Buying plane tickets can be a major expense for travelers, but there are ways to save money on flights. Whether you’re planning a vacation or traveling for business, here are some tips to help you find the cheapest airfare possible.
Tips for buying tickets
Be flexible with your travel dates:
Airline prices can vary greatly depending on the day of the week and the time of year. Consider traveling during the off-season or mid-week when prices are often lower.
Book early or late:
Booking your flight well in advance can help you secure a lower fare, but sometimes waiting until the last minute can also result in discounted prices if airlines are looking to fill empty seats.
Compare prices:
Use search engines like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak to compare prices from different airlines and find the best deals. It’s also a good idea to check prices on different days to see if they fluctuate.
Use airline rewards programs:
Many airlines offer loyalty programs that allow you to earn points for flights, which can be used to reduce the cost of future flights.
Look for sales and discounts:
Airlines often have sales and promotions, so sign up for their email newsletters to stay informed of these opportunities. You can also follow airlines on social media to get updates on discounts.
Consider alternative airports:
Flying into a smaller airport or a nearby city can often result in cheaper airfare, so be open to the idea of alternate airports.
Book one-way tickets:
Sometimes booking one-way tickets separately can be cheaper than booking a round-trip ticket, so it’s worth comparing prices.
Clear your browser history and cookies:
Some airlines use dynamic pricing, which means the price of a ticket can change based on your search history. Clearing your browser history and cookies can sometimes result in lower prices.
Apps to buy cheap airline tickets
Hopper:
Is an app that analyzes billions of flight prices every day to predict how prices will change and alerts you when to book your flight. It also shows you the cheapest dates to fly, and you can even set up alerts for when prices drop or rise.
Skyscanner:
Is a popular app that allows you to search for flights, hotels, and car rentals. It compares millions of flights from over 1,200 airlines to find you the cheapest flight deals.
Kayak:
Is another popular app for finding cheap flights. It allows you to search multiple travel sites at once, including airline websites, to find the best prices on flights.
Google Flights:
Is a search engine for flights that helps you find the cheapest flights and helps you track prices and set alerts for price changes.
Expedia:
Is a popular app for booking flights, hotels, and rental cars. It offers exclusive deals and discounts for members and allows you to earn rewards points on every booking.
AwardWallet:
Is an app that helps you track your loyalty points and miles across multiple airlines, hotels, and credit cards. You can also set up alerts for when your miles are expiring or when new rewards become available.
Award Hacker:
Is a search engine that helps you find the best deals on flights using your miles and rewards points. It searches multiple loyalty programs to find the best redemption options for your miles.
SeatGuru:
Is an app that helps you find the best seats on a flight and provides information on seat size, pitch, and amenities. This can help you make an informed decision when booking a flight, especially if you’re using miles.