Air Travel: How to Get Cheap Flights
Airfare is often the most expensive part of a trip. It can be a huge burden on your budget, especially when traveling with family. Finding a cheap flight deal is vital, as it can make or break your trip. In this article, we will discuss some tips and tricks to help you get cheap flights.
1. Choose Your Destination and Dates Based on Price
Most people start by selecting their destination and dates, which usually results in high prices. If getting a cheap plane ticket is your priority, then you should flip the approach. First, check Google Flights, Momondo, etc. to see what prices are available to different places around the world. Then, decide which cheap destinations appeal to you and select dates that have low fares available. Being flexible with where and when you go can significantly lower airfare costs.
Once you've identified your ideal destination and travel dates, you can use a free fake flight ticket generator to create a realistic-looking ticket as proof of onward travel, which can come in handy for visa applications or as a precaution against airline policies.
2. Use the Best Flight Search Sites
There are several flight search sites available such as Google Flights, Priceline, and Momondo. These three are our favorites, but you can also use the ITA Matrix, SkyScanner, or various plugins. However, Southwest doesn’t show up on search engines, so you must check directly on their website. Guides to finding cheap flights are available for Google Flights, Momondo, or Kayak.
3. Find the Cheapest Place to Fly With the Google Flights Explore Map
Google Flights is an excellent tool to see many options, as it allows you to input up to seven airports in the departure and arrival fields. You can also use the Google Flights Explore Map by putting in your departure airport and leaving the destination open. The map will show you all the options available, and you can select dates or browse weekend, one-week, or two-week trips in the next six months.
4. Be Flexible - Even by a Few Days - to Save More
Moving your travel dates by a day or two can often lower the price of your airfare. Google Flights makes it easy to see if shifting your dates can save you money. They will highlight the cheapest days to fly based on the length of your trip.
5. Travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday
In general, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are the cheapest days to travel, while Friday and Sunday are usually the most expensive. However, cheap flights can pop up anytime, so keep an eye out.
One of the tricks to book flight tickets is to set up price alerts and monitor prices for a few days or even weeks before booking, as prices can fluctuate and you might score a better deal on a different day than the usual cheapest days.
6. Focus on Crossing the Ocean as Cheaply as Possible
If you want to get the cheapest flights possible, focus on finding the cheapest fares across the ocean, even if it’s not from your home airport or to your ultimate destination. Two itineraries are often cheaper than one. For instance, buying a ticket from NYC to Milan for $130 roundtrip, even if you don’t live in NYC or plan to visit Milan, can save you a significant amount of money. Once you get to Europe, it’s easy to hop on a budget flight to your final destination.
7. If You're Traveling with a Group, Book One Ticket at a Time
If you're traveling with a group, book one ticket at a time. If you and your partner want to travel, search for a ticket for just one person. Booking two tickets together will result in paying the higher price for both.
Conclusion
These tips will help you get cheap flights and travel more often without breaking the bank. With a bit of flexibility and using the right tools, you can save a significant amount of money on airfare. Happy travels!
