How To Find Cheap Flights: The Strategies That Hold Up in 2026

Finding cheap flights comes down to two things: timing and flexibility. Book 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic trips and 2 to 8 months for international trips. Fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays. Pick your destination based on price, not the other way around. Use fare alerts instead of refreshing prices manually. That’s the short version.

The longer version is what we have learned from sending millions of flight deals to our members over the past decade. Some of it goes against conventional wisdom, like the fact that last-minute flights usually get more expensive, not cheaper. But every strategy here is backed by data, airline pricing behavior, and fares our members have actually booked.

Key takeaways

• Book within the Goldilocks Window: 1 to 3 months before departure for domestic flights, 2 to 8 months before for international. For peak seasons, like summer or winter holidays, add a couple of months to those windows.
• Fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays. These are consistently the cheapest days. Friday and Sunday are the most expensive.
• Pick your destination based on price first. Use Google Flights Explore or Going deals to see where you can go for the least money, then build your trip around that.
• Set fare alerts instead of manually searching. Tools like Google Flights and Going notify you when prices drop, so you don’t have to refresh all day on your own.
• Last-minute flights are rarely cheaper. Airlines raise prices as departure approaches. Book within the Goldilocks Window instead of waiting.

When to book and timing strategies

1. Pick your destination and dates based on price

One of the most common mistakes people make when booking flights is choosing their destination and travel dates first, then checking prices. If getting a cheap flight is your priority, flip that approach.

Instead of starting with a destination, start by seeing what’s available based on the lowest prices. Tools like Google Flights Explore and Momondo let you see prices across various destinations. Once you find a fare that fits your budget, build your trip around it.

Show do you know if you found a deal? Here is what we consider a good fare at Going:

• Continental US: $100s–$200s roundtrip
• Hawaii: $200s–$500s roundtrip
• Alaska: $200s–$400s roundtrip
• Canada: $200s–$300s roundtrip
• Caribbean: $200s–$300s roundtrip
• Central America/Mexico: $200s–$300s roundtrip
• Northern South America: $300s–$400s roundtrip
• Southern South America: $500s–$700s roundtrip
• Europe: $400s–$500s roundtrip
• Middle East/North Africa: $500s–$700s roundtrip
• Sub-Saharan Africa: $700s–$900s roundtrip
• East/Southeast Asia: $700s–$900s roundtrip
• South Asia: $500s–$700s roundtrip
• Australia/New Zealand/Oceania: $800s–$1,000s roundtrip

2. Book your flight within the Goldilocks Windows

Many travelers think there is a specific day, like Tuesday, when flights are cheaper. That’s a myth. Airfare prices change constantly based on demand, seat availability, and airline pricing algorithms, so there’s no reliable "best day" to book.

A better approach is to book during the Goldilocks Window, the period when fares are most likely to be reasonably priced before departure.

• Domestic flights: About 1 to 3 months before departure
• International flights: About 2 to 8 months in advance
• Peak seasons or holidays: Add a couple of months to each of those windows

Don’t fall for the Bargain Bin Trap. Even though it feels like waiting will save money, dynamic pricing means airlines often raise prices as departure nears. If you see a solid fare for your dates and you’re within the Goldilocks Window, it’s usually smarter to book it than wait for a last-minute deal.

3. For peak season, book in the opposite season

If you are planning to travel during peak times, such as summer or the holidays, book your flight during the off-season. Just like buying winter clothes in the summer saves you money, booking your summer flights in the winter often gets you the best deals.

For example, if you’re planning a trip to Europe in July, start searching for flights around January or February to find the lowest prices.

4. Travel on the cheapest days: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday

Fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays. Avoid summers and holidays. Travel in January through May (aside from spring break weeks and destinations) or September through early December (aside from domestic trips around Thanksgiving) for the lowest fares.

• Tuesday: Cheapest. Low business travel demand.
• Wednesday: Cheapest. Same as Tuesday.
• Saturday: Often cheap. Weekend leisure travel drops off.
• Monday/Thursday: Average pricing. Mixed demand.
• Friday/Sunday: Most expensive. Business and leisure peak together.

5. Avoid the peak travel times of summer and the holidays

In North America and Europe, the cheapest times of year to fly are:

• January through mid-May (outside of spring break weeks and destinations)
• September through early December (Thanksgiving is one of the best times to score cheap international flights since most people fly domestically to see family)

If you must travel in the summer, the first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August are significantly cheaper than July. Prices also vary by destination, especially around popular festivals. Fares to Dublin for St. Patrick's Day or to China for Lunar New Year will not be cheap, period.

Expert tip: Traveling during a destination's off-season can offer richer experiences at a fraction of the cost, without the crowds. We call this the Off-Peak Paradox.

6. Use the 24-hour cancellation window strategically

If you’re worried about booking a flight before you have finalized all your plans, the DOT's 24-hour rule lets you cancel a flight for free within 24 hours of booking as long as the flight departs from or arrives in the US and was booked directly with the airline at least seven days before departure.

You can also use this rule if you book a flight and the price drops within 24 hours. Just make sure you book the new flight before you cancel the old one.

Flight search and deal alerts

7. Join Going

Helping people book cheap flights and travel more is what we are all about at Going. Whether you are flying domestically or internationally, we make sure you never miss a deal. Sign up for a Limited, Premium, or Elite membership to access fare alerts and other travel benefits.

Ready to start saving? Join Going for free today, and never overpay for flights again.

8. Use the best flight search sites to find cheap flights

Google Flights is our go-to tool for finding the best deals on flights. It lets you explore multiple airports and dates at once, making it easy to find cheap fares. Skyscanner is another solid option that searches across many airlines and travel agencies.

9. Find the cheapest place to fly with the Google Flights Explore Map

The Explore Map is one of our favorite Google Flights features. Enter your home airport and leave the destination open (or select a region like Europe or Asia), and it shows you the cheapest fares to locations around the world for any given month.

Not picky about where to go? Choose dates or search for weekend, one-week, or two-week trips in the next six months, and this feature will surface some seriously good deals.

10. Set fare alerts to track specific flights

If you know your destination and travel dates but aren’t ready to book, setting fare alerts is a game-changer. Google Flights, Kayak, and Going all let you set alerts and get notified of fare changes. On Google Flights, after entering your search details, click Track Prices on to get an email when there is a significant price drop.

Sites like Google Flights and Kayak work well, but some deals still slip through the cracks. For example, if you set up a fare alert for Atlanta to Madrid on Google Flights, you’ll get an email when that specific route drops. But what if an even better deal comes up for Barcelona, a city just a short flight or train ride from Madrid?

With Going's travel membership, you aren’t limited to a specific route. You get real-time alerts for price drops across multiple destinations, including mistake fares and hidden deals that tools like Google Flights can overlook.

11. Use a schedule change to your advantage

It’s not always bad news when an airline changes your schedule. Under federal law, if an airline cancels or significantly alters your flight itinerary, you’re eligible for a full cash refund. This opens up opportunities to adjust your flight for free, whether that means switching to a more convenient time or upgrading to a nonstop route.

Let's say you booked a one-stop flight because it was the cheapest. If the airline changes the time, you could switch to a nonstop without paying extra. And if you no longer want to take the trip, schedule changes let you get a full cash refund.

For more details, check our guide on how to use this loophole to change or cancel your flight.

12. Be flexible, even by a few days, to save more on flights

Being flexible with your travel dates can save you hundreds of dollars. A difference of just one or two days can have a big impact on price.

When you search on Google Flights, the tool shows you a two-month calendar with prices highlighted, so you can see which days are cheapest. Often, shifting your trip by just a day or two, say from a weekend departure to a Tuesday, can cut the price in half.

Smart booking hacks

13. Focus on crossing the ocean as cheaply as possible

If you’re booking a long-haul flight, especially to another continent, the best strategy is to focus on getting the cheapest fare across the ocean. Once you’re on the other side, it’s often cheaper to book a budget airline to your final destination.

One of the best deals we’ve ever found was a mistake fare from New York to Milan for just $130 roundtrip. For me, that meant a $20 bus from Washington, DC, to New York, but the savings were worth it. If I’d insisted on flying directly from DC to Milan, the fare would have been closer to $800. Sites like Rome2Rio make it easy to search for local transport options to your desired destination.

We call this two-step method the Greek Islands Trick. It can save you hundreds of dollars and is especially useful in regions like Europe, where budget airlines and high-speed trains thrive.

14. See if it’s cheaper to pay in a foreign currency

Sometimes it can be cheaper to book a flight using the foreign version of an airline's website and pay in the local currency. For example, you might find a better deal by paying in euros or British pounds instead of USD.

You’ll need a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, but it’s worth checking, especially for long-haul international flights. Just remember to compare exchange rates before you book.

You might also find deals by booking through foreign Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). A flight might be cheaper when booked through a European OTA like Kiwi.com or eDreams in euros rather than through a US-based site. However, this comes with trade-offs. While you might save 10–20% on the fare, customer service might only be available in another language or time zone, and some foreign OTAs have different refund policies that may not be covered by US consumer protections.

15. Split tickets and hacker fares

Split ticketing, also known as "hacker fares," is when you book two or more separate one-way tickets instead of a traditional roundtrip. This can occasionally lead to savings, but particularly for domestic routes and only sometimes.

For example, instead of booking a roundtrip from New York to Bangkok for $1,200, you might find a one-way ticket on United for $450 and a return on EVA Air for $500, saving you $250. The key is to mix and match airlines to find the best deal for each leg.

This approach also gives you more flexibility. You could fly into one city and out of another, or extend your trip without the change fees that come with traditional roundtrip tickets. Just be careful when booking connections: If you are booking separate tickets, leave plenty of time between flights (at least 3–4 hours for international connections) since the airlines will not protect you if you miss your connection.

16. Direct flights may cost more than indirect options

We all love the convenience of nonstop flights, but direct flights usually come with a higher price tag. In some cases, the price difference between direct and indirect flights can be significant enough to cover the cost of extra travel expenses, like a meal during your layover or even a hotel stay if the layover is long.

This works especially well for international travel, where the savings can be substantial. A longer layover can break up a long trip and make the journey more enjoyable. It takes a little extra effort, but the cost savings can make it well worth your time.

17. Use multi-city or open-jaw tickets

If you’re planning a trip with multiple stops, a multi-city or open-jaw ticket can be more convenient than separate one-way flights. If you’re visiting multiple destinations, these options can save you hundreds on airfare. For example, fly into Rome and return home from Athens, skipping the extra cost of a roundtrip back to your starting point.

18. Travel to destinations during their off-season

Want to experience popular destinations without paying sky-high prices or dealing with tourist crowds? Travel during the off-season. You could visit the beaches of Hawaii in October or enjoy the streets of Paris in early spring. Your wallet will thank you, and you’ll experience these places in a more relaxed and authentic way.

The off-season varies by destination, but for most places, it’s the months just before or after the high season (think late fall or early spring). You’ll find fewer lines, more available activities, and cheaper flights.

19. Consider positioning flights for significant savings

Sometimes your local airport might not have the best fares. If that is the case, you can get creative with positioning flights. This hack involves flying to a larger hub city with cheaper flights and then catching a second flight to your final destination.

For example, instead of paying a fortune for a direct flight from Boston to Tokyo, you could book a cheap flight to San Francisco or Los Angeles and then fly to Tokyo from there, often saving hundreds of dollars. It takes more planning, but the savings can be incredible.

20. Travel light to avoid extra fees

Packing light is not just convenient. It’s a money-saving strategy. With most airlines charging for checked bags (often $30–$60 each way), traveling with just a carry-on can save you $60–$120 per roundtrip.

When you travel light, you can take advantage of basic economy fares without worrying about carry-on restrictions. You’re also more flexible to hop on earlier flights if space is available, and you breeze through airports without waiting at baggage claim.

Invest in quality travel-sized toiletries, choose versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched, and remember: Unless you’re going somewhere remote, you can buy forgotten items at your destination.

Travel rewards and discounts

21. Use points and miles to reduce costs

Frequent flyer programs are a fantastic way to save on flights. If you have a preferred airline, check if they have a loyalty program to start accumulating miles through flights and travel partnerships.

Once you’ve collected enough miles, you can redeem them for free flights or upgrades. This is one of the most efficient ways to reduce airfare costs, especially if you fly often or participate in an airline's credit card program.

22. Use credit card travel rewards for flight savings

If you’re using a credit card that earns points, make sure you’re getting the most value from them. Instead of redeeming points for cash back, which typically offers the lowest return, use them to book flights or transfer them to airline and hotel partners. Many cards allow you to transfer points to frequent flyer programs, where you can unlock greater value.

Learn more with our beginner's guide to credit card points and airline miles.

23. Look for student and senior discounts

Some airlines offer discounts for students and seniors. If you’re a student, search for programs like StudentUniverse that provide access to exclusive fares. Seniors can often take advantage of discounted fares on certain airlines and even benefit from reduced prices on public transportation or accommodations. These deals are not always widely advertised, so it’s worth asking directly or searching for promotions when booking.

Advanced ways to save

24. Act fast, especially if it’s a mistake fare

Mistake fares are pricing errors where airlines accidentally list fares far lower than normal, and they don’t last long. Often, they’re corrected within hours or even minutes. If you stumble upon a mistake fare, book it immediately.

One of the best ways to catch these mistake fares is by signing up for Going's Premium or Elite membership. We specialize in sending real-time alerts for these rare deals, giving our members a better chance to grab them before they disappear.

25. If you’re traveling with a group, book one ticket at a time

Let's say there is one seat left for $200, but you need two tickets. If you search for two tickets, the airline will skip that $200 seat and offer you a higher price for both. However, if you book the $200 ticket first and then get your second ticket in the next lowest tier at $300, you’ve saved $100 across two tickets.

Why does this happen? Airlines use fare buckets (price tiers for seats), and when you search for multiple tickets, they only show you the price for seats available in the same bucket.

26. For cheap domestic flights, check Southwest Airlines and Skiplagged

When it comes to domestic flights, not all airlines show up on traditional search engines. Southwest Airlines, for example, offers a Low Fare Calendar that shows the cheapest days to fly on your selected route. While Southwest flights have been integrated into Google Flights search results in recent years, they don’t show up in all metasearch engines or online travel agencies (OTAs). For this reason, it's worth checking Southwest’s website directly for the cheapest fares and most options. 

27. Consider the pros and cons of budget airlines

Budget airlines can be a fantastic way to save on flights, but be aware of the trade-offs. While airlines like Frontier and Ryanair offer rock-bottom fares, they tend to charge extra for everything, from seat selection to carry-on luggage. Newer budget airlines like Breeze and PLAY offer low-cost options with a better reputation for customer service.

If you’re flying a short route or just want to get away for as little money as possible, budget airlines can be a good choice. Just make sure you calculate the total cost, including any additional fees, before booking.

28. Advanced but risky strategies explained

There are some unconventional booking strategies that can save you serious money, but they come with risks.

Hidden city ticketing (booking a flight to City B with a layover in City A, then getting off at City A) can offer huge savings, but some airlines prohibit it. If you get caught, they might cancel your frequent flyer account or even ban you from flying with them. If you’re willing to take the risk, only use this for one-way tickets at the end of your trip, never for the outbound portion or when checking bags, as the rest of your itinerary will be canceled after the skipped leg.

Throwaway ticketing involves booking a roundtrip when you only need one-way because it is cheaper. You use the first segment and "throw away" the return. This works, but don’t make it a habit with the same airline.

Fuel dumping, a complex strategy involving adding specific flight segments to reduce fuel surcharges, has largely been eliminated by airlines. It’s rarely worth the time and risk anymore.

Remember: While these tactics are not illegal, they violate airline contracts. Use them sparingly and at your own risk. For most travelers, the strategies we have covered earlier in this guide will provide plenty of savings without the potential headaches.

Now you know how to find your next cheap flight

You now have the strategies to score the cheapest flights. The best first step is to sign up for fare alert tools and join a flight membership. With Going, you can start receiving alerts with the Limited membership plan for cheap domestic flights around the US, then upgrade to Premium for international deals or Elite for deals in premium economy, business, or first class. Join Going for free today, and never overpay for flights again.

Common questions about cheap flights

I have specific dates and destinations. How can I track fares for that?

If you have specific travel dates and destinations, Google Flights, Kayak, and Going allow you to set up fare alerts. Enter your travel details, and you’ll receive notifications when the price drops. For more tips, check our guide to finding cheap flights without flexibility.

I found a cheap flight that departs from City A, connects through City B, and arrives in City C. If I live in City B, can I just skip the A-B leg?

No. Once you miss a leg of an itinerary, you’re considered a no-show, and the rest of your itinerary is automatically canceled. Airlines have strict policies against this practice.

If you are considering skipping a leg, the only safe way is to book two separate one-way tickets or to skip the final leg of a roundtrip journey. This practice is called "hidden city ticketing," which airlines are not fans of but has a seal of approval from the New York Times Ethicist.

Should I clear my cookies before searching for flights?

No. Clearing your cookies or browsing history does not make a shred of difference. There’s a common travel myth that airlines adjust prices based on browsing history, but there’s no evidence to prove this. These companies use dynamic pricing, which means flight prices fluctuate based on demand, availability, and other factors, not individual search histories. OAG describes airfare as "one of the most dynamic datasets in the aviation industry," noting that fares "can change hundreds of times a day, based on market demand for a single route."

Should I try to get a standby fare? Or book unsold seats at the last minute?

No. It’s best to avoid standby fares and last-minute bookings. Although you might hear stories of travelers snagging deals just before a flight, it’s increasingly rare. Twenty years ago, airlines lowered prices to fill unsold seats on last-minute flights. Nowadays, you are more likely to find higher prices as departure dates approach.

While it’s sometimes possible to find cheap last-minute flights, the trend is shifting toward higher prices due to business travelers who book late and are less sensitive to cost.

How do I find cheap one-way tickets?

Research shows that the cheapest days to fly are usually midweek: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. You’ll often find lower fares compared to peak travel days like Friday or Sunday.

Should I fly basic economy to save money?

Not necessarily. Basic economy is generally more affordable, but you can sometimes save more on economy deals if you look in advance or set up flight alerts. Weigh budget against comfort to choose the best option for your needs.

How far in advance should I book a domestic vs. international flight?

For domestic flights, aim to book 1 to 3 months in advance for the best pricing. International flights typically offer the best value when booked 2 to 8 months ahead. If traveling during peak seasons (summer, holidays) or if you need specific flight arrangements, add an extra month or two to these windows.

Is it cheaper to book flights on certain days of the week?

No. The idea that booking on specific days (like Tuesdays) guarantees cheaper flights is a myth. Airlines use dynamic pricing that adjusts multiple times daily based on demand, competition, and other factors. What truly matters is which day you fly, with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday typically offering lower fares. Rather than waiting for a particular booking day, set price alerts and be ready to purchase when you see a good deal, regardless of what day it appears.

What is the best website to find cheap flights?

We recommend combining several sites to make sure you don’t miss a great deal. Join Going to receive alerts for your desired destinations, and use Google Flights and Skyscanner alongside it. Don’t forget to check airline websites directly, especially for carriers like Southwest, which don’t appear on all metasearch engines.

Do flights get cheaper closer to the departure date?

No. Flights typically do not get cheaper as the departure date approaches. In fact, airlines tend to raise prices for last-minute bookings, especially for popular routes. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to face inflated fares. Book within the Goldilocks Window instead. For more on this, see our guide on when flight prices drop.