by upgrading our flight at check-in.
