To find cheap flights, here are some effective tips and strategies:
- Use the best flight search engines like Skyscanner (top choice), Momondo, Kiwi.com (which mixes and matches airlines for better deals), Google Flights, Airfarewatchdog, and JetRadar. These platforms often show cheaper rates than others and include budget airlines.
- Be flexible with your travel dates. Flying on weekdays like Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday is usually cheaper than weekends. Use the monthly or calendar view on flight search engines to find the cheapest days to fly.
- Consider mixing and matching airlines on multi-leg flights to save money. For example, Kiwi.com offers a guarantee if you book connecting flights with different airlines, protecting you against missed connections.
- Check budget airlines separately as some search engines might not include all of them. Regional low-cost carriers can offer great deals, especially for short-haul flights.
- Use tools with price tracking capabilities, like Hopper or Google Flights, to monitor fare fluctuations and buy when prices drop.
- Consider flying to a major hub city near your ultimate destination and then buying a separate connecting flight from a local low-cost carrier. This can sometimes save money overall.
- Use student or specialized travel agencies if you qualify, as they sometimes have exclusive discounts and deals.
- If you can, be open to longer layovers or stopovers, which can make flights cheaper and offer an opportunity to explore additional cities.
- Book flights with some advance notice but keep an eye on last-minute deals offered by budget airlines and flight deal websites.
In summary, the key steps to find cheap flights are: use multiple flight search engines, be flexible with dates, mix & match airlines, consider budget carriers, track prices, and explore alternative routes or stopovers.
