Best Way to Save Money on Flights: Top Strategies

07/26/2024 Jennifer

As a budget-conscious traveler, I always look for ways to save on flights. Luckily, there are many strategies that can help you get cheap flights without losing comfort or the fun of traveling. In this article, I’ll share the top tips and tricks to cut down your flight costs.

Being flexible with your travel dates is a great way to save money on flights¹. Just changing your travel dates by a few days can cut the ticket price in half. For example, a flight from New York to Orlando costs $618 on Nov. 23, but it’s only $333 a few days earlier¹. Also, traveling during the off-season can save you a lot of money¹. For instance, a ticket from New York to Greece in September is $435, but it’s $906 during the high season.

Using points and miles for award travel is another way to save on flights¹. You can save money by using reward miles for a one-way economy flight from Los Angeles to Paris. A ticket that costs $1,074 can be redeemed for 22,500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, worth nearly $400.

Booking flights at the right time is key¹. CheapAir.com found that booking flights to Europe 120 days in advance is best, while domestic flights should be booked about 64 days early². Also, early morning flights are more likely to arrive on time, and booking 21 days before can get you the best prices.

Finally, keeping an eye on price alerts and fare deals can help you save even more¹. Google Flights can alert you when prices drop, and sites like Scott’s Cheap Flights and The Flight Deal track discounted tickets¹. By using these strategies, you can greatly reduce your flight costs and have a more affordable, enjoyable trip.

Be Flexible with Travel Dates

Being flexible with your travel dates can save you a lot of money on flights. Only a few travelers are willing to change their plans for cheaper fares³. But, things like demand, supply, and options can really change flight prices.

Leveraging Off-Peak Seasons

Traveling in the off-peak or shoulder season can save you a lot of money. For instance, looking for a beach trip in the fall can be much cheaper than in the summer³. Tools like Scott’s Cheap Flights, Dollar Flight Club, and Google Flights Explore can show you these cheaper times³.

Moving Travel Dates by a Few Days

Just changing your travel dates by a few days can make a big difference in price³. Airlines change prices based on how many tickets are sold, making them go up as they sell out⁴. Being flexible can help you find cheaper flights and make your trip better³.

When using points and miles, being super flexible is key to getting the most out of them³. The best travel credit cards of 2023 can also help you earn and use points for cheaper flights³.

Use Points and Miles for Award Travel

Earning and using airline miles or credit card points can save you a lot on flights⁵. With smart strategies, you can gather about one million points each year⁵. Then, you can use these points for award travel, even on first-class tickets, saving a lot of money.

Co-Branded Airline Credit Cards

Signing up for co-branded airline credit cards is a great way to get points and miles fast⁵. These cards often give big welcome bonuses, like 380,000 points after spending a certain amount in six months⁵. Plus, you can earn 30,000 points by paying your rent with the card⁵.

To get these bonuses, you’ll need to spend a minimum amount, usually between $2,000 to $4,000 in the first few months⁵.

Transferable Points Currencies

Another good strategy is to get credit cards with transferable points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards⁶. These cards often have big welcome bonuses, such as 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months⁶. Then, you can transfer these points to different airline and hotel loyalty programs, giving you more options for award travel⁷.

It’s crucial to pay your bills in full each month with these cards to avoid interest and keep your points valuable⁷. By using points and miles wisely, you can cut down the cost of flights and make your travel better⁷.

To be successful in travel hacking, keep up with the latest on credit card offers, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and award pricing⁶⁷. By staying informed and using the right tools and strategies, you can make the most of your points and miles for cheaper and more rewarding travel⁷.

Book at the Right Time

Booking flights at the right time can save you a lot of money. For domestic flights, it’s best to book about 64 days before you leave. This can cut costs by up to 24% compared to booking last minute⁸. For flights to other countries, wait until about four months before you plan to travel. The best time to book is usually around 60 days ahead⁸.

Booking flights on certain days can also save you money. Sunday is the cheapest day to book for both domestic and international trips⁸⁹. Friday is the most expensive day to book. Try to avoid booking during busy times like summer or holidays, as prices go up⁸.

Timing for International Flights

Booking international flights has changed over time. What worked best in 2022 was booking four to six months early. Now, the best time is about 60 days before you leave⁸. Airfare prices change often, so keep an eye on them and book when it’s a good deal¹⁰.

Timing for Domestic Flights

Domestic flights have their own best booking times. It’s advised to book about 28 days early to save up to 24% compared to last-minute bookings⁸. For trips during holidays, book by mid-October to get the best deals and avoid the crowds¹⁰.

Knowing when to book can help you save a lot on flights. Tools like Google Flights offer insights on prices and the best booking times⁸¹⁰⁹.

best way to save money on flights

Finding affordable flights is key for those who love to travel on a budget. Luckily, there are many ways to cut down on airfare costs. By being flexible with your travel dates and using points and miles, you can save money and see the world without spending a lot¹¹.

Traveling during off-peak times or on weekdays can help you save a lot on flights¹¹. Mid-week flights usually cost less than weekend flights. Booking your domestic flights six to eight weeks early can also lead to big savings¹¹. For trips abroad, booking about three months in advance is the best strategy¹¹.

Using loyalty programs and credit card rewards can also change the game. By signing up for airline credit cards or using points, you can get award flights and big discounts¹². If you’re into travel rewards, you can earn millions of points a year, making your flights much cheaper¹².

Booking flights at the right time is also important. Airlines often have special deals and discounts for their newsletter subscribers¹¹. Also, flight prices can change, with the best deals found 1-3 months before for domestic trips and 2-6 months for international ones¹¹.

By using these tips, you can travel without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for budget travel tips, cheap flight hacks, or ways to save on airfare, being flexible, planning well, and being savvy are the keys¹¹¹².

Set Price Alerts and Fare Deal Alerts

Keeping an eye on flight prices and setting alerts can save you a lot of money on your next trip. Tools like Google Flights let you track prices and alert you when they go down¹³. Sites and services like Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) also look for and share deals, helping you grab those unexpected savings¹³.

Google Flights Price Tracking

Google Flights is great for tracking flight prices and setting alerts¹⁴. You can watch up to seven places at once and get alerts for specific dates or any date to find better deals¹⁴. It sends you updates via email if the price changes, keeping you informed¹⁴.

With Google Flights, you’ll know if the price of a flight drops or goes up¹⁴. It shows the price history, helping you decide when to book¹⁴. Even after booking, you can track prices and save more by adjusting your plans¹⁴.

Other search engines like Kayak and Skyscanner also have price alert options¹⁵. Kayak lets you set alerts for specific dates or flexible ones, while Skyscanner suggests trying different airports and dates for better deals¹⁵.

Being flexible is key with flight price alerts¹³. Adjusting your travel dates or looking at other airports can help you find cheaper flights¹³.

Search for One-Way Flights

When booking flights, think about looking for one-way flights instead of roundtrips. Sometimes, two one-way flights cost less than a roundtrip ticket, especially to different places or on various airlines¹⁶. Being flexible and comparing options can lead to big savings on your trip.

One-way flights are great for trips to multiple places, like Europe or Southeast Asia¹⁶. “Throwaway ticketing” can also save money, where you book a flight but skip the last part of the trip¹⁶. But, be aware of the risks like delays or issues with luggage that could affect your plans¹⁶.

For big trips, make sure you pick the right airports and have proof of where you’re going for some countries¹⁶. By looking at one-way flights and planning well, you can save a lot on your flights¹⁶.

KAYAK found that the cheapest day to book domestic flights is Wednesday, and Tuesday for international flights¹⁷. January was the cheapest month for domestic flights, and July the most expensive. For international flights, January was cheapest, and July most expensive¹⁷.

KAYAK also found that domestic flights stayed cheap until a week before flying, and international flights until then too¹⁷. Non-stop international flights were also cheaper than flights with stops¹⁷.

Using KAYAK’s “Hacker Fares” and “flexible dates” search can help you save more on one-way flights¹⁷¹⁶.

Fly During Off-Peak Hours

Flying during off-peak hours can help you save money. FareCompare.com says booking flights on Tuesdays to Thursdays is the cheapest. The best time to book is on Wednesday at 3 PM ET¹⁸.

Also, flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays can save you money. Airlines offer lower fares during these times to fill planes¹⁹.

Even though these times might not be perfect for everyone, the savings are worth it. Using the “+/- 3 days” button on Kayak.com can find cheaper flights. This includes Saturday nights, red-eye flights, or early morning flights¹⁸.

Flying between 5 am and 7 am or after 8 pm is the best time for cheaper flights¹⁹.

Choosing off-peak flights can lead to big savings. It might mean changing your plans, but it’s a great way to save money¹⁸.

Book Connecting Flights via Cheaper Hubs

Looking to save on airfare? Think about changing your flight path. By choosing connecting flights through major airports, you can find cheaper fares. This trick, called “hidden city ticketing,” lets you get cheaper tickets than direct flights²⁰.

Leveraging Major Airport Hubs

Major airports like Dubai International (DXB) and Soekarno-Hatta International in Indonesia are great for finding savings²¹. These hubs handle a lot of travelers and offer lower prices. Being flexible with your route can lead to big savings.

But, booking a hidden city ticket isn’t easy²⁰. You need to watch out for flight cancellations. Still, for those who like to plan, the savings are worth it.

Airport	Annual Passenger Traffic	Busiest Day
Dubai International (DXB)	90 million	88,545 connections (2015)
Soekarno-Hatta International (CGK)	Known as the busiest in the Southern Hemisphere	7th most connected airport in the world
Keflavik (KEF), Iceland	Offers layovers of up to 7 nights at no cost for Icelandair passengers	N/A

Learning how to use major airports and connecting flights can save you a lot of money²⁰²¹. With creativity and flexibility, you can find cheaper flights through busy airports²⁰²¹.

Take Advantage of Free Stopovers

Smart travelers know how to make the most of free stopovers when booking flights. Many airlines let you extend your layover at no extra cost. This turns a long wait into a chance to see a new place²². You can get stopovers through the airline’s hub cities, giving you a free visit to a spot on the way to your final destination²². For example, a spa in Reykjavik, Iceland, can be visited for free on flights to Newark²². Airlines often offer free stopovers in their hub cities to boost tourism.

Airlines like Icelandair and Emirates are famous for their stopover deals²³. With Copa Airlines, you can stay in Panama City for up to a week for free²³. Emirates also has a program that gives you a free hotel night and other perks in Dubai if your layover is between 8 to 26 hours²³.

Using free stopovers can make a flight into a journey to several places²². United Airlines lets you have 1 stopover and 2 open jaws on award tickets, so you can visit more places without extra cost²². You can also use credit card points to get cheap stopovers²². Sometimes, flights with stops are cheaper than direct flights²². Always ask the airline if they can add a stopover for free when booking.

Free stopovers can make a long layover into a great trip and save you money²². Some airlines give free stopovers to promote tourism in certain countries²³. Emirates lets you book a trip with stops through their website, offering discounts and perks like a 24-hour hotel check-in.

Free stopovers can change the way you travel²⁴. Japan Airlines’ Mileage Bank program lets you have free stopovers on flights, with up to three on one airline and seven on two or more²⁴. Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program also allows up to five free stopovers, letting you visit five cities for the same miles as one trip to Hong Kong²⁴. Alaska Airlines lets you have one free stopover on a one-way flight and two on a round-trip, taking you to three places for the price of one²⁴. United Airlines has a perk that gives you a free stopover on a round trip or a mix of flights within one region²⁴. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program adds up to two stopovers for 5,000 points each on a round-trip or one on a one-way, at a low points cost.

Purchase Travel Insurance

Unexpected events can ruin a dream vacation, turning it into a financial disaster. That’s where travel insurance comes in – a small cost that offers big protection and peace of mind²⁵. In 2024, the average cost of travel insurance is about $308, which is usually 5-10% of the trip’s cost²⁵. This might seem like extra money, but the benefits of travel insurance can be huge. They can help with trip cancellation, flight disruptions, and other travel protection needs.

Travel insurance covers many unexpected things, like lost luggage, medical emergencies, and trip delays²⁶. Plans with Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) benefits cost more but let you cancel for any reason and get back some of your money²⁶. Also, policies with higher limits and more coverage can cost more but protect you more fully.

When picking a travel insurance policy, think about your age, the trip type, and what coverage you need²⁶. Older travelers usually pay more because they’re more likely to need to make a claim²⁶. Medical-only travel insurance plans are cheaper, costing about a quarter of full plans, making them a good choice for those on a budget.

To save money, look into group travel insurance for groups of 10 or more. It’s cheaper per person²⁵. Or, consider annual travel insurance for those who travel a lot, which can cover many trips in a year²⁵.

Travel insurance can be a smart buy, keeping your travel plans safe and financially secure. By thinking about what you need and comparing policies, you can find the best coverage at a good price. This way, your next trip can be worry-free²⁵²⁶.

Combine Strategies for Maximum Savings

To save on flights, use a full plan and mix different travel tips. Begin by setting up price alerts and watching fare trends on sites like Momondo, Skyscanner, and Kayak²⁷. This helps you keep an eye on prices and grab the best deals, especially 70 days before your trip²⁷.

Then, use your credit card points or airline miles for booking. Cards from airlines and points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards can save you a lot on flights²⁸. Being flexible with your travel times and places can also save you money, as can choosing connecting flights and free stopovers²⁷.

Combine strategies like using travel management software²⁸, booking directly through a hotel’s site for discounts²⁹, and trying blind booking for up to 60% off hotel rates²⁹. This way, you can find the best deals and make your travel budget go further. A full plan for budget travel hacking will help you save more and have better experiences within your budget²⁸.