Scoring affordable flights doesn’t have to be a game of chance. With strategic timing, flexible tools, and a few insider tips, you can make your next trip budget-friendly. Here’s some insider tips from a flight attendant on how to score deals when it comes to airfare!
1. When’s the Best Time to Book? Understanding the “Goldilocks Window”
Timing your booking is crucial to landing a deal. Here’s what the “Goldilocks Window” means:
- Domestic Flights: For trips during peak seasons like summer, book 3 to 7 months ahead. For less popular travel times like spring and fall, the best prices generally appear 1 to 3 months before your departure.
- International Flights: For international travel during busy seasons, try booking 4 to 10 months in advance. For off-peak seasons, aim for 2 to 8 months ahead.
This approach works because airlines adjust prices based on anticipated demand, so locking in early secures a lower price. By following these guidelines, you’re tapping into the times when fares tend to be at their lowest.
2. Best Days to Book and Travel
- Book on Sundays: Studies show that Sunday bookings can save you up to 15% on domestic flights and around 10% on international fares. Fridays, in contrast, tend to be pricier as many people book last-minute weekend getaways.
- Best Days to Fly: Avoid flying on weekends. Midweek days like Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are often cheaper for domestic flights. For international trips, Fridays also offer more affordable options, helping you bypass the higher demand of Sunday and Monday flights.
3. Leverage Flexible Tools Like Skyscanner and Google Flights
When you’re flexible on dates and destinations, tools like Skyscanner and Google Flights make it easy to find the best deals:
- Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” Feature: This tool is a dream for flexible travelers. Enter your departure location and search “Everywhere” to see the most affordable destinations around the world on your selected dates.
- Google Flights: With its “flexible dates” search, you can see fare differences across dates, helping you identify the cheapest travel windows. Price alerts are another great feature—booking a refundable fare and tracking its price lets you cancel and rebook if fares drop.
4. Go Incognito to Avoid Price Increases
It’s widely believed that repeated searches on flight booking sites may trigger price increases due to cookies tracking your activity. To avoid this, search for flights in incognito mode (private browsing). This prevents tracking cookies from influencing the fares you see and can help ensure the best price.
5. Set Up Price Alerts and Track Trends
Many booking sites, including Google Flights and Kayak, allow you to set price alerts for specific routes. By activating these alerts, you’ll receive notifications of price drops, giving you the chance to lock in deals as soon as they become available. Tools like Hopper even forecast prices, predicting whether fares are likely to rise or fall soon, so you can make informed decisions about when to book.
6. Take Advantage of Frequent Flyer Points
Using frequent flyer points can save you significant amounts on airfare. Many airlines and travel credit cards offer points programs that reward you for purchases, whether for flights or everyday spending. By accumulating points, you can redeem them for free or discounted flights, upgrades, or other perks. (Read more on how to maximize points here).
7. Consider Alternative Routes and Airports
Direct flights are usually more expensive, so if time permits, consider flights with connections. This approach often yields substantial savings, especially on long-haul routes. Additionally, flying into secondary airports can offer lower fares and less congestion. If you’re open to some flexibility in your arrival or departure points, this tip can result in major savings.
Here’s an expanded, reader-friendly guide on finding cheap airfare, with each section giving more practical details and actionable tips for travelers:
9. Join Flight Deal Groups Like Jack’s Flight Club
Groups like Jack’s Flight Club and Scott’s Cheap Flights offer members insider alerts on airfare deals. By joining, you receive curated lists of price drops and mistake fares, often highlighting routes where you can save up to 70%. For frequent travelers, the membership fee is often outweighed by the savings on a single trip.
10. Book One Ticket at a Time for Group Travel
When booking for multiple people, airlines sometimes raise the overall price if a higher fare class is triggered. Booking one ticket at a time can help you secure the lowest fare for each traveler. Once you’ve booked individual tickets, you can call the airline to link the reservations, ensuring your group stays together.
