How to Save Money on Flights: Secrets to Affordable Travel

Who doesn’t dream of exploring new destinations without breaking the bank? Still, figuring out how to save money on flights can feel impossible. Between fluctuating prices, hidden fees, and the endless myths about the “perfect time to book,” navigating the world of air travel requires a strategic approach. Whether you’re wondering how to save money on last-minute flights, one-way tickets, or even business-class upgrades, there are plenty of actionable hacks to help you maximize savings.

The good news? Saving money on airfare doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort or convenience. From snagging cheap flights to Europe to figuring out how to save money on Southwest flights, there’s a solution for every type of traveler. Ready to transform your travel planning? Let’s dive into the best strategies for cutting flight costs and ensure your next trip is budget-friendly and stress-free.

Key Takeaways

• Flip the way you plan a trip.
• Look at flying open-jaw.
• Take advantage of long layovers.
• Look for free stopover tours and hotels.
• Use flexible date search.
• Check other destinations for your travel window. 
• Consider alternative airports.
• Avoid flying in peak seasons.
• Buy in the right window of time.
• Set fare alerts to track a specific flight.
• Use the Greek Islands Trick to focus on getting across the ocean as cheaply as possible.
• Use Momondo to make sure you're getting the best price.
• Use Skiplagged to see hidden-city fares.
• Use the 24-hour rule to cancel if the price drops.
• Change your location and currency when booking through foreign carriers.
• Act fast to snag mistake fares.
• Try Priceline's Express Deals.
• Look at budget airlines, but don't discount legacy carriers.
• Always compare the cost of upgrading vs. the cost of extras.
• Watch out for sneaky fees.
• Go basic economy, and only pay for what you need.
• Bring your own food.
• Pack light to avoid checked bag fees.
• Try to bid on an upgrade.
• Join the airline's loyalty program.
• Open an airline co-branded credit card.
• Join Going for deal tracking.

Trip-planning strategies

Flip the way you plan a trip

Most travelers first decide where they want to go, choose their dates, and then look for the best prices on flights to that specific destination on those specific dates. But why not let the deals decide where you’ll go? If you have more flexibility in where you go and the exact dates you travel, you’ll have a better chance of finding a great fare. This reverse approach allows you to prioritize savings while exploring previously overlooked destinations.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Look at flying open-jaw 

Flying into one city and out of another lets you explore more while potentially saving money. Booking open-jaw tickets is a smart travel hack that lets you visit two (or more!) places without paying for separate one-way flights. Plus, open-jaw tickets let you avoid backtracking to your starting point, saving you both time and money. This trick is especially useful if you're city-hopping across Europe or exploring multiple islands in the Caribbean.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Low

Take advantage of long layovers 

Opting for flights with layovers can often be cheaper than direct flights, particularly for international trips. While some would see it as an inconvenience, you can turn a long layover (eight hours or even a day or two) into a mini adventure. Some airlines, like Icelandair and TAP Portugal, allow you to stay over in certain cities for several days with no increase in the ticket price. Still, even when it’s not offered as part of an official policy, you can often add a layover for a similar cost.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Low

Look for free stopover tours and hotels

While a long layover can be a fun way to visit two cities for the price of one, you also have the option of free stopover programs. Some airlines offer a free hotel room or a tour of their hub’s city. A stopover can be a strategic way to explore a new destination, rest, and enjoy local attractions. These stopover programs allow you to extend your layover for a few days or even weeks.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Low

Trip-planning strategies

Use flexible date search

If there’s one piece of advice we want you to take from this guide, that is to be flexible with your dates if you are able. And this doesn’t mean changing your summer vacation into a December getaway. Sometimes, changing your travel dates by just a few days can drastically change a flight price. Flight search sites like Google Flights allow you to see prices for up to two months at a time, making it easy to see if a small shift in timing could result in big savings. Learn how to use Google Flights to take advantage of everything this tool has to offer.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Check other destinations for your travel window 

Here’s another way Google Flights can help you lower the price of your flight ticket: If you’re open to a variety of destinations, use the “Explore” feature to check all available flight deals from your departure airport, displayed on a world map. You can also set flexible dates to find the most budget-friendly options. Other flight search sites like Skyscanner and Kayak have similar functions to search for the best prices anywhere in the world for your specific dates.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Consider alternative airports

You don’t need to sacrifice your destination to find a cheap flight—there’s still room to save by being strategic about which airports you use. The key is to check prices to nearby airports in your takeoff and landing destinations rather than just the main hubs. For instance, if traveling to London, you might find cheaper options by flying into Gatwick or Stansted instead of Heathrow.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Moderate

Avoid flying in peak seasons

We all want a European vacation in the summer and a ski trip during winter, but that’s not the best way to find cheap flights. If you travel to the same destinations at the same time as everyone else, you’ll end up paying high-demand prices. Timing your trips during shoulder or low seasons can lead to massive savings. For example, visit Hawaiʻi in October.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Fare deals and booking hacks

Buy in the right window of time

Booking flights within the sweet spot is crucial. For the best prices, try to book your flight during what we call the "Goldilocks Window"—this is 1–3 months in advance for domestic flights and 2–8 months ahead for international travel. Still, it's wise to start looking even earlier if you’re traveling during peak times (summer or the holidays, for example) or if your plans are inflexible, like when you need a flight for a friend’s wedding.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Be always on time for deals! Download the Going app to get notified of mistake fares and unbeatable flight prices!

Set fare alerts to track a specific flight

If you want the best price on a specific flight (with a specific destination and set dates), you can set fare alerts. That way, you’ll be the first to know when the price changes. Going members receive notifications as soon as prices drop for their desired flight, helping them book when fares are lowest. For more information, check our guide on how to set flight fare alerts.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Use the Greek Islands Trick

If you’re booking a long-haul flight, especially to another continent, the best strategy is to focus on getting across the ocean as cheaply as possible. Once you’re on the other side, it’s often cheaper to book budget airline flights, trains, or even bus tickets to your final destination. This approach can be especially useful in regions like Europe, Asia, and Central America, where you can snag incredibly low fares for regional travel. This trick owes its name to the Greek Islands because it is typically cheaper to get a flight to Athens and then to Santorini than getting a direct flight to Santorini. Learn more about how to use this trick here.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Moderate

Use Momondo to make sure you're getting the best price

Momondo is a flight search aggregator. What does this mean? It focuses on uncovering deals across multiple OTAs and airlines—a useful feature for those looking for less expensive, flexible travel options. At times, they offer better fares than those shown on Google Flights and large OTAs like Priceline and Orbitz.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Low

Use Skiplagged to see hidden-city fares

"Hidden city" ticketing involves booking a flight with a layover in your desired destination and then ending your trip in the layover city. While this method can sometimes yield lower fares, be cautious. Not all airlines allow this practice, and it may violate their policies. To ensure you understand the risks involved before proceeding, check our guide on hidden-city ticketing.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Moderate

Use the 24-hour rule to cancel if the price drops

Have you ever booked a flight and hours later found a cheaper alternative? Well, the Department of Transportation has a "24-hour rule" that ensures you can cancel your flight within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket and receive a full refund. This rule applies to any flight originating in or are going to the US on any airline, provided the ticket was booked directly with the airline and at least seven days before departure. This means if you find a better deal after booking or realize your plans have changed, you have a safety net to help you manage those travel expenses.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Moderate

Change your location and currency when booking with foreign carriers 

Believe it or not, some airlines charge different prices based on the currency you use to pay. For example, if you want to know how to save money on British Airways flights, consider switching the currency to British pounds instead of paying using US dollars. Remember to make sure to compare and consider exchange rates before you book.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Moderate

Act fast to snag mistake fares

If you happen to find a mistake fare, don’t wait—book it immediately! Mistake fares are pricing errors where airlines accidentally list fares for far lower than normal, and they don’t last long. Often, they’re corrected within hours, sometimes even minutes. One of the best ways to catch these mistake fares is by signing up for Going’s Premium or Elite memberships.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Moderate

Try Priceline's Express Deals

Priceline is a great tool for exploring deals from OTAs that don’t always appear on other search engines. One of its best features to find cheap flights is its express deals. They show you the basic information of your flight, like the departure and destination cities, departure times, and maximum layovers and connection times. The specifics, like the airline and exact flight times, are not revealed until you’ve booked your flight.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Look at budget airlines, but don't discount legacy carriers

We all know how to save money on Easyjet flights, RyanAir, or JetBlue. Over the past few years, budget airlines have earned a place in the hearts of travelers for their cheap fares and convenience. But, believe it or not, they aren’t always cheaper than their full-service counterparts. While many budget carriers have aligned with legacy airlines by dropping change fees, costs for other amenities can quickly add up, so comparing before booking is key to knowing the pros and cons of each. 

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Low

Always compare the cost of upgrading vs. the cost of extras

As we just mentioned, a basic economy ticket on a budget airline can seem like a cheaper alternative. However, when you add the extra fees, that might no longer be the case. With a basic economy ticket, advance seat selection costs extra (if it’s allowed at all), and you’ll pay for a checked bag. Often, it’s more economical to upgrade versus add the fees, but be aware you’ll need to upgrade at the time of booking.

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Low

Saving on extras & fees

Watch out for sneaky fees

These days, many services that used to be included are now considered extras. For example, if you’re flying an airline or in a class that charges for bags, check if it's each way or each leg. Why? If it’s each leg and you plan to check a bag, it can be cheaper to upgrade to a fare class that includes bags or switch to a direct flight. Always read the fine print and compare total costs to avoid unpleasant surprises. 

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Go basic economy, and only pay for what you need

If your top priority is finding cheap flights and you don’t need advance seat selection or checked luggage, a basic economy ticket can actually be a good alternative. Remember that there are some restrictions on these fares. For instance, they usually cannot be changed or canceled and aren’t eligible for upgrades.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Bring your own food

Let’s be honest, airport and airplane food doesn’t have the best reputation. So, why pay for it? In fact, many carriers, especially low-cost airlines and those flying short-haul routes, don’t even offer an in-flight meal service. In the end, any snacks or light meals you bring from home will not only save you some bucks, but they’ll taste better, too.

• Potential savings: Low
• Level of effort: Moderate

Pack light to avoid checked bag fees

Unfortunately, checked bag fees are becoming more common and more expensive. They aren’t simply an annoying feature of budget airlines but legacy carriers, too. If possible, stick to carry-on luggage to avoid paying this fee. 

• Potential savings: Moderate
• Level of effort: Low

Try to bid on an upgrade 

If you’re dreaming of extra legroom or a touch of luxury, scoring an upgrade might be more affordable than you think. Many airlines offer the chance to bid on premium seats if there’s availability—often at a fraction of the outright purchase cost. You can also explore upgrade options during online check-in or inquire directly at the airport counter. However, it is also true that this practice is becoming more and more rare, so we highly recommend you do not only rely on this strategy to find good deals.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Loyalty and membership benefits

Join the airline's loyalty program

Frequent flyer programs are incredibly useful for finding cheap fares. If you often fly with one (or a few) airlines, their loyalty program can help you earn points every time you fly, which you can redeem later for flights and upgrades. If you earn enough miles with the airline, you may even be eligible for free upgrades.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Open an airline co-branded credit card

Another great way to earn redeemable points is to open a co-branded credit card. These programs help you earn points on purchases and not just flights. Besides, you may get perks like free checked bags. Learn more about airline credit cards in our related post! 

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Moderate

Join Going

Let’s not forget one of the easiest ways to save money on flights: Join Going. Whether you’re flying domestically or internationally, our travel membership trial offers real-time alerts when prices drop, ensuring you never miss a deal. The best part? Our members save an average of $550 per international ticket—more than 10 times the cost of an annual membership.

• Potential savings: High
• Level of effort: Low

Skip these myths about airfare tickets  

When it comes to saving money on flights, there are many myths and misconceptions that can steer you in the wrong direction. While they might seem reasonable at first glance, the reality of modern airline pricing is far more complex. These days, prices change based on complex algorithms and thus cannot be accurately predicted. Here are some of the most common (and wrong) airfare myths:

• “Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to buy flights.”
• “August 23 is the cheapest day of the year for flights.”
• “Booking flights late at night gets you cheaper deals.”
• “Clear your cookies, or search incognito mode.”
• “Trust fare predictions 100%.”

If you want to learn more myths to avoid, take a look at our guide on the cheapest day to buy flights. 

Your best ally to save money on flights: Going memberships.  

Saving money on flights isn’t just about timing or finding the right airline—it’s about knowing how to use the right tools. That’s where Going memberships shine. Whether you want to know how to save money on domestic flights, cheap flights to anywhere, or premium cabin deals, Going’s real-time alerts ensure you’re the first to know about price drops. Premium members unlock international flight deals and mistake fares. So why navigate the complexities of airfare pricing alone? Sign up for Going today, and find the flight you’re looking for.