How to always find the cheapest flights possible
Travelling often does involve taking the plane. Some of the most beautiful destinations can only be reached by plane and it is as well the fastest and most convenient way of travelling. At the same time, buying your boarding pass can be quite expensive and if you are travelling on a budget, it can be a major cost factor. But does it have to be? Isn’t there a way to always look out for cheap flights and get some good deals? Of course, there is, you simply have to know how and where to look for your tickets. This guide is all about how to get the cheapest flights and how to save money while flying to your next bucketlist destination.
And by the way, this is not only for the budget travellers. Getting cheap flights should be in anybody´s interest.
Use the right platforms to find the cheap flights
It is all about where you book your flights. Actually, there are countless websites and booking platforms where you can search for flights and book your next adventure. While this can be an advantage in getting different offers in, it can also lead to confusion. There more you see, the less sure you are where to even book. A website that always seems to be a good idea is Skyscanner. Skyscanner compares all different websites on the internet and shows you the best way to book.
You do not book on Skyscanner itself, but once you´ve selected your flight, you get directed to the website offering the price. This means, you can still book the flight with the official website of the company (such as Emirates, Ryanair or Lufthansa) or you can book with typical travel websites (such as Opodo or Tui).
In general, Skyscanner is the best option for any flights. No matter if it is domestic or international or half around the globe. They show you the current offers and present you the cheapest tickets. Perfect for travellers to see where to book and what price to expect.
Book your flights on weekends
It is a secret tip among travellers to always book flights on a weekend. For some reasons, the prices are always dropping during the weekend and you can get a cheaper price than if you´re booking on a Wednesday or a Thursday. Plus, weekends are perfect for planning and organizing anyway.
If you are planning to book your next trip, make sure to wait until the weekend to see if the price changes. If not, it was at least worth the try. And if it did get cheaper, jackpot!
Travel with a hand luggage only
The ultimate tip on how to get the cheapest flights possible: only travel with a hand luggage. Yes, this is not the easiest tip but definitely the most efficient one. Especially, if you are taking a short flight (for example a domestic flight or in between Europe), the cheap prices only go for a hand luggage.
12 Euros for a flight to Portugal? 6 Euros for a flight in between Italy? 10 Euros to London? All these prices seem too good to be true, but they really are. You can get these cheap flights if you travel light. For a shorter trip this should not be a problem. You can even take a small suitcase as a hand luggage or a bigger backpack than your usual daypack.
If you decide that you need an extra luggage, you have to pay approximately 50 Euros more than the flight on the website. Still cheap, but definitely not the cheapest flight possible.
Stay flexible on the dates
How to get the cheapest flights possible as a traveller? Stay flexible on the dates and stay spontaneous. If you have a fixed date where you need to fly, you could miss some great offers. Skyscanner always offers a monthly overview which shows you the cheapest and the most expensive days of your flight connection.
When you are flexible, you can simply choose the date with the cheapest price. If you are not, you might have to book a much more expensive ticket (and sometimes this means paying up to 200 Euros more). Of course, you kind of always need to stick to a certain schedule. Everybody got plans, but still, even if you are flexible on a few days or let’s say a week, this can make a huge difference.
Check out smaller airports out of the city center
This is a great tip on how to get the cheapest flights possible for your next city trip. Especially the capitals in Europe have more than just one airport. There is the main airport, usually close to the city center, and there is a smaller one, located a bit further outside. The prices to the smaller airports are mostly much cheaper and you can get a good price with one of the budget airlines. Of course, this means a longer journey to the city itself, but the bus or train tickets are cheaper than the flights.
This tip is by the way also an option if you are travelling to an island or any other place. Always check out the airports before you book your ticket. Sometimes they have another smaller airport for which you can get cheaper flights (sometimes with a stop in between, but definitely much cheaper).
Book flights with a stop and use it for some exploring
Depending on the route, booking a flight with another stop in between can be much cheaper. Direct flights are usually (or rather sometimes) more expensive. Of course, the stops can be annoying and sitting at an airport for 10 hours just to wait for your next flight is definitely all but ideal.
But have you ever considered just staying for a night or two at the stop? Let´s say you have an overlay in a great city. Why not take the chance and spend a night and explore the place? These kind of flights are called multi-city flights and can as well be booked via Skyscanner. But how do you find the best connection?
First, you should search for the typical one-way flight to your destination. Then, check the cheapest connection and see what kind of overlays they have. Then look up for a multi-city trip with at least one night staying in the overlay place. If the stop is already in the country of your final destination, the chances are good to get a real burner price.
For example: looking for flights from Munich to Tenerife is expensive. They mostly cost around 300 Euros. But if you are searching for a multi-city stop with a two-day stay in the stunning city of Barcelona, and then continue to Tenerife, the prices drop down to 50 Euros (if you are lucky).
Book the flights on your own to get them cheaper
Booking flights with an agency? This is literally wasted money for a traveller. There is nothing easier than simply booking the flights on your own. Plus, you can save a lot of money and always check out the cheapest options.
Therefore, do not forget: just do it on your own. It´s cheaper and you have the full control over your travels.
Do not book all flights together and get the chance for a discount
On some websites, if you have booked a flight with them, you will get a discount code for your next flight. Meaning, if you have booked the flight, you can use the code to get an even cheaper price for your next trip. The only problem is, that these discounts are usually only valid for a few days.
The best option to use the offer and to save some money and get the cheapest flights possible is to bot book all together. For example, if you are going on a round trip to more than one destination, book one flight after the other. Or, you could even book your return flight the day after. This will allow you to use the discount code (if you get one) and save up to 100 Euros. If this isn’t a good offer to consider!
Look for a deal including flights and the hotel
If you are going on vacation and not on a typical traveller´s adventure, this tip can lead you to some great offers. There are many websites who offer a full price for both the hotel and the flight combined. In most of these cases, you do get the flight for cheaper than booking it separately.
This is a good option, if you are looking for a week or two in a nice hotel. And of course, you need to be a little flexible on the airport as most of these trips to only start from bigger airports.
Book your flights for the offseason to get the cheapest flights
And last but not least, a typical and already well-known tip how to get the cheapest flights possible: travel during the off-season. Or at least, try to avoid the high season. During the summer months, most airlines change their prices and you end up paying twice as much as you would during winter. Surely, at most destination it only makes sense to travel during the summer months. And yet, there are a few, where you can take advantage of the cheaper prices during the off-season.
Looking for more tips on how to save some money and travel in the cheapest way possible? Click here to find out more about budget travelling in Europe or here to get some tips for Bali.
