With an abundance of low budget airlines to choose from you’d think it would be easy to find cheap flights. Sure the initial price may look attractive but once you add checked bags, seat allocations, meals etc., the dollar soon racks up. I mean, did you know airlines make more than $33 billion on baggage fees?
This hefty price tag can often be the barrier standing in the way of many incredible adventures. But we don’t want that to happen, we all deserve to see the world after all, no? So, here are our savvy tips and tricks designed to help you get cheap flights.
1. Know when to book
Flight prices are hard to predict, but generally there’s an art to knowing when to book your flights in order to enjoy cheaper prices. According to the Airlines Reporting Corporation, the best time to book short haul flights is about 6 weeks prior to travel when prices drop below the average fare. And for long haul flights, 18 weeks in advance is where the sweet spot is at.
There isn’t a huge price difference, mind you, but savings are savings all the same and it could buy you an extra meal on holiday, so this is worth taking into account!
2. Use flight search tools
A great way to get cheap flights is by using flight search tools and search engines. Why do the hard work when there’s a machine ready to do it for you?
Instead of heading straight to your chosen airline, use flight search tools. Fill in your travel date and destinations and you’ll be greeted with a whole heap of airline fares. Sites such as Kayak, Fare Compare, FlightFox and Skyscanner, compare prices from pretty much every airline out there. If you can, be flexible with your dates and airports, you’ll be surprised by how much money you can save just by travelling a day or so before or after, or from a different airport.
Once you’ve found the flights you want, double check the prices on the airline’s site to ensure they haven’t been bumped up along the way!
3. Travel on different days of the week
According to Forbes, the cheapest days to fly are in the middle of the week! Tuesdays and Wednesdays specifically will offer the cheapest flights, while ticket prices on Saturdays are generally the most expensive.
Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but on top of flights being cheaper in the middle of the week, the airport is a little quieter than usual. So, double win!
4. Sign up to Newsletters
To ensure you don’t miss out on these sales, sign up to your favourite airlines’ newsletters. You’ll be notified of sale periods as well as any last-minute deals. Airlines usually launch their sales on Tuesdays and end them on Thursdays. This is the period when airlines may have empty seats ahead of the weekend flights, so if you’re looking for a last-minute getaway this is the ideal time to book as prices will be slashed.
5. Check your socials
If you’re in need of another excuse to spend your days procrastinating on social media, this is a goodun. Airlines such as JetBlue have been going to the likes of Facebook and X to drop some seriously special sales and blast fares.
Many sales are also being advertised on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, so be sure to follow your fav airlines and keep a lookout on their activity. Note that these sales go in a flash, so no time for deliberation if you see a sweet deal!
6. Travel during the shoulder season
One of the best ways to get cheap flights is by travelling during the shoulder season. Flights will be cheaper during these times as less people are going on holiday. This also means that your favourite destinations will be less busy!
Consider the peak season of the destination you’re planning on visiting, and instead try to go another time. For example, Japan’s peak will be late Spring, when the cherry blossom season is happening. If you just want to visit Tokyo with no special interest in seasonal holidays try to visit in Autumn (when the trees are just as gorgeous).
This doesn’t mean that peak travel times are totally off the table – there are so many benefits to travelling during those times as well, it just depends on your budget.
7. Maximise rewards!
It pays to be loyal, literally. By signing up to any rewards schemes with your preferred airlines, you can get some exclusive deals on your next flight. If you don’t have a favourite airline, consider credit card rewards and other schemes like this. Many banks will provide air mile points and discounted prices just for using their services – so while you’re spending money on your day to day life, you’re saving for your next holiday.
Do flights get cheaper closer to the date?
Honestly it depends. You can get some last-minute deals by using some of the tips detailed above, like signing up for newsletters to stay in the know, but generally flight prices don’t drop closer to the date. There are a few exceptions, but we wouldn’t recommend staking your whole holiday on the hope of this.
Airlines often charge more for last-minute flights as they know these seats will usually go to travellers who weren’t expecting to travel but need to for one reason or another, and therefore they’re less likely to baulk at the price tag. Often, the best time to book a flight is at least a few months in advance.
How can I lower my flight prices?
A few quick fire tips to lowering your flight prices include:
- Being flexible with dates
- Booking early
- Comparing the market
- Flying midweek and early/late in the day
- Travel during the shoulder season
