How to Get the Best Deals on Flights Every Time You Book (+Checklist)

Key Takeaways

• Flexibility with dates, destinations, and booking times significantly increases your chances of getting the best flight deals.
• Search engines like Google Flights make finding cheap flights easier and faster.
• Consider off-season travel and alternative routes to reduce costs.
• Travel rewards, credit card points, and special discounts (for example, seniors and students) can help you save on airfare.
• With Going membership plans, you can get free real-time alerts as soon as prices drop for domestic and international flights.

Tips on Getting The Cheapest Flights (20+ Must-Know Strategies)

Scoring a great deal on airfare can often feel like hitting the jackpot. The truth is that airfare pricing has its tricks. With prices changing by the minute, it’s tough for even expert travelers to stay ahead. Thankfully, I’ve spent a lot of time hunting for cheap flights, and now I want to share the best strategies to never overpay for your seats again.

When to book

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 the prices. If getting a cheap flight is your priority, you should flip that approach.

Instead of choosing your destination and dates, start by seeing what flights are available based on the lowest prices. Tools like Google Flights Explore or Momondo let you explore prices across various destinations. You’ll be able to see where you can go for the least amount of money during a given period. Once you’ve found the destination that fits your budget, you can then choose the travel dates with the best fares.

So, how do you know if you found a deal? Here's what we at Going consider a good fare for our members: 

• Africa: $800 or below roundtrip
• Asia: $500 or below roundtrip
• Australia: $800 or below roundtrip
• Caribbean: $300 or below roundtrip
• Central America: $300 or below roundtrip
• Europe: $500 or below roundtrip
• Hawaii: $400 or below roundtrip
• South America: $600 or below roundtrip

2. Book your flight within the Goldilocks Windows

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about the best time to book a flight—like booking on Tuesdays at 1pm or on a certain day of the week. Although it would be great to have a secret day to book extremely cheap flights, the reality is airfare pricing changes constantly, and there’s no hidden magic to booking.

Instead, focus on booking within the Goldilocks Window—the period when fares are most likely to be at their lowest. For domestic flights, this is usually 1–3 months before departure. For international flights, aim for 2–8 months ahead of time. If you’re traveling during peak season, try adding a few months to both of those time frames.

3. For peak season, book in the opposite season

If you're planning to travel during peak times like summer or the holidays, book your flight during the off-season. Just like buying winter clothes in the summer can save 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

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, when business travelers fly.

Remember that these aren’t always the cheapest days to book your flight—good flight deals can pop up anytime.

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

If possible, avoid traveling during major holidays. Summer is also a peak time when prices skyrocket. Off-season travel not only saves you money but also gives you a more relaxed, less crowded experience.

For reference, in North America and Europe, these are the cheapest times of year to fly:

• January through mid-May
• September through early December (Thanksgiving is one of the best times to score cheap international flights since most folks are flying domestically to see family) 

If you do need to travel during the summer, the first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August are generally a lot cheaper than fares in July. Of course, prices also vary slightly by destination, especially around popular festivals. Fares to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day or to China for Lunar New Year won’t be the cheapest.

Flight search and booking tools

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

Google Flights is my go-to tool for finding the best deals on flights. It allows you to explore multiple airports and dates at once, making it easy to find cheap fares. You can check out our full guide on how to use Google Flights to maximize its features and save even more. Another great tool is Skyscanner, which lets you search across many airlines and travel agencies.

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

The Explore Map has quickly become one of my favorite Google Flights features. This tool is perfect for flexible travelers. You enter your home airport and leave the destination open (or select a region like Europe or Asia), and it will show you the cheapest fares to locations around the world for any given month.

Are you in the mood to travel but aren’t particularly interested in a specific location? You can choose select dates or search for weekend, one-week, or two-week trips in the next six months, and this feature will show you some incredible deals. 

8. Set fare alerts to track specific flights

If you know your destination and travel dates but aren’t ready to book just yet, setting fare alerts is a game-changer. Sites like Kayak or Google Flights let you set an airfare alert and get notified of all fare changes. After entering your search details, just click the Track Prices button on Google Flights to get an email as soon as there’s a significant price drop.

These sites work wonders, but some deals can still slip through the cracks. For example, let’s say you set up a fare alert for a trip from Atlanta to Madrid on Google Flights. You’ll get an email when the price for 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 trial, you’re not limited to one 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. 

9. Use a schedule change to your advantage

It’s not always terrible news when an airline changes its schedule. In fact, it can work in your favor. 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 it’s 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 changed the time, you could consider switching 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.

If you want more information, you can check our guide on how to use this loophole to change or cancel your flight.

Cheapest ways to book flights

10. Join Going

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

Ready to start saving on your next trip? Join Going for free today, and never overpay for flights again!

11. 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 the price.

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

12. 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 fares across the ocean. Once you’re on the other side, it’s often cheaper to book budget airline flights to your final destination.

I’ve personally used this strategy many times. One of the best deals I ever found was a mistake fare from New York to Milan for just $130 roundtrip. Sure, I had to take a $20 bus from Washington DC to New York, but it was worth the savings—and I even spent a weekend with friends in NYC! If I had insisted on flying directly from DC to Milan, the fare would’ve 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. 

13. 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 if you’re booking long-haul international flights. Just remember to compare and consider exchange rates before you book.

14. Cancel free for 24 hours

If you’re worried about booking a flight before you’ve had a chance to finalize all your plans, don’t stress. The Department of Transportation’s 24-hour rule lets you cancel a flight for free within 24 hours of booking if the flight is departing from or arriving in the US. This rule applies as long as the flight was booked directly with the airline and is at least seven days before departure.

You can also take advantage of this rule if you book a flight and the price goes down within 24 hours. Just make sure you book the new flight before you cancel the old one.

15. Direct flights may cost more than indirect options

Sure, we all love the convenience of nonstop flights—getting to your destination without the hassle of changing planes is a dream. But here’s the kicker: 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 approach works wonders for international travel, where the savings can be substantial. Plus, if you time it right, a longer layover can break up a long trip and make the journey a bit more enjoyable. Sure, it takes a little extra effort, but the cost savings can make it well worth your time.

16. Use multi-city or open-jaw tickets

If you're planning a trip with multiple stops, a multi-city or open-jaw ticket instead of separate one-way flights can be more convenient. If you’re visiting multiple destinations, these options can potentially save you hundreds on airfare. For example, fly into Rome and return home from Athens, skipping the extra cost of a roundtrip. It’s a great way to explore more while keeping costs down.

17. Travel to destinations during their off-season

Want to experience popular destinations without paying sky-high prices or dealing with tourist crowds? Consider traveling during the off-season. You could visit the serene beaches of Hawai'i in September or enjoy the charming streets of Paris in early spring. Not only will your wallet thank you, but you’ll also get to experience these places in a more relaxed and authentic way.

Remember that 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). Plus, you’ll find fewer lines, more available activities, and, best of all, cheaper flights.

18. Consider positioning flights for significant savings

Sometimes your local airport might not have the best fares. If that’s the case, you can get creative with positioning flights. This little-known 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 a little more planning (and sometimes a longer journey), but the savings can be incredible.

Travel rewards and discounts

19. 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.

20. 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. 

You can learn more about points and rewards to save on your next trip with our beginner’s guide to credit card points and airline miles.

21. 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. Meanwhile, seniors can often take advantage of discounted fares on certain airlines and even benefit from reduced prices on public transportation or accommodations. These deals aren’t always widely advertised, so it’s worth asking directly or searching for promotions when booking. 

Other expert tips to find cheap flights

22. 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, don’t wait—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 out real-time alerts for these rare deals, giving our members a better chance to grab them before they disappear.

23. If you're traveling with a group, book one ticket at a time

Let’s say there’s 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’ll only show you the price for seats that are available in the same bucket.

24. 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 an intuitive Low Fare Calendar, which shows the cheapest days to fly on your selected route.

25. Consider the pros and cons of budget airlines

Budget airlines can be a fantastic way to save on flights, but beware. While airlines like Spirit and Ryanair offer rock-bottom fares, they tend to charge extra for everything—from seat selection to carry-on luggage. On the other hand, 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 for you—just make sure you calculate the total cost, including any additional fees, before booking.

Most common questions from travelers

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

If you have specific travel dates and destinations in mind, both Google Flights and Kayak allow you to set up fare alerts. By entering your travel details, you’ll receive notifications when the price drops. Check out our guide to find 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?

Unfortunately, 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, so it’s best to avoid it altogether. 

If you’re 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 the airlines aren’t 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 doesn’t make a shred of difference. There’s a common travel myth that airlines adjust prices based on their customers’ browsing history, but that’s simply not true. These companies use dynamic pricing, which means that flight prices fluctuate based on demand, availability, and several other factors—not on individual search histories. 

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

In general, it’s best to avoid standby fares and last-minute bookings. Although you might hear stories of travelers snagging amazing deals just before a flight, it’s increasingly rare. Twenty years ago, airlines lowered prices to fill unsold seats on last-minute flights, but nowadays, things are different. These days, it’s more likely to find higher prices as departure dates approach, particularly for domestic flights.

While it’s sometimes possible to find cheaper last-minute international flights, the trend is shifting toward higher prices due to the demand of business travelers who can’t make plans until the last minute and are less sensitive to costs.

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. Traveling economy is generally more affordable. However, you can save money on business and first-class deals if you look in advance or set up flight alerts. Weigh budget against comfort to choose the best option for your needs.

Now you know how to find your next cheap flight!

Now that you have all these tips to score the cheapest flights, it’s time to use them. The best first step is to sign up to flight alert tools and log in to flight memberships. With Going, you can start receiving alerts just by enrolling in the Limited membership plan for cheap domestic flights around the US, then easily upgrade to the Premium program for international flights. What are you waiting for? Score the cheapest flights with Going!