How we safe every time when we book flights.

After booking countless flights during our travels, we’ve figured out exactly how to find the best deals without the usual stress. In this guide, we’re sharing our go-to tricks for flying cheap—so you can spend less on tickets and more on the journey.

There are countless tips out there for scoring cheap flights, but not all of them deliver. After years of full-time travel, we’ve tested flight hacks, booking tools, and endless “travel secrets”—and learned which ones actually save money. We’ve made expensive mistakes, but also discovered strategies that consistently cut our flight costs by hundreds of dollars. In this guide, we’re sharing exactly what works for us, so you can book smarter, travel further, and stress less.

Step 1: Know Your Flexibility

The more flexible you are with your destination, dates, or even your departure airport, the better your chances of scoring a cheap flight. This is truly your biggest leverage. We once rerouted our South America trip entirely—flying into Argentina instead of Colombia—because the flight was significantly cheaper. It even worked out better for the season we were traveling in!

But don’t worry if you're not that flexible—there are still plenty of smart tricks for locked-in dates or destinations. We'll cover those in the next steps.

Additional Flexibility Tips:

Avoid peak seasons: Traveling just before or after high season can save you hundreds.
Book separate tickets: You might save by booking separate legs of your journey—e.g., flying to a major hub first, then catching a budget flight onward.
Stopovers can be a bonus: Long layovers or stopovers in interesting cities might offer savings and the chance to explore somewhere new.

Step 2: Use the Right Tools

Once you know how flexible you can be, it’s time to dive into the right search tools. We always start with Google Flights for a fast, visual overview of prices—it lets you search entire continents and shows the cheapest days to fly. It’s one of the best tools to see what’s possible.

Next, we check Skyscanner to compare with more budget airlines. It’s especially helpful for routes in Asia, Europe, and long-haul deals. For less obvious connections, we love using FlightConnections.com—it gives you an overview over the country and airports you might consider for your itinerary.

We recently discovered Kiwi.com and love how it shows prices with checked baggage included. Trip.com often has great deals within Asia—especially for routes in and around China.

Step 3: Set Alerts & Track Prices

he exact same seat on a flight can cost wildly different amounts depending on when you book. If your destination or travel dates are fixed, your best bet is to track prices over time to catch a deal.

We use tools like Google Flights and Skyscanner to set alerts and monitor trends—you’ll get email notifications when prices drop or rise. This helps us understand if a fare is unusually high or actually a great deal worth locking in.

Step 4: When to Book Flights

When it comes to booking flights, timing is key—but it’s not always as straightforward as it seems. We’ve heard it all and even tested it ourselves. The general advice is to book 1–3 months in advance for domestic flights and 2–6 months for international flights, but we’ve also discovered that some smaller domestic airlines actually keep prices fixed year-round. So, while timing does matter, it’s not always a guarantee.

As a general rule, for long-haul international flights, the earlier, the better—especially if your travel dates are fixed. On the other hand, last-minute deals can be a gamble and are only worth considering if you’re flexible with your destination or dates.

TIP | It doesn’t matter which day of the week you book—this myth has been debunked.

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Step 5: Hidden Costs Can Ruin a Cheap Flight

Before hitting that “book now” button, double-check the details of your flight. A seemingly cheap ticket can quickly turn expensive if you overlook hidden costs like baggage fees, seat selection, and cancellation policies. Here’s our checklist before booking:

Baggage rules: Does the fare include checked luggage, or will you pay extra? Budget airlines often charge high fees for checked bags. To save, travel light with a minimal packing list—it's cheaper and more comfortable. Check out our packing tips for light packing essentials.
Layovers: Long layovers might save you money but waste your time. Check duration and convenience.
Airline reviews: We always read reviews to ensure the airline’s punctuality, comfort, and service quality.

Sometimes, spending a little extra on a higher-priced ticket may actually save money in the long run, especially when it includes amenities that budget carriers charge for separately. For seat selection, we typically don’t pay extra and instead arrive early to ask for a window or together seats at check-in. Also, when it comes to insurance, we’ve found that Heymondo covers things like lost baggage, so we skip the additional flight insurance.

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Step 6: Keep Calm

When it comes to booking flights, your mindset is everything. Stay calm—there’s always a better deal around the corner. Flexibility in your travel plans can lead to huge savings, and we’ve learned that the hard way! We once almost booked a flight but held off for a day, only to find a better deal the next morning.

Once your flight is booked, don’t forget about your comfort. Packing flight essentials can make a huge difference. Read which products we use to help us stay relaxed during long flights.

Bonus Tips

Avoid Repeated Searches: Don’t search for the same flight multiple times—prices can increase as the search engine detects your interest.
Clear Your Cache: After searching, clear your browser cache to reset any price changes tied to your previous searches.
Use Incognito Mode: Always search in private or incognito mode to avoid personalized price hikes based on your search history.
Compare One-Way and Round-Trip Fares: Sometimes, booking two one-way tickets can be cheaper than a round-trip fare. Be sure to check both options.
Check Multiple Airports: If your destination has more than one airport, compare prices for each and see if flying into a different one offers savings.
Leverage Travel Points or Miles: Take advantage of points from travel rewards credit cards to book flights or reduce the cost of your tickets.