One thing that keeps us from traveling is the price of booking flights. But did you know that there are powerful secrets that can unlock hundreds of savings? That’s right! Plan your vacation this holiday season with these 7 hacks on finding cheap flights so you can spend the extra money on your place of destination or keep them in your savings until the next trip.
7. The Free Stopover
Want to save more money while making the most out of your flight? Get the best of both worlds by visiting two cities. Try booking flights on TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Etihad Airlines. Instead of a short layover, these airlines offer a longer stopover without extra airfare. You can even get free hotel stays, complimentary city tours, and discounts on activities. Just look for the airlines that have a major hub city and check out their stopover policies during the booking process.
6. The VPN Location-Hopping Trick
Did you know that the price of your flight can change depending on where you’re booking from? Airlines actually use dynamic pricing algorithms to adjust fares based on your location, browsing history, and device. Try your luck with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to score cheaper flights, as it will make you appear that you’re browsing from a different country. Experiment with different server locations and see how the price will change. Clear your cookies and cache before you search, and use incognito mode to avoid logging in to your airline account.
5. Set Up Price Alerts
Yup, airlines sell cheaper flights on the weirdest days, and lucky passengers who happen to be on their site can score a flight. All you have to do is set up price alerts with tools like Google Flights, Kayak, Skyscanner, and Hopper. These tools monitor the flights for you and send you an email or notification the moment the price drops. While you would need to wait, this will gurantee yoy cheaper flights.
4. The Positioning Flight
This secret is for those living near a smaller city or regional airport. Instead of sticking to your local airport, try booking a flight to a larger hub airport you can travel to, as they’re much cheaper. Just search for the cheapest intercontinental flight from major hubs like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, and figure out the affordable way to get there from your home city.
3. The Mistake Fare
Here’s a rare trick you shouldn’t miss out on. Subscribe to deal alert services like Secret Flying, Going, or Dollar Flight Club, which feature algorithms for monitoring mistake fares. They’re these flights are listed for a fraction of their actual price due to human errors or a technology glitch. Book the flight immediately with the airline’s website and screenshot your confirmation while saving all necessary documentation. Hold off on any non-refundable travel plans, like hotel bookings, for at least two weeks to make sure the airline accepts the ticket. Don’t worry, you’ll get a refund once your ticket gets canceled, but sometimes, these fares get honored. It’s worth the shot.
2. The “Goldilocks Window”
When you book early, you get to pay a premium fare as airlines won’t offer deals when they have enough time to fill seats. Booking too late will give you last-minute price hikes. The secret? Book during the Goldilocks Window, where airlines will likely offer the lowest fare to fill the remaining seats. For domestic flights, that’s one to three months before the departure date. For international trips, that’s two to eight months in advance. Track prices early using Google Flights or Hopper and be ready with your details once you see a good deal within this window.
1. Leveraging Airline Alliances and Credit Card Points
The most powerful way to score those cheap and even free flights is through airline alliances and travel rewards credit cards. Use your frequent flyer miles of one airline to book a flight on a different partner airline for a better value. Just accumulate points in a flexible currency, like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points, that can be transferred to other airline partners. Just compare redemption rates in different airline partners before you book.