Tips on how to find cheap flights
Oh! It would be so good if there was a magic formula for finding cheap airline tickets. The fact is that ticket prices vary according to each company’s demand and sales strategy (promotions, destination partnerships, etc.). Although there is not a unique foolproof technique, there are some tips that can help you find a cheap and perfect flight for your budget.
Flight aggregators are your best friend
Sites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Momondo help you create price alerts, view monthly price fares, and search for tickets with flexible destinations and dates. The same can be done with some travel apps which we mention here.
Here’s an example of what you can do with Skyscanner: If you want to find a special airline ticket anywhere in the world, follow these steps:
01. Select a home city
02. Instead of a destination, select the option “can’t decide: search everywhere”
03. If you have flexibility regarding dates, instead of selecting the specific date, click full month, then select the “Cheapest Month” option.
04. Do the search, the result is a list of destinations, from the most expensive to the cheapest.
05. Now just click on the date, then Show flights.
Buy in advance…
… But not too early. To plan an international trip, something around 2-3 months ahead should be enough. Use the monthly price display flight aggregator tool to view your flight’s pricing behavior over the coming months and analyze the rising price trend.
Be flexible
Having flexibility regarding date and time can help you to save a lot of money. Also, if possible, avoid flying during high season and use the monthly ticket price tool that will help you visualize the best date and price.
Search flights to air hubs
For flights across continents, it is interesting to search for separate tickets: first, look for flights that go to the main airports on the continent and then a flight with a low-cost airline to the final destination.
For example, if you’re going from Sao Paulo to Bali, you can search for a flight from GRU to BKK (Bangkok, Thailand) and then a low-cost flight from BKK to Bali. Most aggregator sites already present these combinations, but it’s good to check.
Stay tuned for extra costs
Most airlines charge for extra services such as excess baggage, ticket changes, onboard service, etc. Stay tuned and know what you are buying.
Baggage
Travel light and save a lot on baggage costs. Most airlines allow each passenger to carry 1 carry-on bag + 1 personal item. And to be honest, in most cases, that’s all you need.
Know where the airport is
Some airports are further from the city center than others. If your destination has more than one airport option for arrival, it is good to consider the cost of transportation when comparing ticket prices.
Stopover
Two tickets for the price of one? It’s possible! If you don’t know what Stopover is, do a search on the term. In summary, some airlines allow passengers to make a few-day stop in connecting cities at no additional cost. Search the rules and destinations of Stopover on the airline’s website.
Extra Tip – Watch out: Flight Connections
If you consider a connecting flight with a change of plane, pay close attention if you have enough time to reach the second flight. Check if the arrivals and departures terminals are the same, if you are going through immigration, consider possible delays, queues, etc. We have already missed a flight and don’t want it to happen to you.