Google It
No, I’m not kidding. Google Flights is a totally simple way to get an overview of flights and their costs. It compiles the prices from most major airlines and travel websites and allows you to weigh the pros and cons of certain flights. You can plainly see the cost differentials using this system, but also the tradeoffs you may have to make to get a good deal. Be aware through this process that cheap and convenient rarely mix, and you’ll have to make sacrifices like long layovers to get the best deals.
It’s also advised you take a look at other price comparison sites, just for some variety and to see if any deals slipped through the net with Google Flights. Doing your research is about 99% of what will help you get cheap airfare.
Enter The Matrix
If you really want to go deep in your research, we recommend ITA’s Matrix Airfare Search. Be aware, while it does give you the most detailed rundown of how low you can make your airfare, the data inputting can be quite laborious, and the layout isn’t as easy to read as Google Flights. If you’re okay with getting complicated in your search, then go for it. The detail is so exact that you can actually find out the cost per mile.
Additionally, you are also allowed to see the extent of the stopover rules to help plan your trip better. A particularly long stopover can be an annoyance to some, but why not use it as an opportunity to extend your vacation? Instead of hanging around the airport for hours and hours, go and explore the local sights. So long as you have ample time to return for your flight, you should be fine.
Money Talks In Different Languages
Playing with the currency when booking your flight is a great way to shave potentially hundreds off your flight. Let’s say your flight from New York to Japan is looking a lot more expensive than you thought it would be, but a flight from New York to Hong Kong is significantly cheaper. You can make a booking for Hong Kong, and then from there make a separate flight booking for Japan at a low cost because of the different worths in currency.
Despite having two flights, you could get them both for much less than your single trip from New York to Hong Kong, plus add a new destination onto your vacation. You can’t get better value for money than that. It’s practically two for one!
Air Miles
While considered a last ditch effort to get cheap flights, air miles are incredibly effective when it comes to cheapening, upgrading, or even getting totally free flights. While air miles are generally earned by frequent fliers, there are ways to rack up those points without your feet even leaving the ground.
Look out for credit cards with air miles offers on them. The more you spend, the more air miles you rack up. Be responsible, though. You don’t want to end up in huge debt because you wanted to grab a cheap flight. So long as you have the money to pay the bill at the end of the month, you can use your credit card for almost anything and have those air miles pile up.