Finding cheap airfare can be a real headache. There are countless flight companies, travel agencies, and comparison websites out there, each claiming to offer the best deals. But the truth is, it’s a chaotic and confusing world, with prices constantly fluctuating and hidden fees lurking around every corner.
Working in a travel agency was a frustrating experience for me. I saw firsthand how the same seat on a plane could have multiple prices, depending on who was selling it, and how those prices could change throughout the day based on demand. It’s maddening to know that the person sitting next to you paid a fraction of what you did for the same flight.
I once worked for a travel agency and I’ll admit that I hated it. To me, it seemed like a Wild West of sorts. For example, the exact same seat on a plane can have multiple prices depending on who is selling it. That price can also change throughout the day depending on the demand. Imagine this: You walk into a supermarket, you see a bottle of wine for $10. You’re undecided so you walk away. You return after a few more people have looked at it and it’s now $15. Not cool.
So, how do you make sure you’re not overpaying for your flight? How do you ensure you’re getting a good deal? Here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate the often-frustrating world of finding cheap airfare:
Before we dive into the details, it’s important to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to getting cheap flight prices. It takes time, effort, and a bit of luck. Additionally, depending on where you live, it can be easier or more difficult to find affordable airfare. However, there are some general tactics and techniques that you can use to improve your chances of scoring a great deal:
There’s no exact science to getting cheap flight prices. It takes time, effort, and a bit of luck. Depending on where you live, it can be easier or harder to find cheap airfare. However, there are some tactics and techniques that everyone can use to find cheap airfare at anytime of year.
These tips work. It takes time but, if you combine these techniques, you will make big savings.
Keep reading: 14 TOP cheapest countries to visit as a nfcvb volunteer and How to travel cheap in the USA? Go to any state without spending much
How to find cheap airfare anytime of year
- Go incognito
- Be flexible
- Use the Honey Chrome Extension
- Set alerts
- Join the Groups
- Error Fares
- Be rewarded
- Ask the locals
- Ditch the luggage
- Look for Red Eyes
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How to get cheap airfare
1. Go incognito
When you visit a website, you might see a pop-up asking you to accept cookies. These cookies are used by websites to track your habits and patterns. Some people claim that it doesn’t make a significant difference to the price you pay, but I was told by an airline executive that the more interested you seem, the more they might raise the price. To avoid this, use the Incognito or Privacy mode on your web browser. This will hide your browsing history and make it harder for websites to track you. Additionally, using a VPN can change your computer’s address and potentially lead to different pricing. Sometimes, airlines charge you more depending on where they think you’re from. Change your computer’s address to match your destination and search again. You might notice a significant difference in the prices.
If they see demand, they raise the price. The simple way around this is to use the Incognito or Privacy mode on your web browser. This will hide your browsing history and ensure nobody knows what you’re up to. Even better is to use a VPN. With a VPN (Virtual Private Network), as well as remaining secure online, you can change your computer address. Sometimes airlines charge you extra depending on where they think you’re from. Change your computer address to the same as your destination and repeat the search. You may notice a big difference.
2. Be flexible!
The beauty of traveling is the opportunity to explore new places and cultures. If you’re flexible not only when you travel but also where you go, you can often find amazing deals on airfare. Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” feature has led to many adventures. I once spent an entire summer traveling around Israel after finding super cheap flight deals to Tel Aviv using this method. When entering your departure airport, be flexible with this as well. You might find a better deal by flying from a nearby airport. Type “Everywhere” into the destination field and, for even more flexibility, select “Whole Month” and then “Cheapest Month”. This could reveal destinations you hadn’t even considered. You might not be able to fly on your preferred travel dates, but that’s a trade-off for getting the cheapest price. Other companies to check include Google Flights, Kiwi, Kayak, Expedia, and Tripadvisor. They all offer similar features, although Skyscanner is often known for having the best flight deals. I’ll share later how you can save even more with Skyscanner.
The joy of traveling is exploring new lands and new cultures. If you’re flexible about not only when you go but where you go, you can amazingly cheap airfare. Skyscanner has the excellent ‘Everywhere‘ feature which led to so many an adventures. I once spent an entire summer traveling around Israel after finding super cheap flight deals to Tel Aviv using this method. Enter your departure airport, but remember to be flexible with this too. It could get a better deal flying from nearby airports. Type Everywhere into the destination. For even more flexibility, for your travel date select Whole Month and then Cheapest Month. This could reveal destinations you’d never even considered. You might not fly on your preferred travel dates, but that’s a trade you make for getting the cheapest price. Other companies to check include:
- Google Flights
- Kiwi
- Kayak
- Expedia
- Tripadvisor
They all offer similar functions, although I’ve always found Skyscanner to have the cheapest flight deals. Later I’ll share how you can save even more with Skyscanner.
The more flexible you are, the cheaper you can find deals. Fact.
Advanced trick:
Combine this with Tip #8 – Find locals in Facebook groups and ask for alternative airports. Share your travel plans and ask for any local travel tips or special deals.
This worked for me in Poland.
By flying to an airport I’d never heard of I got an amazing deal and saw a beautiful part of the country.
3. Use the Honey Chrome Extension
Honey is a website that collects coupons, promotions, and discount codes. When you use the Chrome Extension, it applies these codes automatically to any booking you make. No more spending hours searching for valid discount codes that might not work. At the checkout, you’ll get a pop-up asking if you want to search for a valid code. It will automatically try all the available codes. If one works, great. If not, you’ve only lost a few seconds of your time. Honey tries all available coupon codes until it finds you the lowest price. I’ve personally made lots of small savings using Honey – 2% up to 12%, and even had 10% cash back on several airfares. There are several alternatives, but I’ve always found Honey to be the most reliable (and it works on lots of other big sites too).
Honey is a website that collects coupons, promotions and discount codes. When you use the Chrome Extension it applies them instantly to any booking you make.
No more endlessly searching the web for discount codes that may or may not work. At the checkout you’ll get a little pop-up asking if you want to search for a valid code. It automatically attempts all the codes available. If one works, excellent. If not, you’ve only lost a few seconds of your time.
Honey tries all available coupon codes until it finds you the lowest price.
I’ve personally made lots of little savings using Honey — 2% up to 12%, and even had 10% cash back on several airfares.
Again, there are several alternatives. However, I’ve always found Honey to be the most reliable (and it works on lots of other big sites too).
4. Set alerts
If you don’t have the time to sit online all day waiting for special offers, let them come to you. Sign up for alerts with all the major airlines and travel agencies and receive updates in your inbox. Skyscanner, Google Alerts, Airfarewatchdog, and many others offer the ability to select your desired flight date/destination and then receive notifications when the price changes. I also use a mobile app called Hopper. It monitors historical and current prices and trends. I saved over £150 on a flight from Manchester to Rio de Janeiro using Hopper. Enter your preferred flight, and you’ll receive a push notification when the price is set to rise or fall. For maximum flexibility, create multiple searches for different dates/destinations.
If you don’t have the time to sit online all day chasing special offers then let them come to you. Set alerts with all the major companies and get the updates in your inbox.
Skyscanner, Google Alerts, Airfarewatchdog and many, many more offer the ability to select your desired flight date/destination and then receive alerts when the price changes.
I also use a mobile app called Hopper. It monitors historical and current prices plus the trends. I saved over £150 on a flight from Manchester to Rio de Janeiro using Hopper. Enter your preferred flight and you’ll receive a push notification when the price is set to rise or fall.
For maximum flexibility, create multiple searches for different dates/destinations.
5. Sign up for Discount Flight Groups
If you want someone else to do the searching for you, there are plenty of options. Sign up for one of the many “Flight Clubs” that search the internet all day long for the best discount airfares. Some popular flight clubs include Jack’s Flight Club, Scott’s Cheap Flights, Dollar Flight Club, and more. Dollar Flight Club does all the searching for you to find deals that are 60-90% below the average round-trip price. They search through thousands of sites, find the super cheap deals, and send you alerts straight to your inbox or mobile. Dollar Flight Club is different from the general flight alerts mentioned earlier because they have teams of agents actively searching for deals and offer special discounts to members. The potential to save $500 or more per ticket on an international flight is very tempting, and it’s definitely achievable. Knowing how much the prices can vary, it’s possible to save hundreds if you know where to look. Dollar Flight Club also looks for error fares.
If you want someone else to do the searching for you, you’re in luck. Sign up for one of many ‘Flight Clubs’ which search the internet all day long looking for the best discount airfares. Some great flight clubs include Jack’s Flight Club, Scott’s Cheap Flights, Dollar Flight Club, etc.
Dollar Flight Club does all the searching for you to identify deals which are 60-90% below the average round-trip price. They search thousands of sites, find the super cheap deals and send you alerts straight to your inbox/mobile.
Dollar Flight Club is different from the general flight alerts mentioned earlier as they have full teams of agents actively searching for deals, plus they offer special discounts for members.
The option to save $500+ per ticket on an international flight is pretty tempting. And it’s entirely possible! Knowing how much the prices can vary, it’s entirely possible to save hundreds if you know where to look.
Dollar Flight Club also searches for error fares.
6. Error Fares
I haven’t personally used this method, but I’ve heard from several travelers who have been lucky enough to find error fares. They’re like rare gems – only real (but maybe not the easiest to find!). An error fare occurs when an airline makes a mistake with the price. Sometimes they forget to add a zero, so a $2000 flight becomes $200. With millions of flights processed every day, mistakes are inevitable. I’ve met people who spend all their waking hours hunting for these “mistake fares”. If you’re lucky enough to stumble upon an error fare, be cautious. The airlines aren’t obligated to honor these mistakes. If they realize their error, they may cancel the flight or contact you to ask you to pay the difference in price. You can then decide whether to pay the full amount or cancel your booking. Since error fares are so rare and volatile, it’s recommended that you book immediately. Use a credit card to book faster and easier in case you need a refund. Additionally, don’t book anything else like hotels or rentals until at least a week after. If the airlines don’t cancel within 72 hours, they’re likely to honor the mistake. If you find an error fare and the airline honors it, you could potentially save a fortune, so it’s definitely worth exploring. You can create alerts with many companies like Dollar Flight Club, Travel Pirates, or others to receive these fares by email. Just be quick enough to open them before they disappear.
I have never personally used one, but I’ve spoken to several travelers who’ve been lucky enough to find them. They’re like unicorns… only real (so maybe not the best analogy).
An error fare is when an airline makes a mistake with the price.
Sometimes they miss off a 0, so a $2000 flight becomes $200. They process millions of flights every day, so mistakes are inevitable. I’ve met people who spend all their waking hours hunting for these ‘mistake fares.’
If you are lucky enough to stumble upon an error fare, I would advise caution. The airlines are not obliged to honor these mistakes. If they realize their error they can cancel them immediately or contact you to pay the difference in price. You can then either pay the full amount or cancel your booking.
As error fares are so rare and volatile, it’s recommended to book immediately. Book with a credit card faster and easier should you need a refund.
Plus, don’t book anything else like hotels or rentals until at least a week after. If the airlines don’t cancel after 72 hours then they’ll probably honor the mistake.
If you find an error fare and the airline honors it, it’s possible that you can save an absolute fortune, so they’re always worth exploring. You can create alerts with plenty of companies like Dollar Flight Club, Travel Pirates or lots more to receive these fares by email. Then you just have to be quick enough to open them before they disappear.
7. Reward programs
Not taking advantage of reward points sooner was one of my biggest travel regrets. I was completely unaware of Frequent Flyer Points, Travel Miles, Airmiles, or Reward Points when I started traveling. I could have been traveling like a king by now if I had known about them all these years. Travel points are usually offered as a reward scheme by major credit cards. Spend money using certain credit