Top Tips for Budget Travelers
Scoring a cheap flight can be a game-changer for your travel budget, leaving more room for experiences, food, and adventures at your destination. However, finding the best airfare deals can feel like a daunting task, with prices fluctuating and hundreds of booking sites to sift through. In this guide, we’ll share tried-and-true strategies to help you save on flights and recommend useful websites and tools to make your search easier.
Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates
One of the most effective ways to find cheap flights is by being flexible with your travel dates. Airfares can vary significantly depending on the day of the week, season, and even the time of day. Flying during off-peak times—like midweek, early morning, or late at night—can often save you a lot of money.
Tip: Use flight search tools like Google Flights and Skyscanner to compare prices across different dates and find the cheapest option.
Set Price Alerts
Flight prices can change frequently, sometimes multiple times a day. To avoid constantly checking for updates, set up price alerts that will notify you when fares drop. This is a great way to track specific routes or dates without doing the legwork yourself.
Best Tools for Price Alerts:
- Kayak – Allows you to track flight prices and will send you alerts when prices change.
- Hopper – This app predicts when flight prices are likely to rise or fall, and sends notifications when it’s the best time to book.
Use Flight Comparison Websites
Flight comparison websites aggregate results from multiple airlines, allowing you to compare prices and find the best deals. These platforms often include budget airlines and show you alternative routes, such as layovers, that can reduce the cost.
Some of the best flight comparison tools include:
- Momondo – Known for its ability to find cheap fares, including budget and lesser-known airlines.
- Skyscanner – A global search engine that shows prices across airlines and travel agencies.
- Google Flights – Provides flexible date searches and the ability to monitor specific routes.
Book in Advance (But Not Too Early)
Booking early can help you lock in cheaper rates, but there’s a sweet spot for when to buy tickets. For domestic flights, the best time to book is usually between 1-3 months in advance, while international flights often offer the best deals 3-6 months out.
Tip: Avoid booking too early (more than six months in advance), as prices may not have fully dropped yet. Conversely, waiting until the last minute can be risky unless you’re hunting for spontaneous deals.
Consider Nearby Airports
Flying into or out of nearby airports can sometimes offer cheaper options than the primary airport in your destination city. Smaller or regional airports may have lower taxes and fees, or they might be served by budget carriers not available at major hubs.
Tip: Use Rome2Rio to figure out transportation options between airports and your destination. Often, the savings from flying into a nearby airport can offset the cost of a short bus or train ride into the city.
Use Budget Airlines
Budget airlines, especially in Europe and Asia, offer incredibly low fares compared to major carriers. While they may charge for extras like checked baggage, seat selection, and meals, the base fare can be significantly cheaper, especially for short-haul flights.
Some popular budget airlines include:
- Europe: Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air
- Asia: AirAsia, Scoot, IndiGo
- North America: Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air
Tip: Always read the fine print when booking with budget airlines to ensure you’re aware of extra fees. Use websites like WhichBudget to find budget airlines operating in different regions.
Mix and Match Airlines
Sometimes, flying two different airlines for your departure and return flights can lead to significant savings. This is known as booking “hacker fares” and can often be done through third-party booking websites.
Tools to Find Hacker Fares:
- Kayak – Look for the “Hacker Fares” label, which combines two one-way flights for a better deal.
- Skiplagged – Known for finding hidden-city fares (where you book a flight with a layover and exit at the layover city), but also great for finding hacker fares.
Use Frequent Flyer Miles or Credit Card Points
If you’re a frequent traveler or have a travel rewards credit card, using points or miles can drastically reduce or even eliminate the cost of your flight. Many credit cards offer sign-up bonuses or incentives for spending that can be redeemed for free flights.
Tip: Check out The Points Guy for detailed tips on maximizing credit card points and frequent flyer miles.
Check for Special Discounts
Always be on the lookout for special discounts. Airlines often offer promotions for students, military personnel, senior citizens, and certain membership groups. Some online travel agencies also offer discounts for first-time users or when booking through their mobile apps.
- StudentUniverse – A dedicated platform offering discounted flights for students and young travelers.
- MilitaryFares – Provides deals specifically for active military members and their families.
Clear Your Browser Cookies or Use Incognito Mode
Some travel websites track your search history through cookies, which can lead to higher prices when you return to the site. To avoid this, clear your browser cookies or search for flights in incognito mode to prevent the site from raising prices based on your previous searches.
