How to Find Cheap Flights
Learning how to find cheap flights is less about knowing a secret trick and more about knowing where to compare prices.
Your travel dates, airports, destination, and the type of ticket you choose can all affect what you pay.
Tools such as Google Flights, Skyscanner and KAYAK can make the process easier.
You can compare dates, look at nearby airports, track prices and see different routes without checking every airline one by one.
The fare you see at first may not be the final amount you’ll pay. Baggage, airport transfers and other extras can add to the cost.
Start With Google Flights
Google Flights is a useful place to begin because it brings airlines, routes and dates into one comparison.
After entering your trip, use the Date grid or Price graph to see how fares change around your preferred dates.
If your schedule is flexible, this can quickly show if leaving a day earlier or returning a day later costs less.
You may also see price insights for some routes. These can show if the current fare is lower or higher than usual based on Google’s available pricing data.
Use this as a guide when deciding when to book, since flight prices can still change.
Google Flights separates results into Best and Cheapest tabs. The lower-priced options may include less convenient routes, such as self-transfers or flights using different airports.
Compare Prices on Skyscanner and KAYAK
After checking Google Flights, compare the same trip on Skyscanner or KAYAK.
The results won’t always be identical, and each tool has different ways to find lower fares.
Skyscanner has a Month view for flexible dates and an Everywhere option when you haven’t chosen a destination.
KAYAK can compare dates up to 3 days either side of your preferred dates and also has flexible weekend and month options.
You don’t need to spend hours checking every comparison site, but using more than one can give you a better idea of the fares available.
Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates
A small change in your departure or return date can sometimes change the fare.
If your plans aren’t fixed, compare the days around your preferred dates before deciding when to fly. Google Flights, Skyscanner and KAYAK all have tools that make this easier.
Keep the rest of the trip in the comparison too. Flying a day earlier isn’t a saving if it means paying for another hotel night or taking extra leave from work. The cheaper flight still needs to fit the trip you’re actually planning.
Include Nearby Airports
When a city has more than one airport, or you can reasonably reach another departure airport, include those options in your comparison.
A different airport may have a lower fare, a direct flight, or a departure time that works better for you.
Before choosing it, add the cost and time of getting to or from that airport. A cheaper ticket can become the more expensive option once you add a long train journey, taxi fare or overnight accommodation.
See Where Your Budget Can Take You
If your dates are set but your destination isn’t, you can compare places based on the fares available from your departure airport.
Google Flights Explore, Skyscanner Everywhere and KAYAK Explore can help when you haven’t chosen a destination. They let you browse different places based on your departure point, dates and other preferences.
Use the prices as a way to find possibilities, then look at the rest of the trip before choosing. Accommodation, local transport, weather and entry requirements still matter.
If several places look realistic, my guide on how to choose a travel destination can help you narrow them down.
Set Price Alerts Before You Book
When you’ve found a route but aren’t ready to book, you can keep track of the fare instead of checking it every day.
Google Flights can track a route for specific dates and can also track any dates when your plans are flexible. Skyscanner and KAYAK offer their own price alerts for routes you’re watching.
An alert tells you when the fare changes, but it can’t promise that the price will keep dropping.
If you find a flight that suits your dates, budget and itinerary, waiting for a much lower fare can also mean losing the option you were happy with.
Compare the Full Cost of the Flight
The lowest fare in the results isn’t always the cheapest option once everything is added. Before booking, compare what each ticket includes and what you’ll need to pay for separately.
This is especially useful when you’re comparing a basic fare with a ticket that includes more.
Baggage Fees
Check the cabin and checked baggage allowance for the fare you’re considering. A basic fare may be enough for travellers with only a small cabin bag.
If you need checked luggage, add the fee before comparing it with another airline or fare type.
Seat Selection and Other Extras
Seat selection, priority boarding, and other optional extras can increase the final price. You may not need them, but include anything you already know you’ll buy.
A slightly higher fare can work out better if it already includes something you’d otherwise pay for separately.
Self-Transfers and Separate Tickets
Some low-priced itineraries use self-transfers or separate tickets. This can mean collecting your baggage and checking in again before your next flight, or travelling between terminals or airports.
Read the connection details carefully and decide if the saving is worth the extra work and risk.
Airport Transport
A lower fare can also involve an airport farther from the city. Add the cost of the bus, train, taxi, or transfer before comparing it with a flight to a more convenient airport.
The cheapest ticket isn’t much of a deal if getting from the airport costs more than you saved.
Check the Airline's Website Before Paying
Once you’ve found a flight you like, check the same itinerary on the airline’s website.
Compare the final price, baggage allowance and ticket conditions to make sure you’re looking at the same fare type.
If the airline offers the itinerary directly at a price you’re comfortable with, you can decide which booking option works better for you.
Is There Really a Cheapest Day to Book Flights?
You’ve probably heard that Tuesday or Wednesday is the cheapest day to book a flight. There isn’t one day of the week that will consistently give you the lowest fare.
Flight prices can change throughout the week, so waiting for a certain day to book may not give you a better deal.
The day you fly can affect the fare available for your trip, but that’s different from the day you buy the ticket.
Compare the fares available for your route instead of waiting for a particular weekday. If your dates are flexible, check nearby travel dates to see if another day costs less.
Does Incognito Mode Give You Cheaper Flights?
Using incognito mode won’t normally help you find cheaper flights. Skyscanner says cookies and previous searches don’t affect the prices it shows, so switching to a private browser won’t give you a lower fare there.
Flight prices can still change while you’re comparing options. This usually happens because fares and availability are changing, not because you searched for the same flight several times.
Instead of clearing your cookies, spend that time comparing nearby dates or airports. You can also set a price alert and keep track of the fare before you book.
Give Yourself Time to Compare Fares
Flight prices can change depending on the route, season, demand and your travel dates. Checking fares ahead of time gives you more options and a better idea of what you might pay for the route.
Google Flights can show price insights for some routes based on previous fare data. You can also track prices if you’re not ready to book yet and see how the fare changes over time.
For school holidays, major events or dates you can’t change, checking earlier can also give you more choice of flight times and routes.
There’s no single booking window that works for every trip, so use the prices available for your own route and dates.
Compare More Than the Price
A cheaper flight may come with a long layover, an airport change, separate tickets or an inconvenient departure time.
Once you add extra transport, accommodation or baggage, the difference in price may not be as good as it first appeared.
Compare the whole journey before choosing between flights. Paying a little more for a direct route or a better departure time may make more sense if it saves several hours or avoids an awkward connection.
After you’ve booked, check how early you should arrive at the airport to work out how much time to allow before departure.
Choose the Flight That Works for Your Trip
Start by comparing your preferred route and dates on Google Flights, then check Skyscanner or KAYAK for other options.
Nearby dates and airports are worth comparing too when you have some flexibility. A price alert can help you keep track of the fare if you’re not ready to book.
Knowing how to find cheap flights comes down to comparing the options that actually work for your trip. A good fare should fit your budget without adding unnecessary costs or making the journey much harder.
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I love exploring new places and sharing the travel tips, food finds, and experiences that help you plan your next adventure.
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Sign up for new itineraries, travel notes, and practical guides to help you explore the places I love most.
