How To Find Cheap Flights And Save Money

Flights can be expensive, especially if you are travelling long haul.
I always spend quite a bit of time comparing flights before I book because prices can vary quite a lot depending on the airline, dates and airport. They can also go up and down due to dynamic pricing.

There are lots of websites where you can search for flights, but I don’t just look at one and book the first flight I find.
Check a few different websites for different prices, and look at the overall cost before deciding.

There are also some simple things you can do to give yourself a better chance of finding a cheaper flight.

Here are some of the things I do when looking for flights.

Compare Flights

One of the first things I do is compare flights.

I don’t just use one website because you may find different prices, airlines or flight times depending on where you search. Some sites may only show a few airlines, and some sites have sales on that can bring the price down even more.

I check Aviasales, Expedia UK / Expedia USA, Trip.com and WayAway to compare flights. These are companies that can be trusted.

It is worth checking a few different websites rather than assuming that the first price you see is the best one.
Once I have found a flight I am interested in, I will also check the airline’s own website before booking.

Be Flexible With Your Dates

If you can be flexible with your travel dates, check a few different options.

Changing your flight by just one day can sometimes make a difference to the price.

I wouldn’t say that there is one particular day that is always cheapest because flight prices change all the time. The idea that there is a particular day when you should always book your flights is a misconception. It may have been more accurate in the past, but with dynamic pricing, prices can change depending on demand, availability and other factors, and you cannot reliably predict when this will happen.

This is why I compare prices and book when I see a price I am happy with.

If you know roughly when you want to travel but don’t have to go on an exact date, try searching a few days either side of your original dates.

If you are planning a trip, you may also want to read my guide on how to plan a trip step by step.

Check Different Airports

Don’t only check the airport closest to you.

Depending on where you live, there may be several airports that you could use. In the UK, for example, you could potentially compare airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester or Birmingham, depending on your destination and where you live.
The same applies when you arrive at your destination.

A different airport may have a much cheaper flight, but make sure you check the cost of getting there and getting to your accommodation afterwards.

There isn’t much point saving £50 on a flight if you then spend more than that getting to and from the airport!

Also think about how long the journey will take. I would rather pay a little more for a much easier journey than spend hours travelling to a different airport just to save a small amount.

Look At Nearby Airports

When searching for flights, it can also be worth checking airports that aren’t exactly where you originally planned to fly.

Some cities have more than one airport, and prices can be very different between them.

If you are visiting a large city, check what other airports are within a reasonable distance.

Just make sure you know how you will get from the airport to your destination before booking.

Check the price of the transfer or public transport and how long it will take. If the airport is several hours away, the cheaper flight may not actually be the better option.

Think About When You Are Travelling

Flights are usually more expensive when lots of people want to travel.

School holidays, Christmas, public holidays in the country you are leaving from and the country you are travelling to, plus other popular travel periods can all affect prices.

If you have the option to travel outside these times, have a look at the prices.
You don’t necessarily need to change your whole trip. Moving your dates by a few days could make a difference.

Of course, this isn’t possible for everyone. If you have children, work commitments or need to travel for a particular event, you may have to travel during busy periods.

It is still worth checking the dates around your trip if you have any flexibility.

Check What Is Included

A flight may look cheap when you first see it, but check what you actually get for the price.

You may have to pay extra for things such as:

• Checked baggage
• Cabin baggage
• Choosing a seat
• Food and drinks
• Changing your booking

This is something I always check when comparing flights.

For example, if one flight costs £100 but doesn’t include a checked bag and another costs £130 with the baggage included, the second flight may actually work out cheaper for you.

Some flights don’t include any baggage in the basic fare, so if you want baggage, make sure to take that into account when looking at fares.

Don’t just compare the starting price. Compare what you will actually have to pay.

If you are trying to save money on a trip, you may also find my ways to save money for a vacation useful.

Check The Airline’s Website

I always check the airline’s website too.
Sometimes the price is the same, but it is still worth checking.
I also look at what is included and the booking conditions before deciding where to book.

If you find a flight through Aviasales, Expedia UK / Expedia USA, Trip.com or WayAway, don’t feel that you have to book it there immediately. Use the search results to compare your options first.

Try One-Way Flights

Don’t always assume that a return flight will be cheaper, although in the vast majority of cases it is.

I normally check both return flights and separate one-way flights if I am flexible about which airline I use.
You might find one airline has a good price for the outbound flight while another is cheaper for the return.

Budget airlines also often price their flights as one-way fares, so it is worth checking what the total cost would be if you booked each part of the journey separately.

It isn’t always going to work out cheaper, but it doesn’t take long to check.
Just remember to include baggage and any other extras when comparing the total prices.

Consider A Flight With A Connection

If you don’t mind a longer journey, check flights with a connection too.

A direct flight may be more convenient, but a flight with a stopover can sometimes be considerably cheaper.
However, I wouldn’t choose a flight with a long connection just to save a small amount of money.

Think about how long the journey will take and what you will have to do during the connection.
If you need to change terminals or even airports, make sure you have enough time to do it.
Factor it all in.

For me, a flight being cheap isn’t enough on its own. I also want the journey to be manageable.

This is especially important if you have a disability or chronic illness. A cheaper flight with several connections may not be worth the extra time and energy.

If this applies to you, you may also find my tips for travelling with a disability or chronic illness useful.

Look At The Total Cost

One of the easiest mistakes to make when looking for cheap flights is only looking at the price of the flight.
Think about the whole journey.

You may also have to pay for:

• Getting to the airport
• Airport parking
• Baggage
• Seat selection
• Food
• Airport transfers
• Transport from your arrival airport

For example, you could find a flight that is £100 cheaper from a different airport, but if it costs £70 more to get there and back, you haven’t really saved £100 at all.
I always think it is better to look at the total cost rather than just the flight price. Factor in time, transfers and other costs too.

I have also written travel money advice with more tips for managing your money when travelling.

Don’t Spend Forever Waiting For A Cheaper Price

It can be tempting to keep checking because you think the price might drop.
It might.
It might also go up.

If I find a flight at a price I am happy with, it fits my plans and I think it is good value, I would rather book it than keep checking for weeks hoping it gets cheaper.

I used to wait for the price to drop because I had seen it cheaper previously, or had paid less on previous trips, but that price drop never happened again and I ended up paying more than I could have if I had just booked when I saw a decent price. The price you saw before or paid before, may never happen again. Don’t delay if you see a decent price.

There is no guarantee that waiting will save you money.

Sometimes the price you have found is simply a good price for the flight you want, and you may never beat it.

Don’t Always Choose The Cheapest Flight

This is probably the most important thing to remember.
I don’t always book the absolute cheapest flight.

If one flight is £20 cheaper but leaves from an airport much further away, has a long connection and arrives at an airport that is difficult to get from, I may choose the more expensive flight.
Saving money is great, but being practical matters too.

This is even more important when you have accessibility requirements. A flight that looks like a bargain may not be the best option once you take the whole journey into account.

Sometimes paying a little more makes sense.

My Tips For Finding Cheap Flights

When I am looking for flights, these are the things I check:

• Compare several flight websites
• Check the airline directly
• Try different travel dates
• Look at different departure airports
• Check nearby airports at your destination
• Look at flights outside peak travel periods
• Check what baggage and extras are included
• Compare one-way flights as well as returns
• Consider flights with connections
• Work out the total cost of the journey
• Don’t spend forever waiting for the price to drop
• Think about the whole journey rather than just the flight price

There is no guaranteed way to get the cheapest flight every time. Prices change, and what is a good deal for one trip may not be a good deal for another.

I find that comparing a few different options and being flexible where I can gives me a much better idea of what is a reasonable price.

A little bit of time spent comparing flights before booking can save you money, but don’t forget that the cheapest flight isn’t always the best choice. There are lots of factors to consider.

If you are booking a whole trip rather than just a flight, you may also want to read my tips for booking a vacation.

Happy travels!