How to find cheap flights every time

First things first—don’t just book directly with an airline. Flight search engines like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Kayak do the heavy lifting for you by comparing prices across hundreds of airlines and travel sites. Google Flights is my go-to because it’s fast, shows a calendar view of prices, and even lets you track fare changes. Just pop in your departure city and destination, and it’ll spit out the cheapest options. Pro tip: Use the ‘Explore’ feature if you’re flexible on where you want to go. You might stumble on a surprise deal to a place you hadn’t even considered, like flying to Lisbon for $300 round-trip instead of overpaying for Paris.

If you can swing it, being flexible with your travel dates is one of the easiest ways to save big. Airlines adjust prices based on demand, so flying mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday) is almost always cheaper than weekends. Tools like Skyscanner’s ‘Whole Month’ view or Google Flights’ calendar let you see the cheapest days to fly at a glance. For example, I once saved $200 just by shifting my trip from a Friday to a Tuesday. Also, consider flying on holidays—yes, really. Airports are often dead on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving, so you can score crazy-low fares if you don’t mind traveling on the holiday itself.

Here’s a sneaky trick: airlines and booking sites use cookies to track your searches, and sometimes they’ll jack up prices if they think you’re really eager to book. To avoid this, always search for flights in incognito mode (Chrome) or private browsing (Safari/Firefox). It’s not foolproof, but it can help you avoid those annoying ‘price hikes’ that pop up after you’ve searched the same route a few times. Another option? Clear your browser cookies before searching again. It’s a small step, but it can make a difference—especially if you’re comparing prices over a few days.

Timing is everything when it comes to booking flights. Book too early or too late, and you’ll end up paying more. The sweet spot? Generally, domestic flights are cheapest 1-3 months in advance, while international flights should be booked 2-5 months ahead. But here’s the catch: every route is different. For example, flights to Europe are usually cheapest in the winter (except around Christmas), while tropical destinations like Cancún spike in price during spring break. Tools like Hopper or Kayak’s ‘Best Time to Book’ feature can give you a heads-up on when to pull the trigger. And if you’re not in a rush, wait for a flash sale—airlines like JetBlue or Southwest often drop prices for 24-48 hours.

Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, or Ryanair can save you a ton, but you’ve got to read the fine print. The base fare might look amazing ($20 to fly from NYC to Chicago? Yes, please!), but then you get hit with fees for everything—checked bags, carry-ons, even printing your boarding pass at the airport. Still, if you pack light and follow the rules, you can score incredible deals. For example, I once flew from Boston to Dublin on Norwegian Air for $180 round-trip, but I had to pay $30 extra for a carry-on. Compare that to $600 on a ‘regular’ airline, and it’s a no-brainer. Just make sure to weigh the fees against what you’d pay on a full-service airline before booking.

Big airports like JFK or LAX are convenient, but they’re also more expensive. Smaller, secondary airports nearby can save you serious cash. For example, flying into Oakland (OAK) instead of San Francisco (SFO) can shave $50-$100 off your ticket, and it’s just a BART ride away. Same goes for flying into Long Beach (LGB) instead of LAX or Providence (PVD) instead of Boston (BOS). Use Google Flights’ ‘Nearby Airports’ feature to compare prices—it’ll automatically show you options within a certain radius. Just make sure to factor in the cost of getting to/from the airport, like a train ticket or Uber ride, so you’re not spending your savings on transportation.

You don’t need to be a jet-setter to take advantage of travel rewards. Sign up for a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture, and you can earn points on everyday spending—groceries, gas, even your Netflix subscription. Then, use those points to book flights or transfer them to airline partners for even better value. For example, I once booked a round-trip flight to Tokyo using points I’d earned from my credit card, and it cost me nothing out of pocket. Even if you don’t want a new card, sign up for airline loyalty programs (they’re free!) and stick with one alliance (like Star Alliance or Oneworld) to rack up miles faster. It’s like getting free money for stuff you’d buy anyway.

Sometimes, airlines mess up and list flights for way less than they should be—like $200 round-trip to Hawaii instead of $800. These ‘mistake fares’ don’t last long, but if you’re quick, you can snag an insane deal. Websites like Secret Flying, The Flight Deal, or Scott’s Cheap Flights (now Going) track these errors and send alerts when they pop up. For example, I once saw a $300 round-trip fare from Los Angeles to Tokyo—normally $1,200—and booked it within minutes. Just be prepared to act fast, and double-check that the airline honors the fare before you get too excited. Most do, but it’s not guaranteed.