11 Tips for Saving Money on Your Next Flight

Traveling is one of the most important and rewarding experiences in life. And while it’s certainly not cheap (we’re talking airfare, accommodation, transportation, etc.), it’s an investment that’s definitely worth making.

There’s one thing that can help make traveling a little easier: Cheap flights.

Whether you’re booking far in advance or are taking a last-minute vacation, Sara Skirboll, shopping and trends expert at RetailMeNot, has some easy ways to save money before booking your next trip.

1. Be Flexible

It’s the Golden Rule of flying on the cheap. If you have some flexibility, red-eye flights, flights with layovers and off-season flights are usually the cheapest. Flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday will also often get you a better price on your airfare.

Want to get out of town but don’t know where yet? On sites like Skyscanner and Kayak, you can explore prices for round-trip flights from your departure city to destinations around the world. Kayak even offers the option to filter destinations by activity or type, like skiing, wine regions, family-friendly destinations and more. Pretty cool.

2. Set a Fare Alert

Deal sites like Google, Kayak and Hopper offer the option to watch the flights you’re interested in, sending updates if and when prices fluctuate. Most sites also offer calendar views, date grids or price graphs that map out the cheapest days to fly.

There might actually be a prime time to buy, too. According to CheapAir.com, the cheapest and best booking window for flights is between 112 to 21 days in advance. So file that away in your memory bank next time you’re planning a trip.

3. Search for Travel Coupons and Deals

Search the RetailMeNot travel section for thousands of available travel deals updated daily. You might even be able to earn cash back on your vacation—I recently earned $50 for booking on Hotels.com!

If you’re interested in international travel, try signing up for a service like Next Vacay that delivers the cheapest flight deals from your home airport to your preferred destinations directly to your inbox. There is a small, $25 annual fee, but the first month is free and there is a six-month money-back guarantee if you don’t like the service.

It’s also worth following pages like The Flight Deal on Facebook and Secret Flying on Twitter for hot travel deals around the world.

4. Keep on Eye Out for Flash Deals and Promotions

If you have a flexible schedule and multiple destinations in mind, keep your eyes peeled for airline flash sales. Airlines like Southwest, JetBlue and Frontier run flash sales between certain cities and during specific timeframes, allowing you to book airfare for a fraction of the cost.

5. Shop for a Package Deal

Booking a flight and hotel together on sites like Expedia, Booking.com and Southwest Vacations can oftentimes save you hundreds of dollars on your vacation. Expedia even offers the option to bundle in a hotel up until your trip starts with “Expedia Add-On Advantage,” so you can take your time finding the best accommodation option while getting a great deal.

6. Sign Up for a Travel Rewards Credit Card

If you’re in the market for a new credit card, consider signing up for one that comes with travel rewards. Nowadays, pretty much every airline has their own credit card—including Southwest, Jetblue, United and American Airlines—where you can earn points on purchases to redeem for flights, gift cards and more. Most will award you bonus points after spending a certain amount within the first few months—enough to land you a free flight. You’ll also benefit from travel perks like discounts on in-flight purchases, priority boarding, travel and purchase coverage, no foreign transaction fees, a free checked bag and more.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is another great option for frequent travelers. You’ll get 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months (equivalent to $750 towards travel), earn twice the points when you spend on travel and dining, and get 25% more value when you redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises.

7. Make Sure You’re Enrolled in a Frequent Flyer Program

It may seem like a no-brainer, but don’t forget to enroll in frequent flyer programs. It’s free, and even if you don’t fly often on one particular carrier, most airlines are part of a larger group (OneWorld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam) where your frequent flyer points can be shared. Use the points to purchase free flights!

8. Don’t Ignore the Layovers

Hot tip (but one we don’t suggest using often): Skiplagged shows you hidden-city flights, meaning you can shop itineraries with multiple legs, exiting at a layover instead of the final destination. These can be much cheaper than more direct flights, but note that you won’t be able to check baggage and it is frowned upon by airlines.

9. Watch for a Lower Price

Before booking, make sure to check airlines that don’t show up on major booking sites like Southwest, easyJet and Allegiant Air.

After buying your ticket, some websites like Orbitz will refund the difference in price if you find a cheaper rate on another site. So, once you buy, make sure to keep an eye on the price of your flight!

10. Comparison Deal Shopping is Crucial

Make sure to exhaust all of your travel resources before purchasing. If you don’t know if you have the best route or price, find an airline or deal site (like Orbitz, Expedia, American Airlines, etc.) that will let you hold a ticket for 24 hours in case you find something better.

If you’re looking into a package deal, make sure to check a couple other competitor sites before purchasing to ensure you have the best price. Some package deals might not be deals at all when compared to booking flights and hotels individually.

11. Don’t Succumb to the Booking Myths

Sorry to say it, but waiting to purchase your airfare until Tuesday to snag cheaper prices is a myth. It also won’t help to clear your cookies beforehand or search in an incognito browser. Travel and airline sites use advanced algorithms to determine airfare prices based on the time of year, weather, demand, major events, competitor prices and more. There’s no magical hack to cheating the system. Your best bet for finding the cheapest flight is to be flexible and actually do the research.