If you’re reading this blog, then you’re probably looking for a way to improve your flight search process. Maybe you’re tired of dealing with the same old travel sites and search engines that give you the same old flights and prices. Or maybe you’re tired of paying more than you have to for high-priced flights.
Well, we understand how you feel, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite ways to find cheap flights online. We’ll show you what websites are out there and how they can help you save money on your next flight.
We hope that by the time you finish reading this blog, you will be armed with some new information and tips to cut down on your flight costs and make it easier to find cheap airfare when booking your next trip or vacation.
The appeal of cheap flight deals to exotic locations is understandable, but don’t book that flight just yet. There are tricks you can use that will save you up to 60% on your next flight.
We’ve put together a list of the best flight search sites to help you cut through the clutter and find cheap airline tickets.
The Best Flight Search Sites
Momondo – This site was our favorite because it consistently found us the cheapest tickets and let us book with an OTA (online travel agency), which means we didn’t have to deal with a foreign carrier or third party site we were unfamiliar with. We did notice that Momondo sometimes rated airlines poorly for reasons we didn’t understand, so be sure to double check baggage and other fees on the airline’s website before booking.
Skyscanner – The second-best performer, Skyscanner also scanned a wide range of sites and airlines. However, Skyscanner typically directed travelers to third party sites rather than directly to airlines, which was frustrating for travelers looking for the lowest possible fares.
Google Flights – The runner up, Google Flights returned similar prices to Momondo but wasn’t significantly worse in terms of price. However, Google Flights wasn’t as easy to use and generally
If you want to find the cheapest flight, you’ll need to do a little research. Sure, you can just wing it and get lucky, but if you want to guarantee yourself a good deal, you’ll need to head over to an airfare search engine like Skyscanner or Google Flights. Use these tips for booking cheap flights and start planning your trip now!
If you have flexible dates, then choose “whole month” as your departure date in order to see the best flight deals on your specific route.
If you don’t have flexible dates but still really want to travel for cheap, check out the cheapest day of the week to fly. As a rule of thumb: Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the cheapest days of the week to fly.
You can also try switching up your departure airport; it could be cheaper to fly from a smaller airport in your area!
First, I just want to point out that finding flights is not an exact science. It’s really up to the airline and your timing. Sometimes you’ll be able to get a flight for cheap, other times you won’t. But with a little guidance and patience, you’ll be able to find great deals.
_First Things First: Be Flexible_
If you’re willing to fly out of any airport in the country, then great! If not, try being open to flying out of nearby airports or even a bigger city in your vicinity. This is the number one reason people end up paying full price for their tickets. Being flexible is key when it comes to getting the best deals possible.
_Don’t Search One-Way Flights_
Typically round-trip flights are cheaper than one-way flights. When searching, search for round-trip flights so that you know what all your options are. Later on we’ll look at how we can split round-trip tickets into two one-way tickets with different airlines (this will save you money!).
A lot has been written on how to book the cheapest flight.
However, getting a good deal on your flight requires more than finding the cheapest day to fly. You need to know the best day to buy, when to fly and where to fly from.
And that’s what this guide is all about – how to get the best deal on a flight with my long list of tips.
I will discuss how you can find cheap airfare for domestic and international flights and share some of my favorite travel websites that offer a discount on airfare.
How I save money on flights
I have booked tickets for well under $100 one-way (but they were typically around $200), even though I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Here’s how you can do it too:
1) Fly from smaller airports: They may not always be as convenient but if there’s an airport near your city, check out whether it offers cheaper flights! For example, I found a round trip flight from Los Angeles to Auckland for $868 by flying out of Long Beach instead of LAX. The flight was with Jetstar Airways, which is known for their low prices. It ended up saving me $290!
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This blog was written by Anna, a 28-year-old who works in the finance industry and travels frequently for both business and leisure. She has a graduate degree in economics from an Ivy League school and spent three years working at a multinational financial firm before starting her own hedge fund.
Anna is an avid traveler who has visited 50+ countries, including Australia, Myanmar, Uruguay, Lesotho, Costa Rica and more. She enjoys hiking, surfing and exploring new cities. In her free time, she takes care of a French Bulldog named Gizmo.