The Complete Guide to Finding Cheap Flights

Flights are often one of the most expensive components of a vacation, but they really don’t add a lot of value to your trip. If you can minimize the cost of air travel, you’ll save money for experience-enhancers like a nicer hotel, a fancy dinner out, or exciting activities. Follow these tips for how to find cheap flights to anywhere!

1. Start With the Flight Instead of the Destination

You have to have a destination in mind to find a flight, right? Wrong!

Look for cheap flights and use those to determine which destination you’ll visit. You don’t need to settle for somewhere you really don’t want to vacation to. You just need to be open to a variety of locations rather than having your heart set on a single place.

This is by far the best way to save money on your airfare. If you’ve already got a destination locked in and have started planning for that spot specifically, you’re essentially locked in to paying whatever the airlines are asking for that route. Instead, use tools like Scott’s Cheap Flights, Escape Flights, Google Travel Explore, and Kayak Explore to help you identify good deals on airfare to place you’re interested in visiting.

Scott’s Cheap Flights and Escape Flights will notify you when a good deal comes up from one of your preferred airports. Kayak Explore and Google Explore show you a map with ticket prices to destinations around the world based on the search criteria you set (such as time frame, length of trip, and length of flight).

2. Fly From a Different City

If you can get to another airport within a couple hours’ drive, always check the flight prices departing from that city in addition to your home city. Sometimes, the price difference makes it worth the extra travel time. If you’re flying overseas, it may be worth purchasing a cheap, domestic ticket to get to a different city if the long-haul routes are significantly cheaper from that location.

For example, New York is a big hub for European flights, so check the price of your desired destination if you depart from JFK or Newark rather than your hometown. Then check flight prices from your home airport to New York (remember, you can often take a shuttle between airports if you have enough time between your flights – check Rome2Rio for options).

If the total amount of those two tickets is less than it would cost to fly from your hometown, you’ve travel-hacked your way to a great deal.

One important note to keep in mind – flying from a larger city does not automatically mean cheaper prices! Be sure to compare rather than assuming you’re getting a better deal flying out of a hub.

3. Fly Into a Different Airport

If your destination city has multiple airports in the area, be sure to check the prices into each one. Keep in mind that the smaller airports may be in a different location and more difficult or costly to get to the city. If the price difference is large enough, consider whether it’s worth the extra effort.

Google Flights allows you to pick between searching by a specific airport or a general city. This way, you can easily compare prices. Just be sure you pay attention to which airport you select to fly in AND out of. It’s not uncommon for someone to show up at the wrong airport on their way home because they didn’t check their ticket.

4. Fly on a Different Day of the Week

If your dates are flexible at all, you can often save money by being open to flying on different days of the week. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are often cheaper because business travelers and weekend travelers aren’t typically flying on those days.

5. Change Your Travel Dates

Google Flights allows you to input your origin and destination and view the lowest price each day. You can often save money if your dates are flexible, even by a day or two.

If you have no restrictions on travel dates, click through several months of flights on Google Flights. You’ll often find a significantly cheaper price than if you are locked into certain dates.

6. Know the Cancellation Policy

U.S. Department of Transportation rules state that you have 24 hours from the time of ticket purchase to cancel and receive a refund (not a travel credit). If you see a great deal, go ahead and book it, and know that you have 24 hours to change your mind. Alternatively, if you find a better deal within 24 hours, book the new deal, and cancel your original ticket.

There are a few caveats, such as you must book directly with the airline (not through a third party site like Expedia), and the departure date must be at least 7 days after booking. This article from Scott’s Cheap Flights explains the rule in greater detail.

Additionally, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines have significantly relaxed their restrictive cancellation and change policies after the 24-hour mark. Knowing the rules will ensure you purchase the type of ticket best for your individual situation. There’s no need to spend extra money on a ticket with more flexibility if the cheapest tickets give you all the flexibility you need.

Flights are often one of the most costly elements of travel, but changing a few key elements will save you money. And saving on flights means more funds to spend on things that make travel fun – like a nice resort, fine dining, and adventurous activities!

When you’re ready to start packing for your trip, don’t forget to bring these 15 essential items in your carry-on to have the best flight experience possible!

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