How to Find Cheap Flights: The Ultimate Guide for Budget Travelers

Master the art of booking affordable flights with these proven tools, strategies, and insider secrets

Flying doesn't have to drain your travel budget. Over the years, I've flown to dozens of countries while spending a fraction of what most travelers pay. I've scored business class tickets to Asia for $300, transatlantic flights for under $100, and countless free flights using points. The secret? Knowing where to look, when to book, and which strategies actually work.

In this comprehensive guide, I'm sharing everything I've learned about finding cheap flights. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a year-long adventure, these tools and techniques will save you hundreds—maybe even thousands—of dollars.

The Best Flight Search Tools (And How to Use Them)

Not all flight booking sites are created equal. Using the right combination of search engines is the foundation of finding cheap flights.

Google Flights: Your Primary Weapon

Google Flights is my go-to starting point for every flight search. The interface is clean, fast, and packed with features that make finding deals effortless. The calendar view shows you price fluctuations across entire months, making it easy to spot the cheapest travel dates at a glance.

What sets Google Flights apart is its explore feature. You can search flexible dates, compare nearby airports, and even explore destinations by price. Set up price alerts, and Google will email you when prices drop for routes you're watching. This hands-off approach has saved me countless hours of manual searching.

Skyscanner: For the Truly Flexible

Skyscanner's "everywhere" search is pure magic for spontaneous travelers. Simply enter your departure city, select "everywhere" as your destination, and watch as it displays the cheapest flights to every corner of the globe. Feeling adventurous and want to go wherever is most affordable? This is your tool.

I also love Skyscanner's month-view feature, which shows the cheapest day to fly throughout an entire month. Combined with flexible dates, you can easily find the absolute lowest fares.

Momondo: The Hidden Gem

Momondo often uncovers deals that other search engines miss. It searches a broader range of booking sites and regional carriers, which can lead to surprising savings. I always cross-reference my Google Flights results with Momondo before booking.

Kiwi.com: Creative Routing

Kiwi.com specializes in unconventional flight combinations. They'll mix and match different airlines in ways that traditional booking sites won't consider, often resulting in significantly cheaper tickets. The catch? You need to understand their "virtual interlining" policy and make sure you have enough layover time, since you might be dealing with separate tickets.

My Search Strategy

Here's my process: I start with Google Flights to understand pricing trends and identify flexible dates. Then I cross-reference with Skyscanner.com and Momondo.com to ensure I'm not missing better deals. If I'm open to complex routing, I'll check Kiwi.com as well.

One crucial tip: after finding a good deal on a search engine, always check the airline's website directly. Sometimes they offer the same price or even cheaper, and you'll avoid third-party booking fees. Plus, if anything goes wrong, dealing directly with the airline is far easier than navigating through a booking site.

Error Fares: The Holy Grail of Cheap Flights

Let me tell you about the most exciting moment in budget travel: discovering an error fare.

Error fares happen when airlines or booking systems make pricing mistakes. We're talking business class to Tokyo for $300, roundtrip flights to Europe for $150, or transcontinental flights for $50. These glitches occur more frequently than you'd imagine—currency conversion errors, missing decimals, system malfunctions, or simple human error.

The challenge? These deals disappear fast, usually within hours of being discovered.

Where to Find Error Fares

SecretFlying.com and The Flight Deal are dedicated to posting error fares and exceptional deals the moment they appear. I follow both on Twitter with notifications turned on. When a deal drops, every second counts.

Going.com (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) is a subscription service that emails deals from your home airport. While they have a free tier, the premium membership ($49/year) pays for itself with a single international booking. I've used Going to book flights to South America, Europe, and Asia at prices that seemed impossible.

How to Act on Error Fares

When you spot an error fare, hesitation is your enemy. Book immediately using a credit card that offers travel protection. Don't second-guess yourself, don't call the airline to ask if it's legitimate, and don't wait to discuss it with your travel companions. Book first, ask questions later.

Most airlines honor error fares, especially in the European Union where consumer protection laws are stronger. In the United States, it's less guaranteed, but many airlines still honor them to avoid negative publicity and customer backlash.

Important: Don't book hotels or make irreversible plans until your ticket is confirmed. Wait a few days, check your booking status online, and verify that your ticket has been properly issued. Only then should you proceed with the rest of your travel arrangements.

The Truth About Incognito Mode

Let's address one of the most persistent myths in travel: that airlines track your searches with cookies and raise prices if you keep looking at the same route.

The supposed solution? Search in incognito or private browsing mode.

Here's the reality: this is mostly a myth. Multiple investigations by travel experts and data scientists have found no consistent evidence that airlines systematically increase prices based on your browsing history. Google has explicitly stated that prices in Google Flights don't change based on your previous searches.

So why do prices seem to jump when you return to a flight search?

Flight prices fluctuate constantly due to dynamic pricing algorithms. Airlines adjust fares based on demand, remaining inventory, competitor pricing, time until departure, and dozens of other real-time factors. If you search for a flight and the price increases an hour later, it's likely because other travelers purchased tickets, reducing available inventory, or the algorithm adjusted pricing based on demand patterns—not because the airline is targeting you specifically.

Should you still use incognito mode? It doesn't hurt, and it might provide peace of mind. In rare cases, you might avoid retargeting advertisements that could psychologically influence your decision-making. But don't rely on incognito mode as a primary money-saving strategy. Instead, focus on the proven techniques throughout this guide.

Travel Hacking: Your Gateway to Free Flights

Travel hacking—strategically earning and using credit card points and airline miles—is how I've unlocked some of my most memorable trips without spending cash on flights.

This isn't about sketchy schemes or gaming the system illegally. Travel hacking is a completely legitimate strategy used by millions of savvy travelers worldwide.

The Basic Concept

You apply for travel rewards credit cards that offer substantial sign-up bonuses. For example, a card might offer 60,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first three months. Those 60,000 points could translate to $600-$1,200 in flight value, sometimes significantly more depending on how you redeem them.

The Golden Rule

Only pursue travel hacking if you pay your credit card balance in full every month. This strategy only works if you're not paying interest. Treat your credit card like a debit card—only spend money you already have in your bank account.

If you carry credit card debt or struggle with spending discipline, focus on the other strategies in this guide first. Travel hacking is powerful, but not worth going into debt.

Where to Start

Look for cards with flexible points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Capital One Miles. These programs allow you to transfer points to multiple airline partners, giving you maximum flexibility and redemption value.

Airline-specific cards can also be valuable if you frequently fly with one carrier. Cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards card or Delta SkyMiles card offer perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and accelerated mile earning on their respective airlines.

Maximizing Your Points

Put all your regular expenses on your rewards card—groceries, gas, insurance, utilities, everything you'd normally purchase anyway. This helps you meet sign-up bonus requirements naturally without changing your spending habits.

Time your applications strategically. If you're planning a large purchase like new furniture or a home repair, apply for a travel rewards card first so that spending counts toward your sign-up bonus.

Pay attention to bonus categories. Many cards offer extra points for dining, travel, or specific retailers. By aligning your spending with these categories, you'll accumulate points faster.

Redeeming Points for Maximum Value

The best value typically comes from transferring points to airline partners rather than booking through your credit card's travel portal. Research which airline partnerships offer the best redemption rates for your desired routes.

For example, transferring Chase points to United or Southwest often provides better value than booking through Chase's portal. Similarly, American Express points can be transferred to Delta, which might offer excellent value for specific international routes.

Realistic Expectations

Within your first year of strategic travel hacking, you can reasonably earn enough points for two to three free international flights. I've personally flown business class to Europe multiple times using points, turning what would have been $3,000+ tickets into free experiences.

It requires organization, discipline, and planning, but the payoff is extraordinary. Free flights mean more money for experiences, longer trips, and the ability to travel far more frequently than your budget would otherwise allow.

Timing Strategies That Actually Work

When you book and when you fly matters just as much as where you search.

When to Book

For international flights, the sweet spot is typically two to three months in advance. For domestic flights, aim for one to two months ahead. Booking too early or too late generally results in higher prices.

That said, this isn't an absolute rule. Error fares, flash sales, and last-minute deals can appear at any time, which is why price alerts are so valuable.

Best Days to Fly

Tuesday and Wednesday are generally the cheapest days to fly. Weekend flights, especially Friday and Sunday, command premium prices due to business travelers and weekend getaways. If you can be flexible with your schedule, flying mid-week can save you 30-50% compared to weekend departures.

Best Times to Fly

Red-eye flights and departures at inconvenient hours—like 6 AM or late-night arrivals—are almost always cheaper. Yes, they're less comfortable, but as budget travelers, we're optimizing for cost over convenience. Plus, overnight flights mean you're not wasting daylight hours in transit or losing a night's accommodation cost.

Seasonal Considerations

Shoulder season—the period between peak and off-peak tourism—offers the best combination of pleasant weather and low prices. Visit Europe in May or September instead of July. Explore Southeast Asia in November rather than December. You'll enjoy better weather than the off-season while paying significantly less than peak season rates.

Flash Sales and Deal Timing

While the old advice about Tuesday being the best day to find deals isn't as reliable as it once was, airlines do still release sales periodically. Set up price alerts on Google Flights and follow deal websites so you're positioned to act quickly when prices drop.

The Price Graph Advantage

If you have a specific destination but flexible dates, use Google Flights' price graph to visualize the cheapest days to fly over several months. This visual tool eliminates guesswork and makes finding the absolute lowest prices incredibly easy.

Advanced Strategies for Serious Savings

Once you've mastered the basics, these advanced techniques can unlock even deeper discounts.

Hidden City Ticketing

Hidden city ticketing involves booking a flight with a layover in your actual destination and simply not taking the connecting flight. For example, a New York to Los Angeles flight with a stop in Denver might cost less than a direct New York to Denver ticket. You'd book the LA ticket but disembark in Denver.

This only works with carry-on luggage (checked bags would continue to the final destination) and one-way tickets (missing the first leg of a round-trip cancels the return). Airlines explicitly prohibit this practice in their terms of service, and frequent use could result in account penalties. Use sparingly and understand the risks.

Positioning Flights

Sometimes flying from a nearby airport saves substantial money. If you live equidistant from multiple airports, check all of them. It might be worth taking a cheap domestic flight or bus to a different departure city if it saves hundreds on your international leg.

For example, if you live in Connecticut, compare flights from Hartford, New York City, and Boston. The difference can be dramatic, and even factoring in the cost of getting to a different airport, you might come out significantly ahead.

Student and Youth Discounts

If you're under 26 or currently enrolled as a student, platforms like StudentUniverse and STA Travel offer exclusive discounts. Always check these specialized sites before booking standard fares—the savings can be substantial.

Volunteer to Be Bumped

If you're not on a tight schedule, volunteering to give up your seat on an overbooked flight can earn you hundreds of dollars in vouchers plus a rebooked flight. This strategy works best on busy routes during peak travel times. I've received up to $800 in flight vouchers plus free hotel accommodation for a single delay.

The key is being genuinely flexible. Only volunteer if you can afford to arrive at your destination later without it disrupting important plans.

Putting It All Together

Finding cheap flights isn't about luck—it's about knowledge, strategy, and flexibility.

Start by using the right search tools: Google Flights for overall research, Skyscanner for exploration, and Momondo for deal verification. Sign up for error fare alerts through Secret Flying, The Flight Deal, and Going. When you spot an incredible deal, book immediately.

Forget about incognito mode as your primary strategy. Instead, focus on timing: book two to three months out for international flights, fly mid-week, choose shoulder season destinations, and embrace inconvenient flight times.

If you're ready to take it further, start travel hacking with credit card points. Even beginners can earn free flights within a year with disciplined execution. The investment of time learning the system pays dividends for life.

Be flexible whenever possible. The difference between someone who pays $1,500 for a flight and someone who pays $300 often comes down to flexibility—in dates, times, airports, and routing.

The tools and strategies in this guide have transformed how I travel. What once seemed like an expensive luxury is now an accessible, regular part of my life. With the right approach, it can be for you too.

Safe travels, and may your flights always be cheap and your adventures extraordinary.

What's your best flight deal story? Share in the comments below!