How to Set Up Flight Price Alerts and Never Miss a Low Fare

How can I set up flight price alerts?

Flight price alerts are a game-changer for all sorts of travelers. With these alerts, you can receive an update (via an app notification or an email) when ticket prices drop, making it easier than ever to book cheap flights without constant monitoring. The best part? Many of these airfare alerts are free, and you can set up more than one.

If you want to track prices for a specific trip or if you’re undecided about where you want to go for a trip over specific dates, these alerts can be extra useful. In this guide we’ll walk you through how to set up alerts for cheap flights, discuss the best tools for price alerts, and show you how Going can help you find even better flight deals with mistake fares and alerts of flash sales.

The best flight price trackers and how to use them

Going

Going specializes in personalized flight deal alerts for domestic and international flights. There are three membership levels: Limited, Premium, and Elite, each providing increasing access to exclusive, handpicked deals that include mistake fares, flash sales, and steeply discounted tickets across a range of destinations.

What it offers:

• Exclusive alerts on low fares and mistake deals
• Customizable options based on the traveler’s preferences and routes
• Alerts on deals from nearby airports or cities
• Free Limited plan for domestic flights, with Premium and Elite levels for international alerts and enhanced tracking

Why we love it:

Going not only tracks prices but also offers high-value alerts for deals that are unlikely to be found elsewhere, making it a favorite of deal-seekers and frequent travelers. Premium and Elite members can also take advantage of mistake fare alerts, helping them save hundreds on both domestic and international routes.

How it works:

1. Download the Going app for instant notifications or receive email alerts.
2. Sign up and select a plan (Limited, Premium, or Elite).
3. Add your preferred airports and destinations to your Watchlist to set up alerts.
4. Check your settings to ensure that you receive push notifications when we find a great deal for you.
5. Once you receive a deal alert, book it quickly to secure the best price.

Ready to explore on a budget? Download the app for free access to cheap deals!

Google Flights

Google Flights is a free flight search engine known for its flexible search options, such as viewing a calendar of prices or exploring prices by destination on an interactive map.

What it offers:

• Date flexibility, which allows users to view the cheapest flights for two months at a time
• Price tracking for specific routes, notifying users of fare changes
• A map view that shows prices for multiple destinations worldwide

Why we love it:

Google Flights provides real-time fare tracking across destinations, offering flexibility with dates, routes, and regions. It’s a user-friendly tool that lets you track either a specific trip (e.g., LA to New York City April 7-13) or go one level deeper and track specific flights on those dates.

How it works:

1. Visit Google Flights and enter your departure and destination cities.
2. Select specific dates or click on the calendar view to see prices across multiple dates.
3. After choosing a route, toggle “Track Prices” to enable alerts for any price changes.
4. You’ll receive email notifications for any fare adjustments on your tracked route.

For more information check our guide on how to set Google Flights alerts.

Hopper

Hopper is a popular flight tracker app that uses historical data to predict future prices. It provides insights on when to book or wait for the price to drop.

What it offers:

• Predictions based on historical data
• Push notifications for price drops and fare trends
• Flexibility in selecting dates, letting users know the best times to book

Why we love it:

Hopper’s predictive technology can be very useful for deal-seekers, providing insight into when prices may drop. The app’s “Watch This Trip” feature is ideal for travelers who want to maximize savings by timing their purchases strategically.

How it works:

1. Download the Hopper app and set up your account.
2. Input your travel details and activate “Watch This Trip” to track your specific route.
3. Hopper will alert you if it’s the best time to book or if prices are expected to drop further.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a metasearch engine that aggregates prices from airlines and OTAs. It includes an “Everywhere” search feature that is perfect for travelers with flexible destinations.

What it offers:

• The “Everywhere” feature allows broad destination searches
• Price alerts for specific routes and dates
• Notifications for fare drops and high-value deals on both domestic and international flights

Why we love it:

Skyscanner is a top choice for budget-conscious travelers who don’t have a set destination in mind. This highly customizable tool allows users to search for flights to “Everywhere” for broad price comparisons. 

How it works:

The process for setting up airfare alerts on Skyscanner is pretty much the same as Google Flights: 

1. Visit the Skyscanner website and sign in with your account (or create a new one).
2. Set your departure and destination—you can use “Everywhere” for broad searches.
3. Choose “Get Price Alerts” for updates on price changes.
4. You’ll receive email notifications when fares change on your tracked route.

If you don’t need to track flights and simply want to compare and book, you can use the site’s search box and find the cheapest flights online.

Be sure to check our Skyscanner guide to learn more about this platform. 

Kayak

Kayak is a comprehensive travel search engine with robust flight tracking algorithms, flexible dates, and fare trend information.

What it offers:

• Alerts for exact dates, flexible dates, or “Top 25 Cities,” providing a broader range of choices for travelers without fixed plans
• Daily email notifications, offering frequent updates on fare changes

Why we love it:

Kayak’s flexibility in date and destination selection is excellent for travelers who can adjust their schedules. It's a powerful tool for tracking flights to multiple cities or finding deals over a broad timeframe.

How it works:

1. Begin by entering your route and dates as you normally would.
2. In the “Watch” box on the top left of search results, click “Track Prices.”
3. Customize your notifications by selecting “Exact Dates,” “Flexible Dates,” or “Top 25 Cities” to tailor alerts to your needs.
4. Access your watchlist to see all active alerts and adjust the frequency of notifications.

If you want more tips, check out our guide on how to use Kayak to find cheap flights.

Points Path

Points Path was designed to leverage deals with credit card points and miles. It helps users maximize the value of these points, with insights on the best ways to redeem them for flights and travel-related expenses. 

What it offers:

• Personalized recommendations for credit card points and frequent flyer mile usage
• Insights on how to redeem points for maximum travel value

Why we love it:

There’s a lot of misinformation when it comes to points and miles. Points Path demystifies this world, helping budget-conscious travelers and frequent flyers get the best out of their loyalty programs.

How it works:

1. Set up your profile and enter your credit card or airline loyalty program details.
2. Points Path will suggest the best ways to redeem points and miles.
3. Use your points to save on travel, guided by Points Path’s tailored recommendations.

Momondo

Momondo is a price comparison tool known for finding low fares by aggregating prices from multiple OTAs (online travel agencies).

What it offers:

• Alerts for specific dates and routes
• They send you two emails per week for frequent updates without overwhelming your inbox
• Comprehensive price comparisons across different OTAs for a wider selection of deals

Why we love it:

Momondo takes a more budget-focused approach. It often lists fares from lesser-known OTAs that may have better prices, which is key for travelers looking to get more bang for their buck.

How it works:

1. Enter your travel details, including dates and departure/arrival cities.
2. Click “Track prices” on the top left of the search results page.
3. Sign up or log in to save and monitor alerts.
4. Expect emails with price updates twice a week for the most recent fare changes.

Learn how to maximize savings using Momondo with our comprehensive guide.

Airfare Watchdog

Airfare Watchdog aggregates prices across airlines and OTAs, offering notifications when fares drop or special deals become available.

What it offers:

• Daily fare updates for specific routes
• Handpicked deals through Airfare Watchdog
• Notifications for domestic and international significant fare changes

Why we love it:

Airfare Watchdog includes expert-curated deals, which help travelers find deeply discounted fares that are harder to find on other search engines.

How it works:

1. Go to Airfarewatchdog.com
2. Sign up and enter your preferred routes to set up alerts.
3. Check your inbox for fare changes and special deals.

Dollar Flight Club

Dollar Flight Club alerts focus on exclusive discounts. They cover both domestic and international routes, and the alerts are tailored to your preferences. The club also offers a premium membership.

What it offers:

• Alerts for flash sales, discounted routes, and mistake fares
• Premium membership with additional deals
• Domestic and international fare tracking

Why we love it:

If you’re a frequent traveler or are looking for exclusive deals, Dollar Flight Club is a helpful tool. Its Premium members also get first access to steep discounts, making it ideal for international travel planning.

How it works:

1. Download the Dollar Flight Club app.
2. Sign up, choose your routes, and set your preferences.
3. You’ll receive notifications for any fare adjustments on your tracked route.
4. Notifications will vary based on membership level (free or premium).

What makes these tools different?

Customizing your alerts for maximum benefit

The key to tailored alerts is to customize your searches. Start by choosing specific travel dates—or opt for flexible dates to catch more deals. If possible, select a range of nearby airports, especially for international flights. This will increase your chances of finding a low fare. 

Airfares can change frequently (sometimes several times a day), so knowing how these shifts work helps you assess if it’s time to book. How? Analyzing your alerts, you can spot fare trends: If you see a steady drop, it might be wise to wait, but if the trend is upward, booking sooner can save you from higher prices.

Subscribe for free to never miss out on cheap flight deals!

What price alerts cannot do

While price alerts are perfect for tracking specific dates and destinations, you should take into account their limitations. Most alerts aren’t ideal for those with flexible plans, as these sites only let you track specific routes. 

For instance, if you’re planning a trip to Europe in the fall, you’d have to set multiple alerts to cover possible dates and destinations. Plus, delays in alerts can mean you miss short-lived deals or mistake fares.

Additionally, because airfare fluctuates frequently, some of these alerts may notify you of any change, whether it’s a drop or a price increase. This could potentially lead to a flood of notifications, where the best deals can get lost in your inbox.

Get your best airfare deals with Going!

While typical fare alerts can miss out on ultra-flexible options or short-lived mistake fares, Going is different. We go beyond the standard alerts by actively monitoring prices and highlighting the best fares for you. 

With Premium and Elite memberships, you also unlock access to exclusive deals, mistake fares, and real-time updates that can save you an average of $500 on international flights. Whether you’re planning a big adventure with friends or an international business trip, Going has a plan to help you catch the best fares before they’re gone.

Ready to snag unbeatable deals? Join Going today and start receiving real-time alerts for exclusive deals and personalized savings on flights around the globe!