Traveling can be expensive. No one wants to spend more money than necessary on their trips, whether they’re for business or pleasure.

That’s why the idea of finding a “cheap flight” is so enticing. And if you’ve ever looked into it, you know that finding cheap flights can be a minefield of misinformation and scams.

In this article, I’ll share some common travel scams to avoid and how you can protect yourself.

Traveling is expensive. That is why I try to save as much money as possible by booking the cheapest flights. One of the ways I do this is by booking my flights through travel sites like Skyscanner, Google Flights and Momondo. These sites make it super easy to find cheap flights and they are 100% free to use.

That said, I am sometimes contacted by people who have used these flight search websites and have been on the receiving end of scammy emails or pop-up ads that try to trick them into paying more for their tickets.

Here are a few of the most common travel scams in the airfare industry, how to avoid them and how you can get the cheapest flights without getting scammed.

Most people associate the word “scam” with a Nigerian prince, or a scammer stealing millions of dollars from corporations. While this does happen, there are many more small-time scammers that you should be aware of.

With over 1 billion websites on the internet, it’s not surprising that there are more than a few shady sites out there. Many of these sites are fly-by-night companies that steal money from their customers and provide no service in return. In fact, the majority of travel scams occur on flights and hotels!

Here at AirfaresFlights, we take pride in our services and do all we can to protect our customers. Although we cannot stop these scammers, we can educate you on what to look for so that you don’t become a victim of one of these scams.

If you’ve ever booked a flight, you know that the prices can fluctuate wildly. Airfare Watchdog and Secret Flying are excellent resources to stalk for finding mistake pricing as they conglomerate slashed ticket rates all in one spot.

However, not every fare posted is legitimate; there have been many stories of travelers who show up at the airport only to be told their ticket has no value. Here are some of the most common scams out there:

Finding a cheap flight is about being flexible and smart in where you go, when you go, and how you get there. Following a few basic rules and doing some research can save you hundreds of dollars on airline tickets.

Here are some general tips for finding cheap flights that apply to any search:

Be flexible with your dates. If possible, be flexible with your travel dates. This is the single most important thing you can do to ensure you get a good price on your flight. When we searched for flights, this site allowed us to find a $536 flight to Thailand — one of the cheapest prices we found. If we had set our maximum price at $500, we would not have seen that deal and may have ended up paying more than $600.

Search multiple cities. As long as it’s not too much out of the way, it’s worth looking into nearby airports too because they can often lead to significant savings. We found flights from New York City (NYC) to Bangkok for $572 round-trip, but it was cheaper to fly to Hong Kong ($487) and then take a cheap flight ($113) into Bangkok for a total of $600 round-trip (see our Flights from New York City section).

If you’re using a travel agent, make sure they are legitimate and have a good reputation. Ask your friends if they’ve used the agency, or search online for reviews.

Be wary of websites that are not secure. When you go to check out, the URL should start with https:// and there should be a lock symbol next to it.

Never give your credit card details over the phone unless you made the call and you’re sure who you’re talking to. If someone calls you and says that they need your credit card information to secure a booking or that your reservation will be canceled if you don’t provide these details, just hang up. They probably don’t work for an airline.

If you’re booking on behalf of someone else (for example, for an elderly relative), use their credit card but make sure they know about it so that they can follow up if anything goes wrong.

Beware of any emails that claim to be from airlines offering cheap tickets. Even if the offer sounds too good to miss, ignore it – because it’s probably a scam.

Airline tickets to many destinations around the world are available for booking through a travel agent or online. You can book your international airline tickets online and avoid standing in line at the airport.

Booking international airline tickets is an option that gives you convenience and can help you save money.

International flights can be booked in several ways, including directly with the airline, through a travel agent and on websites such as Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. Booking international flights directly with the airline may not be possible in some cases. In these cases, you will have to work through a travel agent or use a service such as Expedia or Orbitz.

The cost of international flights varies widely depending on your destination, when you purchase your ticket and where you purchase it. The cost of your ticket may also increase if you have special needs, such as requiring assistance while traveling or if you need to take more than one piece of luggage on the plane. International flights generally require that you pay for all luggage that exceed two pieces before arriving at the airport.