If you travel regularly on a tight budget, getting affordable flights is essential. Over time, we’ve developed a full strategy to get the best deals. Here’s our secret tactics for finding them.
Step 1: Start in Incognito Mode
Always launch an incognito or private browsing window before you start searching for flights. Airlines and booking services frequently track your search history, and costs may rise the more you search for a specific route. Using incognito mode helps prevent this from happening and ensures that you are seeing the most accurate and affordable prices possible.
Step 2: Use Google Flights’ Explore Feature
Google Flights’ Explore feature should be your first resource as it is a great tool to streamlines the process of finding cheap flights. First, input the airport where you are leaving and select anywhere as the destination. It enables you to browse the cheapest destinations available. Select flexible dates for extra flexibility in your travel plans, and more affordable opportunities.
Google Flights lets you select a returning flight date up to two weeks after departure. You can also filter for specific months, as some tend to offer better deals outside of peak touristic seasons. This phase provides a broad overview of the best price points across multiple destinations.
Step 3: Filter for Practicality
While budget airlines like EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air may seem like the cheapest options, hidden fees often pop up in the booking process. To minimize surprises, make sure to filter for flights that include a carry-on bag and limit layovers to just one stop. This helps you ensure the price you see is close to what you’ll actually spend while providing the maximum comfort.
Step 4: Pick the Most Suitable Destination and Get into the Details.
Once you’ve found the lowest-priced destination that catches your attention, click on it to access the flights details. This step redirects you to the Flights window. Here, you can dive deeper into flight details—timing, duration, and specific airlines. It will give you a clearer idea of the entire trip organization before making a decision.
Step 5: Compare with Skyscanner
Although Google Flights is a go-to, it’s worth cross-checking costs with Skyscanner to make sure you’re truly getting the best price. Skyscanner sometimes suggests other airlines or routes to Google Flights. By comparing both, you can feel confident that you’re getting in the best deal.
Step 6: Time to Book Your Flight
Once you’ve settled on a flight, compare the cost of booking directly with the airline versus using a third-party service. Third-party services, such as Trip.com, may offer lower rates still because they need to purchase tickets in bulk before reselling them.
Conclusion
By following this step-by-step guide you’ll find the best flight deals without any frustration of rising prices. This process will save you money and you’ll discover destinations you might not have considered before.