How to Find Cheap Flights

Cheap flights rarely happen by accident. With a little planning, you can find lower airfare at almost any time of year. This guide covers 12 ways to find cheap flights: when to book, which days to fly, where to compare prices, and how to cut the cost of the rest of your trip. When planning a trip you have to do your homework, and although these tips cannot guarantee the lowest fare, they improve your chances of saving money.

When to Book Cheap Flights

1. Book in advance to find cheap flights.
   • For international flights, start looking at least two months in advance.
   • For local (domestic) flights, book at least two weeks in advance.
   • If your schedule is flexible, you can sometimes find a last-minute deal on a local flight. This is rare for popular destinations such as Orlando, Florida.
2. If you see a good price, grab it. Airline ticket prices can change from one hour to the next, so a fare you like today may be gone tomorrow. Use the Google Flights price tracker or a similar alert to watch a route, then book when the price fits your budget.
3. Fly before or after major holidays. Prices tend to be higher around holidays. If you must fly on or near a holiday, book your flight months in advance, when prices are usually lower.

When to Fly and Buy to Find Cheap Flights

4. Fly on a weekday. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are often the cheapest days to fly, while weekend flights usually cost more.
5. Check prices on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday afternoon has long been considered a good time to buy tickets. Fares change all the time, so treat this as a habit worth testing, not a guarantee, and compare prices on several days before you book.
6. Book a flight with at least one stop. Direct flights usually cost more, so a connecting flight is one of the most reliable ways to find cheap flights. Check the layover length and total travel time first, so the savings are worth the extra hours.

Where to Compare and Book Cheap Flights

7. Compare prices on different travel websites, including airline websites. You can usually get a discount from a travel website for using its service, but these sites are not always cheaper. Checking the airline’s own site takes a minute and can show fares or perks the other sites do not.
8. Compare booking your hotel and flight together with booking them separately. You will usually get a discount for booking a flight and hotel at the same time, and the same can apply when you add a rental car. Always add up the separate prices to confirm the package is actually cheaper.
9. Book flights online. Most airlines charge a fee when you book your flight over the phone, so booking online usually saves money. Before you pay, read the fare rules and check bag fees, which can change the true cost of cheap flights. The U.S. Department of Transportation explains your rights as an air traveler on its aviation consumer protection pages.
10. Check for discounts. See whether you can get a discount with a AAA card or a military ID card. Students can sometimes get discounts on certain travel websites.

More Ways to Save on Cheap Flights

11. Use frequent flyer miles. Miles can help offset the price of your tickets, and even a small balance can cover part of a fare.
12. Volunteer to be bumped from an overbooked flight. If you have a flexible schedule, you can volunteer to give up your seat when a flight is overbooked. Airlines will give you a voucher for round-trip tickets, in addition to putting you on a later flight. This is more likely to happen around the holidays. Although these are technically not cheap flights, who can argue with free?

Don’t Forget Airport Parking When Planning Cheap Flights

A low fare can lose its appeal if you pay a lot to park at the airport. When you are budgeting for cheap flights, include the cost of getting to the airport. Off-site lots near the major New York area airports often cost much less than the terminal garages, and many include a shuttle. You can compare daily rates and shuttle details for JFK airport parking, LaGuardia airport parking, Newark airport parking and Westchester County airport parking, and look for savings with our airport parking discount coupons.

Cheap Flights FAQ

Finding cheap flights takes a little homework, but the savings add up. Compare prices, stay flexible, book when you see a fare you like, and plan for the full cost of your trip, including how you will get to the airport.