How to Find Cheap Flights: 17 Proven Tips to Save Money on Plane Tickets

I once paid $1,200 for a round-trip ticket from New York to Paris—then watched my seat-mate brag about paying $380 for the exact same flight. Same airline, same dates, same cramped middle seat. The difference? She knew five tricks I didn’t.

That conversation haunted me through the entire seven-hour flight. While she sipped complimentary wine and scrolled through her vacation budget spreadsheet (showing hundreds saved), I calculated how many museum entries, croissants, and Seine river cruises I could’ve enjoyed with that $820 difference.

Here’s what I’ve learned since then: finding cheap flights has nothing to do with luck. Airlines use sophisticated pricing algorithms, but they follow patterns. Once you understand the timing game, search strategies, and route loopholes, you’ll never overpay again. Here are all 17 strategies that consistently work.

Your 17 Money-Saving Flight Strategies at a Glance

Timing Strategies (Tips 1-6)

1. Book domestic flights 21-52 days ahead
2. Book international flights 2-8 months ahead
3. Ignore the Tuesday booking myth
4. Fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays
5. Book red-eye flights (13% savings)
6. Travel during shoulder season (40% savings)

Search Strategies (Tips 7-11)

7. Search in incognito mode
8. Compare across multiple search engines
9. Set price alerts 2-3 months early
10. Use calendar view to find cheapest days
11. Book round-trips vs. two one-ways (usually)

Route Hacks (Tips 12-17)

12. Consider hidden-city ticketing (with caution)
13. Use airline stopover programs
14. Fly into alternative airports ($50-$150 savings)
15. Consider budget airlines (calculate total costs)
16. Mix airlines on international routes
17. Book directly with airlines for flexibility

Save Money on Plane Tickets: Master the Timing Game

Airlines adjust ticket prices every few hours using dynamic pricing algorithms. Demand surges? Prices jump. Empty seats three weeks out? Flash sales appear. The chaos seems random, but data reveals clear patterns worth memorizing.

Tip #1: Book Domestic Flights 21-52 Days in Advance to Save Money on Plane Tickets

Domestic flights hit their sweet spot when you book 1–3 months ahead. According to Google Flights analysis and The Points Guy’s comprehensive research, booking domestic flights 21-52 days before departure typically yields the lowest prices. Wait until the final three weeks and you’ll pay significantly more—sometimes 20-30% higher.

Tip #2: Book International Flights 2-8 Months Ahead to Save Money

International flights require more advance planning. For long-haul destinations like Tokyo, Barcelona, or Cape Town, book 2–8 months ahead. Routes to Europe perform best at the 3–4 month mark, while Asia-Pacific flights benefit from 5–6 month lead times. Expedia’s data shows that booking 28+ days in advance can save up to 24% on international routes.

Tip #3: Ignore the Tuesday Booking Myth to Save Money on Plane Tickets

Google Flights analyzed 4,000 markets from 2021-2025 and found only a 1.3% price difference between the cheapest day (Tuesday) and most expensive day (Sunday) to book. James Byers, Google Search Group Product Manager, stated: “You won’t save much by booking on any particular day of the week.”

While Hopper’s research found Tuesday midnight bookings saved approximately 6%, this advantage applied to only 1.6% of U.S. routes. The takeaway? Day of week matters far less than booking within the optimal window.

Real Story: A friend saved $640 on Tokyo flights by setting a 6-month calendar reminder. She monitored prices weekly using Google Flights price tracking alerts, then pounced when fares dipped 18% during a random Tuesday flash sale. Her panic-booking colleague paid full price two weeks before departure.

Tip #4: Fly on Cheaper Days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays)

Business travelers clog Mondays and Fridays. Weekend warriors fill Thursdays and Sundays. That leaves Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays as the forgotten middle children of air travel—and the cheapest days to fly.

Tip #5: Book Red-Eye Flights to Save Money on Plane Tickets (13% Savings)

An analysis of 76,569 U.S. flights during Thanksgiving 2024 found that red-eye departures (after 9 PM or arriving before 6 AM) cost approximately 13% less per mile than daytime flights, with savings occurring about 80% of the time. Yes, you’ll arrive exhausted and disheveled, but that’s what airport coffee and a good face mask are for.

Tip #6: Travel During Shoulder Season to Save Money (40% Savings)

Travel expert Hayley Berg confirmed to CNN Travel that airfare during Europe’s shoulder season (mid-October to mid-December) runs approximately 40% lower than peak summer prices in June. Spring shoulder season (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer similar savings. I visited Lisbon in late September—72°F (22°C), golden light, zero tourist bottlenecks, and flights from Boston for $420 instead of July’s $890.

Important note on Caribbean travel: January-February represents peak season with the highest prices, not shoulder season. According to AAA’s Guide to Shoulder Season, Caribbean shoulder season runs April-June and November, while July-October offers the lowest prices (but higher hurricane risk).

Planning a group trip? TripSync compares flight prices from multiple cities so your crew can pick the cheapest collective meeting point. No more paying extra because you assumed everyone should fly to the same airport. It finds the fairest midpoint by analyzing total group costs across different destinations.

Search Strategies to Save Money on Plane Tickets

Airlines count on you being lazy. You’ll search once, feel sticker shock, then book anyway because planning fatigue sets in. Fight that urge. Smarter searches uncover fares they’d rather keep buried.

Tip #7: Search in Incognito Mode to Save Money (Just in Case)

The theory: airlines track your searches via cookies and jack up prices when you return. The reality? Mixed evidence. Some travelers report 5–10% price jumps after repeat searches; others see identical fares. Current testing data remains inconclusive, so treat this as a “can’t hurt” precaution rather than gospel.

Tip #8: Compare Prices Across Multiple Search Engines to Save Money on Plane Tickets

Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak, and Momondo all partner with different airlines and charge different aggregator fees. According to Frommer’s 2026 comparison of airfare search sites, you can routinely find $40–$90 price differences for the same route across platforms. Check three, book the cheapest.

Tip #9: Set Price Alerts 2-3 Months Before Your Trip to Save Money

Google Flights sends email alerts when prices drop significantly or are likely to increase soon. They even offer a Price Guarantee pilot program on select U.S. departure itineraries—if the price drops more than $5 after you book, Google pays you the difference (up to $500 per year maximum).

Tip #10: Use the Calendar View to Find the Cheapest Days and Save Money on Plane Tickets

Google Flights’ calendar view shows the cheapest days in a 2-month window at a glance. Those little green price tags reveal the truth: flying out Friday instead of Tuesday can cost $200 more. Returning Sunday versus Monday? Another $150 premium.

Travel industry research consistently shows that date flexibility saves money. WowFare’s analysis of seasonal fluctuations confirms that shifting departure or return dates by even 1-3 days can yield significant savings—sometimes 20-30% on international routes.

Tip #11: Book Round-Trips to Save Money on Plane Tickets (Usually Cheaper Than Two One-Ways)

Contrary to popular belief, Upgraded Points’ 2025 Study found that round-trip tickets are actually 33% cheaper on average ($141 less) than booking two one-way tickets on major U.S. domestic routes. United showed the biggest savings at 39% ($163 less), while budget carriers like Spirit (8.6%) and Frontier (12.5%) showed smaller differences.

The exception? Mixing different airlines for outbound and return legs can sometimes save money on international routes, especially when one carrier has a sale. I flew Denver to Lisbon on TAP Portugal, then returned Lisbon to Denver on United for a combined $640—each airline’s round-trip alone cost $820+.

Quick Tip: If your dates are locked, try shifting your return flight by just 1 day. Weekend returns often cost 20-30% more than Monday or Tuesday departures. That single day can save you $100–$200.

Route Hacks to Save Money on Plane Tickets

The most direct route rarely wins the cheapest award. Airlines price based on demand, competition, and legacy hub contracts. Sometimes flying 2,000 extra miles costs less than the nonstop. Embrace the absurdity.

Tip #12: Consider Hidden-City Ticketing to Save Money (With Caution)

Hidden-city ticketing works like this: you book a flight from New York to Miami with a layover in Charlotte—but Charlotte is actually your destination. You get off during the layover and skip the final leg, potentially saving $80–$150. Airlines hate this because it violates their terms of service, and they’ve banned passengers for repeated violations.

Skiplagged.com remains the primary search engine for these routes. Despite being hit with a $9.4 million verdict from American Airlines in October 2024 for copyright infringement, the site continues operating with 2.1 million monthly visits as of July 2025.

Critical rules if you attempt this: never check bags (they’ll fly to the final destination without you), only use on one-way trips, don’t do it on your return flight or the airline may cancel your entire itinerary, and understand you’re taking a real risk of being banned from that airline.

Tip #13: Use Airline Stopover Programs for Free Mini-Trips to Save Money on Plane Tickets

Legitimate stopover programs offer better peace of mind and incredible value:

• Icelandair: Free stopovers in Reykjavik for up to 7 nights (Economy Light limited to 3 days; Flex fares allow 21 nights) on transatlantic flights at no additional airfare. Hotel and activities not included, but the flight itself costs the same as a direct route.
• TAP Portugal: Portugal Stopover program allows up to 10 days in Lisbon OR Porto (choose one city) with additional perks including 25% off domestic Portugal flights, 20% off partner hotels, and a free Porto Card. Voted “Best Stopover Program in the World” by Global Traveler for 7 consecutive years.
• Turkish Airlines: TourIstanbul program provides free hotel stays for layovers of 20+ hours in Istanbul. Economy passengers get 1 night at a 4-star hotel (2 nights from USA/Canada/Australia); Business passengers get 2 nights at a 5-star hotel (3 nights from USA/Canada/Australia). Must apply 72 hours in advance; round-trip international flights only.

I turned a 12-hour Reykjavik connection into a Northern Lights hunt, Blue Lagoon soak, and black sand beach exploration—all for $0 extra airfare beyond what I’d have paid for a direct flight to Europe.

Tip #14: Fly Into Alternative Airports to Save Money on Plane Tickets ($50-$150 Savings)

Major hubs charge premium prices. Secondary airports can save $50–$150 per ticket typically, with savings up to $300 on specific routes. Flying to London? Compare Heathrow (LHR) against Stansted (STN) or Luton (LTN). Paris? Check Beauvais (BVA) versus Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

According to AAA Club Alliance’s Q1 2025 data, Washington Reagan National (DCA) averages $105 less than Dulles International (IAD). LendingTree’s 2024 analysis found Orlando Sanford International averaging $121 per spring fare versus $300-500+ at Orlando International.

The tradeoff: you’ll likely land farther from the city center. Beauvais sits 53 miles (85 km) north of Paris—expect a 75-minute bus ride. But if that $150-$240 savings funds two extra nights in a Marais apartment? Worth it.

Tip #15: Consider Budget Airlines to Save Money on Plane Tickets (But Calculate Total Costs)

Budget airlines to know:

• Europe: Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air
• USA: Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant
• Southeast Asia: AirAsia, Scoot, VietJet
• Latin America: Volaris, JetSmart

Warning: Budget carriers bury you in fees. According to their official fee schedules, Spirit charges approximately $37 for carry-on bags booked in advance ($65 at the gate), while Frontier’s carry-on fees range $30-$54 when pre-purchased (up to $115 at the gate). Add checked bags ($25-$39), seat selection ($6-$16), and printing boarding passes, and that $99 fare becomes $180-$200 total. Always calculate the complete cost before celebrating.

Tip #16: Mix Airlines on International Routes to Save Money on Plane Tickets

Don’t assume you need to use the same airline for both legs of your trip. Sometimes booking outbound on one carrier and return on another saves significantly, especially when airlines run competing sales. Check one-way prices on multiple carriers and compare the combined total against round-trip fares.

Tip #17: Book Directly With Airlines for Flexibility (and Better Customer Service)

While third-party sites are great for comparison shopping, booking directly with the airline makes changes, cancellations, and customer service issues much easier to resolve. Use aggregators to find the best price, then book on the airline’s own website. You’ll get the same price with better support if something goes wrong.

Before you jump on that $99 flight, plug your full trip into TripBudget. It calculates your true cost per person—flights, lodging, daily expenses—so you know if that “cheap” ticket is worth the 2-hour bus ride from the budget airport plus late-night arrival hotel costs.

NYC to London flight prices across 5 airlines (Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Norwegian, American) with total cost including baggage fees, seat selection, and meals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to book flights on a Tuesday?

Not really. Google Flights’ analysis of 4,000 markets shows only a 1.3% price difference between the cheapest day (Tuesday) and most expensive day (Sunday) to book. While Hopper found Tuesday midnight bookings saved approximately 6%, this applied to only 1.6% of U.S. routes. Focus on booking within the optimal window (21-52 days for domestic, 2-8 months for international) rather than worrying about the specific day of the week.

Should I book directly with the airline or use a third-party site?

Book directly if you want flexibility—airlines make changes and cancellations easier when you book through them. Use third-party aggregators like Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Kayak to compare prices across multiple carriers, but read cancellation policies carefully. Some platforms charge hefty change fees that erase any initial savings.

What’s the cheapest time of year to fly internationally?

For Europe, shoulder seasons (April-May and mid-October to mid-December) offer the biggest savings—approximately 40% lower than peak summer prices according to Hopper’s data. For the Caribbean, July-October offers the lowest prices but comes with hurricane risk; shoulder season runs April-June and November. Avoid peak travel months (June-August and December) when prices typically run 20-30% higher across most international destinations.

Do flight prices really change if I search multiple times?

The evidence remains mixed. Some travelers report 5–10% price increases after repeated searches, while others see no change. Current testing data is inconclusive. Use incognito mode as a precaution, but don’t rely on it as a guaranteed savings strategy. More importantly, use price tracking tools like Google Flights alerts to monitor fares over time instead of searching repeatedly in the same session.

Are hidden-city tickets legal?

Yes, but they violate airline terms of service. Airlines have banned frequent violators and canceled future reservations. Skiplagged was hit with a $9.4 million verdict from American Airlines in October 2024, though the site continues operating. Never check bags (they’ll fly to the final destination), only use on one-way trips, and understand you’re taking a risk. Legitimate stopover programs from Icelandair, TAP Portugal, and Turkish Airlines offer safer alternatives.

Your Next Flight Shouldn’t Cost a Fortune

Finding cheap flights comes down to three principles: timing your search window correctly, using multiple platforms to compare prices, and embracing route flexibility. That $1,200 ticket I bought to Paris? It could’ve been $380 if I’d known about shoulder season pricing, alternative airports, and the power of flexible dates.

Set your price alerts tonight. Build a flexible date range into your next trip. Check secondary airports. Compare booking strategies. These aren’t insider secrets—they’re patterns hiding in plain sight, waiting for you to use them.

“The best flight deal is the one you research for, not the one you stumble upon.”

Ready to plan smarter? Use TripSync to find the cheapest meeting point for your group travel, TripBudget to calculate your real trip cost including all hidden fees. Start planning your next adventure at TripMerge.com.

External Sources Cited

1. Google Flights – Flight search and price tracking platform
2. The Points Guy: Best Time to Book Flights 2025
3. Reader’s Digest: Best Time to Buy Plane Tickets (November 22, 2024)
4. Yahoo!/Travel + Leisure: Google Flights Debunks Tuesday Booking Myth
5. Hopper: Does Time of Day Matter When Booking Flights?
6. The Travel: Red-Eye Flights Data Analysis (76,569 flights)
7. KAYAK: Red-Eye Flight Guide
8. CNN Travel: Europe Shoulder Season Savings (October 21, 2024)
9. AAA Guide to Shoulder Season Travel
10. Royal Caribbean: Best Time to Cruise the Caribbean
11. Google Flights: Price Tracking Help
12. Google Flights: Price Guarantee Program
13. Frommer’s: Best Airfare Search Sites 2026
14. WowFare: Seasonal Fluctuations in Flight Pricing
15. Upgraded Points: One-Ways vs Round-Trip Study 2025 (January 6, 2025)
16. Icelandair Stopover Program
17. TAP Portugal Stopover Program
18. Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul Stopover
19. Skiplagged – Hidden-city ticketing search
20. KERA News: Skiplagged $9.4M Verdict (October 17, 2024)
21. Semrush: Skiplagged Traffic Data (July 2025)
22. AAA: Best U.S. Airports for Affordable Airfare (Q1 2025)
23. Business Traveller: Flight Cost Index USA 2025
24. Spirit Airlines: Baggage & Fees
25. Frontier Airlines: Optional Services & Fees