Have you ever found yourself wishing you could take a trip, but practically fainting when you saw the price tag for flying? Have you read through blog posts titled “How I scored flights to Europe for only $100!” only to learn that they’ve spent years racking up credit card debt and gaining fickle airline miles? Is the cost of air travel enough to make you shut your laptop and hide inside a blanket fort? Don’t you wish you could discover the secret to finding cheap flights?
I have done my fair share of travel, and have spent the last few years constantly searching for cheap flights. I’ve scored some amazing deals ($6 one way flight across Europe? Yup.) and found that there is really just one secret you need to know to find cheap flights online. And since I’m here to encourage you to book those tickets and travel, I am going to share that secret with you.
The Number One Secret to Finding Cheap Flights
Ready for it?
Flexibility.
Flexibility is the number one secret to finding cheap flights. There are many ways that you can be flexible, but the more flexible you are, the more likely it is that you will find flights that are a steal.
Be flexible with your online search
Too many people use just one search engine online and rely on what prices it can come up with. There are thousands of different flight search engines out there, and odds are many of them will give you different prices for your flights. Some online search engines will sneak in a small commission fee, making your flight slightly more expensive. There are also some that will lure you in with “estimated” prices that are quite low, only to spike back up when you look further.
When researching flights online, try looking at several different sites and comparing their prices. Look for the small print, and read what is included in those “taxes and fees” that are added. And always make sure to do your researching using an incognito tab, or secret browsing. This way sites can’t see your cookies and track your browsing history.
What to know some of the sites you should check out? I’ve made a cheat sheet for finding cheap flights, which includes some of the best online flight search engines available to you. Keep scrolling to the end of this post to find out how you can get a copy for free!
Be flexible on your dates
This is one that many people can’t always be super flexible with. Full-time jobs, families, and life schedules often dictate when and how long your trips can be. But the more flexible you can be on your specific arrival and departure dates, the more likely it is that you’ll score those cheap flights. Many online search engines have features where you can check “flexible dates” on your search. Some even have an awesome fare calendar, where you can see the prices for flying on each specific day of the month.
Being flexible on dates also allows you to take advantage of great deals that are posted for shoulder season and low season travel. By avoiding travel during high tourist season, you are almost always guaranteed to spend less money.
Be flexible on your airport
Flexibility with airports applies to both your departure airport and your arrival airport. Many travelers live in areas that are serviced by more than one major airport. Cities like San Francisco or New York make it easy to play around with different fares, leaving from different airports. If you are like me, and your closest major airport rarely sees great deals, try widening your search to surrounding airports. Are you willing to drive a little further, to a different airport, if it means you fly for a cheaper fare? Sometimes it still works out to be less money spent.
Also, try playing around with departing from smaller airports. In some cases, you can find great deals to connecting major hubs and save a bunch of money! Plus smaller airports tend to be more hassle free! When flying into or out of European capital cities, using their smaller airports is almost always cheaper. I saved a bunch of money in Europe by flying out of Brussels South Charleroi Airport. It was an hour’s bus ride from the city center, but it made my flight to Romania insanely cheaper.
You can even try searching for flight deals leaving from major hubs that aren’t near you. A few major hubs for flying out of the US include Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Sometimes if you book two different itineraries (one leaving from a major hub to your destination, and another from your home airport to the major hub) you can end up saving money. Just be cautious about making sure you give yourself enough time before flights, because you may have to check in and go through security twice.
Be flexible on your airline
There are so many airlines out there. And while I understand the importance of some brand loyalty (for airline miles, status and credit card points), if you really want to take advantage of finding cheap flights, you’re going to have to throw that loyalty out the window. You have to be willing to take advantage of whatever airline has a great deal to your desired destination.
For the most part, you’re going to find the cheapest flights on budget airlines. Makes sense, right? Despite the fact that you’ll often have fees tacked on for luggage, seat selection, meals, etc., using budget airlines is usually one of the best ways to get cheap flights. Now, every now and then some major airlines will have amazing sales or error fares that get posted, and you may want to take advantage of that. Being flexible on airlines doesn’t mean you will always have to give up the comfort and amenities of the bigger airlines. You just have to know where to look.
Be flexible on your baggage
Baggage has become such a big extra expense for travel these days. Many major airlines usually allow for 1 carry-on and 1 checked luggage per person for free, on international flights. But the costs begin to add up when you bring more than one checked item, or when your luggage is overweight. In addition, flying with budget airlines usually means having to pay for any checked luggage AND any carry-on luggage. Being flexible with your luggage has the potential to save you anywhere from $30 to well over $100.
Packing lightly isn’t as truly awful as it sounds. I used to be a habitual over-packer until my budget forced me to start traveling carry-on only. I came to love the challenge of limiting myself and learning what I could really get by with. It is also incredibly freeing to only have a small bag to worry about when traveling. Plus, without checking a bag, there’s pretty much no way that the airline can lose your luggage!
Be flexible on your travel time
There are two ways that you can be flexible with your travel time. First, exercising flexibility on the arrival and departure times of your flights can save you money. Many times flights that leave super early in the morning, or super late at night (you know…those beloved red-eye flights) will be significantly cheaper than flights leaving at peak times. Hopping on a plane at 6AM can seriously save you hundreds of dollars.
Secondly, you can save money by being flexible on your overall transit time. Sure, direct flights can be more convenient. But often by having a layover of a few hours, you can score a cheaper flight. Sometimes you can even opt for a longer layover of 6 or more hours, and be able to spend some time exploring your layover city. Then it’s like two trips for less than the price of one!
Be flexible on your destination
If you really want to take advantage of the secret to finding cheap flights, you have to be flexible on your destination. Let’s face it- some places are just expensive to reach. Flying to Australia or New Zealand from the US will pretty much always cost you a pretty penny. But if you’re determined to take a trip without spending a ton of money on airfare, you’ll want to be open to many destinations. Traveling to Europe wasn’t high on my list of travel dreams for 2017, but after stumbling across an amazing flight deal to Brussels, I thought- I may as well see more of Europe!
If you do have certain destinations that you are just dying to get to, keep an open mind for other places around it. For example, if you really really wanted to visit Amsterdam, but came across a good flight deal for Paris, it may still be cheaper to fly to Paris and then take a train, bus, or a low-budget flight to Amsterdam. Don’t just limit your search to one destination and you may have a better chance of finding cheap flights.
Find Your Cheap Flights Today!
You can scour the internet for tips on getting cheap flights or saving money on airfare. But in all the research I’ve done, I’ve found that the secret to finding cheap flights is truly to be as flexible as possible. I have used hundreds of websites claiming to be able to find you the best deals, and quite honestly- most of them are owned by the same few companies.
Don’t waste your time trying to search thousands of different sites to find what you’re looking for. I’ve done it and have found a handful that constantly turn out great deals and reliable information. And since I love you, and I want you to travel without having to sell your organs to fund your airfare, I have compiled all my resources into a handy little cheat sheet.
All you need to do is type your email address into the box below, then go to your inbox to confirm your sign up (this helps keep interweb spam bots from ruining my life). Then, you will receive an email from me with my cheat sheet in printable PDF form, and you are on your way to scoring some hella cheap flights!
Tell me what great flight deals you’ve scored, in the comments below!
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56 Comments
Yep, you’ve hit the nail on the head. There’s certainly no shame in choosing shorter flights, especially when you think about how much smaller your carbon footprint will be!
I agree with all that you mention in here. I want to go to several places but I do not say I want to go here or there next. I go where the deals take me. That is one of my secrets to go to Europe almost every year. I have several places in mind for next year so, I am looking at airfare prices for several cities. Maybe the least expected one would have the best price.
Yepp! Flexibility is the key to save a lot of money like light packing, looking to online search engines for a cheap airfare, and finding early morning flights (These really saved money). I will try being flexible on my destination and try land on a small airport. Sounds really good since, you will not just go to the country you love to go to, but I guess I have to try to be open minded for other places around it.
I fully agree, when I was childless that is how I travelled. I did not mind the 2 hours drive to the small airport in the middle of nowwhere, I did not care when I flew. Nowadays with a toddler in tow, I am a lot more careful to plan around his naptime to make it an enjoyable trip and not one big toddler tantrum.
YAY for finding deals for that next vacation 🙂
Useful tips, thank you very much! I think being flexible overall is the best suggestion ever. People don’t seem to realize that it can save you a lot of money!
That is such a great tip! It really depends on how flexible you are with the dates and everything!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Thank you for these tips! I try to stick to not planning too much, I usually just go wherever’s the cheapest. Although I do have the advantage that I already live in Europe so traveling around here is not too expensive. 🙂
I’m sort of good at finding cheap flights, but you’re better. 🙂 it’s always good to share resources! You’ve listed some sites on your cheat sheet I hadn’t heard of before! You’re a life saver!!!!!
These are great tips. We’re always travelling, so it’s so helpful to get cheap flights!
This is amazing! I’m always looking for ways to find cheap flights. Will definitely use your tips for my next trip!
Being flexible is key! I’ve gotten some great deals because I was able to change my dates around.
100% agree with all of this! We often let fight prices decide our destinations, and we haven’t been disappointed yet 🙂 Also, Miss I-can’t-ever-pack-light here has gotten pretty good at traveling with just a backpack, so we can stop paying $60+ for bags on budget airlines. WOO 😀
I completely agree with you that flexibility of everything about your trip is the secret to get cheap flights. I’ve tried doing that multiple times and it works more often than not (as my destination is hardly flexible). I’ll be trying with the flexibility of destination the next time. Love your post. Very helpful tips. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
agreed completely! on my last trip to Croatia, I knew I had to be in Dubrovnik on a certain date for a wedding, but I was flexible before and after those days. In the end, I saved so much money on those flight tickets that I was amazed myself.
I love these tips! I am an over-packer too! But I really need to get better about it so I can start saving money on baggage!
The easiest way to find cheap flights is using Google Flights. I don’t agree that you always have to use the cheapest option. It does pay paying loyal to an airline, as long as you pick one that is in one of the main alliances. I am quite loyal to United for example and have Premier Gold status with them, but as they are in Star Alliance, I can collect miles and enjoy my status on all Star Alliance carriers. Also in the last year, Swiss and Lufthansa have by far had the best fares from Netherlands to the Unites States. Flying to Seattle over Christmas for only 420 Euro Round Trip for example!
Nicole | nicoleparise.com
Flexibility is key! I only ever travel with carry-on. Unfortunately with so many new regulations lately, even that has led to being more creative on how/what I pack…
Yes to this! Being flexible on airport/destination and even airline is how I like to travel for cheap! xo, Brittany | http://www.theblistblog.com
I love your insistence on flexibility and will try to implement that for shorter trips myself. I agree, overpacking is the single biggest mistake any solo traveller using public transport to get around can make. I have been traveling with a carry on bag for the past few years and usually take an empty smaller one for gifts and mementoes.
I have lived by these rules ever since I started travelling alone. When I lived with my parents I was based near Turin, in north-western Italy. Turin airport does not (and did not back then) have many budget destinations, but Milan/Orio is one of the biggest Ryanair hubs in Europe. I lost count of the times that the journey to and from the airport took longer than the flights themselves, and often even the money spent on ground transportation was higher. I still pride myself for scoring a 0€ return flight to the Netherlands with Ryanair. Flying within Europe is particularly awesome price-wise.
Great point! For me, I often have flexibility on my exact dates so I can play around with that options to save a little. And, I’m a big believer in packing light – I have saved so much with that alone!
Great tips! I find it hard to be flexible with dates as my usual vacations are planned quite well with timing but I should definitely be more flexible in the future!
Oh I so agree with the flexibility of airports. The prices differ drastically! What I usually do is enter the destination country on Skyscanner as it shows the cheapest city to fly out of and fly into.
These are very useful tips. Flexibility is most definitely key when it comes to travel and scoring some killer deals.
This is so true! By being flexible I have found many cheap flights!
Omg this is so true! I have a little flight booking ritual where I sit down at my computer (never use my phone after I had two auto-correct disasters when booking flights and had to pay for amends) with a beer and I tell myself “There is no such thing as the perfect flight. The flight on the dates I want, at the times I want, to the place I want, with minimum duration and layovers, for the price I want… does not exist!” That usually helps me compromise when I’m doing my research!
Haha! Keeping expectations low always helps 😛
These are really great tips! As a light packer, I’m a huge fan of budget airlines.
I completely agree with all your points. However, sometimes it just isn’t possible to be flexible on dates (especially with full-time jobs), or even the airports (some are so close to home and some SO far away) and that’s why we end up paying quite a bit for our flights! Having said that, the more flexible you can be, you’ll definitely end up saving more money. Thanks for all the tips.
Totally agree with flexibility. It’s so true for so many aspects of travel! For example, we travel via house sitting and people always ask how we are able to land great house sits in cool places and it literally ALL (ok, mostly) comes down to being flexible with all of the same things you mentioned above. People want to have their cake and eat it too with flying cheap at very specific times to specific places, which is definitely not how you score cheap flights!
You’re absolutely right about this! It’s the best way to find cheap flights, plus you may even find a destination you’d never thought of before! A very valuable read.
thanks for such detailed post..for us flights have always been the most expensive bit of travel.
we still trying to crack it. we r flexible with the timing but with full time job when we have to make the most out of the holidays sometimes we just cannot. 🙁 but yeh we can definitely need to start packing light and save on check in baggage..thanks for such detailed post
Flexibility really is key — especially in scheduling. I don’t know how many times I’ve spotted amazing deals, but wasn’t sure of my schedule that far in advance, so couldn’t take advantage of them, unfortunately. And, yes, packing light is the way to go! Such a much more comfortable way to travel — doing laundry on the road is key! — but as you said, it saves money as well! Thanks for the tips!
Absolutely could not agree more. Travel is by its very nature something you have to be flexible with – yes of course you can plan, but very rarely will you be able to stick 100% rigidly to something you have drawn up previously – so it logically follows with flights too. I am one of those people who can’t be as flexible as I would like with dates because of my job, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be flexible when it comes to the other issues you mention 🙂
Great tips. We try to be flexible but our jobs are not. Hop in to score a great deal for our upcoming vacations I’ll use these tips thanks
Many wonderful tips! I wish I were able to choose my vacation time as I am always limited to the most expensive times of the year – school vacations. So I would add to book early if you can’t be flexible on dates. I start looking well in advance & jump on it when the price dips. Last November 1st I bought super cheap plane tickets for the end of June! I also have to say that, although I am also a carry on only traveler, I am quite impressed with just how small your pack is!
Flexibility is definitely key but it also helps to follow or subscribe to websites that watches flight deals or error fares 🙂
These are really great tips and I’ll definitely remember this post next time we’re booking a trip!
As a fellow cheap flight finding enthusiast I agreed and nodded my head at each of these points – (I’m heading to Marrakesh at the end of December and scored a right winner 100 pounds there and 15 pounds for the return flight 😀 ) – Most of the time I think I spend more time searching and comparing for cheap flights than I do with my planning haha. Flexibility with dates shaves off so much, getting the right ‘cheap days’ and right times of the day helps so much – Great post for those struggling to find cheap flights 😀
Couldn’t agree more. You really need to be flexible if you are looking for cheap flights. To me, booking flight earlier also helps me book them at jaw-dropping cheap prices. Loved your post.
This is so true! I get really frustrated with guides online about how to rack up air miles (and potentially loads of debt) so this is fantastic. 🙂 Almost all of the best deals I’ve found have been possible because of flexibility – when I went to the German Christmas markets for the day for under 40 quid, it’s because I specifically shuffled my life around to go on a Tuesday instead of the weekend. Equally you can bet I’ve seen amazing deals and not been able to take them up because it’s just not possible to do those dates! And you’re totally right that there are so many ways to be flexible.
Flights are usually the most expensive part of my trip but I’ve gotten some great deals by changing my dates or leaving from a different airport. There are a couple websites I follow that post insane deals too.
I can’t believe you got a one-way flight to Europe for just $6! Your totally right the flexibility is the key to getting a cheap flight but I’ve never been as lucky as you lol Another thing I noticed when searching for cheap flights is that the price changes depending how you are browsing. When I go into a private window or switch from desktop to tablet or ipad, I always get different prices!
Great tips! And I agree that flexibility is key. Unfortunately, I have a family and need to stick to busy times for flights (i.e. when everybody else is flying too) but I find that if I look early enough and pick dates that are less popular I can still enjoy some great deals. Flying very cheaply to Berlin from Spain this year, for example, because we don’t mind flying in on Christmas Eve (major holiday in Germany) and flying home to Spain on New Year’s Day (we will miss the Berlin party but it doesn’t matter to us). We also only book as much luggage as is needed and would rather pack some washing machine powder to freshen up our wardrobe during the trip.
Flexibility can really save you some bucks. The tip with the incognito tab is very helpful! Being flexible with the luggage is for me still quite difficult, at least for very long travelling trips, as I have some things I just can’t leave at home (like cameras, laptop, etc.) and I always admire those who can be a lot more flexible with their luggage. I think one of the things that you mentioned that can safe you a lot of money is to be flexible with the destination. At least as long as it’s still about the same price to actually be there 🙂
You’re absolutely right that flexibility is the most important thing! Flexibility with time, with destination and baggage are key! The one thing I hate about long-term travel is the baggage situation is harder to be flexible with. I tell you what, I think next time I’m going to try to do it with carry-on only. We’ll see how it goes! Great post exposing the big secret!
This is so true – with all the sites and countries. Flexibility in your travel plans -whether the dates, destination or the airlines really helps you get the best deal. Am busy scouting for my next adventure and this post is reminding me to just stay loose. Cheers
These are fantastic tips! I travel a lot and I need to remember to use the incognito tab or secret browsing, as cookies always get me! I will sign up for your cheat sheet to jog my memory for my next flight!
I couldn’t agree more with these tips, Brianna. Flexibility is definitely the key and it works for me pretty well. Thanks for sharing your tips! 😉
Flights account for the chunk of the travel expense and hence any cuts here are always welcome. We too look out for the best and cheapest flights and uses apps like skyscanner , etc., to zero in. Yes flexibility is the name of the game and you can land up with some amazing deals.
Thank you for the tips! Your post is superb. You are totally right. Flexibility is really the most important issue. The thing is to be lucky enough to have a flexible schedule at work too. I wish to go and see a close friend of mine in the US. The flights I get are around 450 euros… I need to do some digging! I loved your cheat sheet <3
It is a good idea to be flexible on your dates, time, airport etc. But I prefer to fly on modern airplanes with good service, even the tickets are slightly expensive.
Of course, it is only my choice to pay more.
I agree with flexibility, a great post! Some countries also allow some further tricks, for example in Colombia we managed to book all our internal flights at local prices and saved more than 1000$ with just a simple hack. Colombian carriers have different prices for foreigners, but it’s still possible to reserve flights at those cheaper, local prices with an international credit card. And who wouldn’t like to save money!
Great tip! I know setting your preferred currency to the local currency can sometimes reduce prices too!
Flexibility is so much easier said than done sometimes, but I totally get your point. I took an extra day off after a public holiday this week so that I could fly back home at a MUCH cheaper rate.