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Let’s face it. No matter how old you are, adulting can be hard as hell sometimes. And for some of us, there’s a huge learning curve. Take yours truly for example. I’m clumsy, forgetful, and most of the time a hot-ass mess. Keeping up with the newest trends in technology? No idea. How to create those super cool, adult-y looking spreadsheets for budgeting? Nope, dunno. How to wash your white sneakers to keep them looking fresh? Dare I say it? I. DON’T. KNOW (What?? Don’t judge me, I had never owned a pair of white shoes before.) If you’re anything like me, the most basic and adult task can seem like a trek into Area 51 with a crap ton of questions and the wrong alien equipment.
Take traveling. If you’re a beginner, it’s easy to get super excited for a new adventure. But after you’ve picked out your ideal travel outfits and pinned all the inspirational, exotic photos a girl can find, you quickly realize that it’s actually a whole lotta work. But what if I told you that there was an element of travel that can make you feel like you know how to adult like a boss?
Okay, there are lots of things, but one of the easiest things is finding cheap flights. It can take some time to find a rhythm but believe me, it’s possible. If you’re tired of supergluing your eyes to every search engine out there or signing up for every credit card rewards program humanly possible, this post is for you. Grab a snack and a pen and bookmark this post for future reference. Keep reading to learn how you can start snagging some cheap flights for your next trip.
Table of Contents
Start Looking for Flights Early
Cheap flights wait for no woman. Plane tickets are one of the first things you’ll want to jump on when organizing a trip. My first tip for finding cheap flights is to start searching for them the minute you show interest in a destination. Do not wait. We all know that airfare has its fair share of price fluctuation. However, did you know that for most international flights, the fares usually remain pretty steady? That is until it gets closer and closer to the departure date. So that means, the further in advance you buy them, the cheaper they’re going to be. This also goes for domestic flights as well.
There are many reasons why airfare fluctuates, but booking ahead of time is one of the few things we as consumers can control. We know that comparison is the thief of joy. So there’s no way I’m going to let your joy get ripped from you when you find out the person sitting next to you paid hundreds of dollars less than you; all because you waited too long. No way sis, not on my watch. So look early. Ideally, you want to start looking and possibly booking as early as six months from departure. This isn’t a hard rule, but something to consider.
In addition to searching early, a little research goes a long way. Take some time to find out the peak season of your destination because flights will most likely be more costly during that time. For example, Barcelona’s peak season is around May to early September. So if you were planning a visit to Barcelona, you may have better luck getting cheaper fares in January, March, or the holiday season. Don’t be fooled by glossy Instagram photos or guide books that convince you of the “perfect” time to travel somewhere. There’s no such thing. Traveling off-season can work to your benefit because most of the time flights and accommodation are cheaper. Plus there’s an added benefit of fewer tourists and crowds!
Track Flights
Finding cheap flights is easier when you track your travel route. Nowadays tracking flights is super easy. It is most helpful when you’ve decided on a city but are still waiting to buy your tickets. Some flight search engines like Kayak estimate the chances of a price increasing or decreasing within the next 7 days. They also advise you to either purchase or wait.
Other search engines like Google Flights and Skyscanner will allow you to set up price alerts and track the price history of a particular flight. They do all the legwork. So while you’re eating bonbons and couscous, the search engines are tracking flights and sending you emails and push notifications when the price changes. This is helpful for keeping track of a particular flight so you don’t miss the sweet spot for purchasing. It’s also good if you fly to a certain destination because you can decide the best time to buy a ticket based on the data.
Search, Compare, and Repeat
While it’s great that we have so many options for finding great airfare at our fingertips but all that information can leave us questioning which one to take. However, breaking down and comparing tickets can help you find cheap flights. Plus, you can find the best options for your travel plans. Some of the best tools for comparing flights are travel search engines. These search engines work by partnering with airlines to consolidate and compare flight fares. They are helpful for comparing not only flight costs but routes as well. There are plenty to choose from but here are four of my favorites:
Google Flights
One of my favorite things about Google Flights is that you can search multiple airports in a single search (up to 5 different airports). This is fantastic if you are planning to go somewhere like Europe. They also have a nifty calendar that shows you the prices of airfares for the entire month, so you can compare as you go.
You can even customize and change anything to your preference, including stops and airlines. Not sure where to go yet? Don’t worry, Google Flights has you covered. Use the nifty map feature that automatically pulls up cheap destinations close to your area.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is my go-to search engine for finding cheap flights. It’s is straight forward and easy to use. The “whole month feature” allows you to see the cheapest flight within the month. It also has a convenient chart to see the price pattern.
One of my favorite things is that you can pick “everywhere” as your destination and Skyscanner will give you several price options to get you started. It’s kind of like closing your eyes and picking a spot on a map. (Side note: The “everywhere” feature is how a friend and I ended up on a trip to Sardinia for 19 euros!)
Momondo
Momondo is one of the most trusted travel search engines by frequent fliers. More than just searching flights, when you put in a destination in Momondo it pulls up helpful information and photos of your destination. This is helpful for added inspiration for your trip. The site offers useful bar graphs to show price patterns and has several tabs for finding the quickest and best deal.
Kayak
One of Kayak’s prized features is the ability to search with flexible days. You can look for flights 2-3 before or after your ideal departure/arrival date. It gives advice on whether the price will decrease within the next 7 days and will rate connections based on the balance between flying time and ticket price. The color-coded calendar also makes it easy to see the estimated prices.
Now that we’ve spoken about flight search engines this is where I could leave you with a bunch of inspirational quotes and tell you to fly like the wind and find your perfect flight, but I’m just gonna be real with you. As much as I love these travel search engines, they ain’t loyal out here in these streets.
You’ll want to compare flights and check them against each other and the actual airline websites as well. For example, you may see a cheap flight from Atlanta to Boston on JetBlue via Orbitz, but you should also skip the middle man and check directly on JetBlue itself. On rare occasions, it can be slightly cheaper directly from the source. This isn’t a guarantee, but I’ve booked flights for a couple of dollars cheaper, simply because I checked the airline’s actual website.
Pro Tip: You won’t find flights for Southwest Airlines using a majority of these search engines, so search for Southwest flights through their website.
Be Flexible
Just like dating, when it comes to finding cheap flights, the last thing you want to do is settle for the first round trip option that comes knocking just because it looks “decent.” Being flexible with your dates and connections can make a world of difference. Use the flexibility features that come with the travel search engines and think outside of the box. Sometimes choosing to leave or return just one day before what you had in mind can mean up to $100, or sometimes more, in savings.
Make your own connections by taking advantage of neighboring cities that may be cheaper to fly in and out of. For example, if you want to get from Atlanta to Barcelona and can’t find a good direct flight if you play around enough I may find it cheaper to go from Atlanta to New York and then from New York to Barcelona. Or maybe I could try Atlanta to Madrid and Madrid to Barcelona. Try a series of one-way flights or one round trip but with a one-way connector. Sure, there may be some extra leg work in creating options for yourself, but if you’re willing to put in the work, it could be easier for your itinerary and wallet.
Use Incognito Windows When Searching for Flights
Big brother is always watching and he’s munchin’ on the cookies you left behind in the process. Some travel experts believe this next tip is a total myth to finding cheap flights. However, others think it should be essential to every jet setter’s budget pack. Either way, you can test it out for yourself and see how you feel.
OTA’s (online travel agencies), airline websites, and search engines use cookies to trace our online activities. If a website takes note that you’re repeatedly searching for the same flight or destination they may increase the price in the hopes that you will book at a higher rate. In order to flee the stalking eye of the internet, try searching for flights in incognito browsers. If you’re a Google Chrome user, this is easy to do. Simply click on file in the top left corner, then “new incognito window.” This can also be done by clicking the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner of the browser.
Pro Tip: If you have a translator extension (I use the Google Translate Chrome Extension) search for flights in the language of the destination.
Take Advantage of Flight Deals and Coupons
Black Friday is a very real thing and it isn’t just for the latest iPhone or that new age riding lawn mower you’ve been eyeing for your pops this Christmas. Airlines have deals all the time. For example, British Airways has annual sales that include discounts for over 100 destinations. You can save money getting to the US, the Caribbean, Europe and beyond, plus holiday packages.
New York-based airline, JetBlue offers plenty of flash sales. Tickets usually get booked up pretty quickly but for those that are always on the lookout for a good deal, it could be a great option. I for one have bought several cheap tickets using deals I’ve found from airlines like Southwest, Vueling, and Jet Blue. Check Black Friday and other seasonal deals, sign up for their email newsletters, or join my newsletter as I’ll be sure to send out any flight deals that I find.
Another way of finding cheap flights is to stick to one airline and reap the sweet-sweet benefits of being a loyal customer. Many airlines have frequent flyer programs and reward repeat flyers; so the more you fly with them, the more rewards you’ll rack up. Need some help getting started? Below are all my favorite reward programs in the US and Europe. (And yes, your girl is a freak and a member of all of them.)
My Favorite Airline Reward Programs in the US and Europe
Southwest Airlines: Southwest Rapid Rewards Program
Rapid Rewards is Southwest Airline’s frequent flyer program. I’m a huge fan of Southwest and it’s truly one of my personal favorite airlines to fly with when I’m in the United States.
Their program is easy and straightforward and you don’t need the credit card to start collecting points. As a member of their program, you earn points by the amount you spend on flights (no matter the distance), spending with the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card, booking hotel stays and more.
Once you’ve created your account you can manage it online and stay up-to-date with your activity, available points, and rewards. Become a Rapids Rewards member or learn more about the program here.
Pro Tips: You must keep your account active because Rapid Reward points do expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Jet Blue: Jet Blue’s TrueBlue Program
The best part about JetBlue’s TrueBlue program is that the points never expire. No joke. This program is so good that you can even pool points with friends and family and transfer points.
You can earn 3 TrueBlue points for every dollar you spend, with up to 6 points while booking directly off of their website. Earn additional points by flying with your pet, booking an Even More Space seat, booking a JetBlue Vacation package, and more. To join the JetBlue TrueBlue program or to learn more, go to their website here.
Delta Airlines: Delta Skymiles Loyalty Program
Delta Airline’s Skymiles Loyalty Program is another great program with no blackout dates and miles that don’t expire. You can earn 5 Delta SkyMiles for every dollar that you spend on Delta flights plus by flying with airline partners like AirFrance, KLM, Air Europa, and more. You can also earn points by shopping, dining, and using the Delta credit card. Signing up is free! For more information, check out their website here.
Vueling Airlines: Vueling Club Program
Fly with Vueling Airlines or their partner Iberia and collect Avios (Vueling’s super cute name for points) with every flight. Collected points go towards discounted or even free flights. There’s no restriction on dates, flights, or destinations and you an even redeem Avios for past flights.
For every Euro you spend, you get 3 Avios in return. You can spend those Avios on hotels, car rentals, or flights. The best part is, the Avios you’ve earned don’t expire unless your account is inactive for 3 years. Find out more about Vueling’s program here.
Pro Tip: Make sure to collect Avios as you fly and stay on top of it because you can’t redeem Avios once your flight has passed the 90 day mark. Add that you can even get point for using the go travel thingy.
Norweigan Airlines: Norweigan Air Rewards
If you’ve read my post about Budget Airlines, then you know that Norwegian Airlines don’t play when it comes to their baggage policy. The greatest thing about their frequent flyer program Norwegian Air Rewards is that you can earn not only miles but baggage expenses! Did someone say JACKPOT?!
With this program, you earn CashPoints for each flight. CashPoints is Norweigan’s digital currency which can be used to redeem countless rewards like flights, extra luggage, ticket changes, and more. Find out more about Norwegian Airline’s Norwegian Air Rewards program here.
Pro Tip: One CashPoint is equivalent to one Norwegian Krone.
Take Your Time
Taking your time goes hand in hand with my first tip of starting your search early. Sometimes looking for a cheap flight that also fits with your travel plans is a marathon and not a sprint. Like anything else in life, sometimes it just takes time. As long as you have patience, stay open, and trust the process you can and will get better and better at landing cheap flights. So there you have it. That’s my beginner’s guide to finding better, cheap flights. Some of them require more work than others, but if you’re serious about keeping as much money in your pocket while finding the perfect match for your travel plans, give it a try.
Did anything surprise you? Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite tips for finding cheap flights.
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