Finding cheap flights can feel like a treasure hunt, but with a bit of strategy, you can snag amazing deals.
Here I have covered every tips and tricks on how to find cheap flights to anywhere that I have been using so far that saved me a lot of dollars.
So let’s get started!
Love this? Check out 8 Practical Ways on How To Save Money For Travel AND 40+ Best Travel Hacks For A Stress-Free Vacation!
Proven Ways To Find Cheap Flights To Anywhere
1. Use Flight Search Engines
Start with popular flight search engines like Google Flights. These platforms compare prices across various airlines and travel agencies, giving you a broad view of your options.
They often feature tools like fare calendars and price maps to help you visualize the best times and places to fly.
As a frequent traveler, I swear by Skyscanner for finding hidden gems and low fares. It is my absolute favorite for initial searches to set up my desired price alerts.
2. Set Price Alerts
Set up price alerts on sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights. This way, you’ll be notified when prices drop for your desired routes, allowing you to book at the best possible rate.
Sign up with your preferred email address to these sites and you’ll easily get their price drop offers and notification directly to your mailbox to track your travel plans accordingly.
For instance, Google Flights lets you track multiple routes and sends you email updates when there’s a significant change in price. I myself once snagged a flight to Italy for under $400 by using a price alert on Google Flights and trust me that was my best time to visit Italy for sure:)
Click right here to check all the best places where I thoroughly enjoyed the best gelato in Rome.
3. Be Flexible with Dates
If you keep your travel dates flexible enough like me, you must use the “flexible dates” feature on your preferred search engine. Flying mid-week or during off-peak seasons can often lead you to remarkable savings.
Google Flights’ calendar view is particularly handy for spotting the cheapest days to fly. Sometimes, if not so urgent then moving your trip by just a day or two can save you hundreds of dollars.
Whenever possible; keeping your schedule open will always save you a lot. I would highly recommend checking your flights a few days before and after your ideal travel dates.
How to find flexible dates on Google Flights?
Alright, so if you’re like me and don’t have set-in-stone travel dates, Google Flights is your best friend.
- Go to Google Flights — just type it into Google or hit https://www.google.com/flights.
- Enter your departure and destination cities — you can even put in entire countries or regions if you’re not picky.
- Now comes the fun part — click on the departure date box. Instead of just selecting a date, you’ll see a calendar pop up. But it’s no ordinary calendar — this one shows you the cheapest prices right there on each day.
- If you want even more flexibility, look just above the calendar and hit the “Flexible dates” tab (it may show as “Date Grid” or “Price Graph” depending on the view). You can choose stuff like “1-week trip in the next 6 months” and it’ll show you the cheapest combos. It’s like magic for your wallet.
- Found something cheap? Lock it in — or just keep playing around with dates. No pressure.
Seriously, this feature has saved me hundreds of bucks. It’s like a secret weapon for spontaneous getaways or budget-friendly adventures.
4. Consider Nearby Airports
Always consider those flights that depart from or arrive at your nearest airports. Sometimes, if you choose to fly into or out of a different nearest airport can save you a lot.
Kayak’s “Nearby Airports” option is great for this. For example, if you’re flying to New York City, compare fares to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.
Flying into Oakland instead of San Francisco can save you up to $200 by choosing the smaller airports strategy.
5. Book in Advance
While last-minute deals can be found, booking in advance often secures the best prices with great discounts. Aim to book domestic flights 1-3 months prior and international flights 2-8 months in advance.
Airlines tend to raise prices as the departure date approaches, so locking in your ticket early can lead to significant savings.
I have been saving a lot by booking usually 6-8 weeks in advance for both domestic and international flights.
6. Use Incognito Mode
To Find cheap flights always consider using incognito or private browsing mode in all the search engine platforms. Airlines and booking sites often track your searches and may raise prices accordingly.
Always clear your cookies or use incognito mode to avoid any history backing search results. You can also use different browsers or devices to cross-check prices and ensure you’re getting the best deal.
7. Subscribe to Newsletters
Subscribe to newsletters from airlines and travel deal sites like Going (Scott’s Cheap Flights) and Secret Flying. These newsletters often highlight flash sales and exclusive deals that can save you money.
Going (Formerly known before as Scott’s Cheap Flights) offers premium subscriptions that provide even more exclusive deals.
8. Take Advantage of Frequent Flyer Programs
You should join frequent flyer programs and utilize airline miles or points for discounts. Websites like The Points Guy can help you maximize your rewards and find the best ways to use your points.
If you travel frequently, consider signing up for a travel credit card that offers generous sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards.
9. Use Budget Airlines
Consider flying with budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, or Southwest. These carriers often offer significantly lower fares than major airlines, though be aware of additional fees for baggage and other services.
Before making payment, don’t forget to compare the total cost, including all fees, to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Checking for sales and promotions directly on the airline’s website, you can compare the prices, discounts and offers provided by the third party platforms to compare to find cheap flights.
10. Look for Error Fares
Yes, you heard it right when airlines accidentally list flights at extremely low prices, that’s called error fares. You can check them on websites like Airfare Watch Dog and Secret Flying can help you spot these deals.
When you find an error fare, book quickly because they get corrected fast. Be quick to find the cheap flights by booking on an error fare as they do not last for long.
11. Travel During Off-Peak Seasons
If you really want to explore the place without having that noisy crowd, then always consider traveling during off-peak times. It will surely result in lowest airfares. For example, consider visiting Europe in late fall or early spring when tourist crowds are smaller and prices are lower.
Additionally, destinations like Southeast Asia can be much cheaper during their shoulder seasons.
12. Mix and Match Airlines
Don’t be afraid to book separate legs of your journey with different airlines. Sometimes, combining one-way tickets from different carriers can be cheaper than booking a round-trip with one airline.
Let me now share with you the best tool that I have been using is kiwi.com which can assist you in finding these mixed itineraries. For example, you might fly to your destination on a budget airline and return on a different, equally affordable carrier. This noting technique required a bit more planning, but trust me you’ll a huge amount for sure.
FAQs
Which website is best for finding cheap flights?
Skyscanner and Kiwi are the two best websites to find cheap flights.
How do I search random cheap flights on Google?
To find random cheap flights on google, you must be flexible with your travel dates. When you choose high-traffic routes, even if it’s not direct to your destination it can save you more and you can use an overland transport to get you there.
What day are flight prices lowest?
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually your best bet. Yup, midweek is where the magic happens.
Why? Because most people don’t travel then. Everyone wants to fly out on Fridays and come back on Sundays or Mondays, right? That means airlines jack up the prices for weekends and early-week returns. But those middle-of-the-week flights? Way less demand, so prices tend to drop.
Also, pro tip: fly out on a Wednesday and come back on a Tuesday — that combo often gives you some of the lowest round-trip prices.
Of course, this isn’t some unbreakable rule. Prices change all the time. But if you’re flexible and just looking for the sweet spot, aim for the middle of the week and avoid those peak travel days.
What is the cheapest day to fly anywhere?
Midweek of any month is the cheapest day to find cheap flights to fly anywhere.
What website actually has the cheapest flights?
As a frequent traveler myself, I always make sure by checking these two websites: kiwi.com and Skyscanner to find and compare the cheapest flights.
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Ready To Find Cheap Flights To Anywhere?
By using above tips and tricks, I guarantee you will find the best cheap flights for your travel adventure for both domestic or international.
Let me know if you have used these tips and how well it turned out for you in the comments below.
Also if you have something to share on this topic; will be a great piece of stuff to add more help to this.
Happy Traveling:)