Air travel doesn’t have to break your budget. With good planning and a few key tricks, it’s possible to find flights at much lower prices. Whether you’re traveling for pleasure, for work or to visit relatives, here’s how to get the best prices and save on your next getaway.
1. Book early… but not too early
Buying tickets in advance usually guarantees lower prices, but it is also not ideal to do so too many months in advance. In general:
- For domestic flights: book between 1 and 3 months in advance.
- For international flights: 2 to 6 months in advance.
Avoid shopping on holidays or weekends, when prices tend to be higher.
2. Be flexible with dates and times
Prices vary greatly depending on the day and time of the flight. Here are some tips:
- Flies on weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Avoid Fridays and Sundays, they are usually the most expensive days.
- Early morning or very late flights are usually more economical.
Use search engines such as Google Flights, Skyscanner or Kayak to see a calendar with the lowest prices per day.
3. Activate price alerts
These tools allow you to monitor the price of specific flights and notify you when they go down. Some useful options:
- Skyscanner
- Hopper
- Google Flights
This helps you to book at the right time and avoid overpaying.
4. Use flight comparators and low-cost airlines.
Don’t limit your search to just one airline’s website. Use comparators that include low cost airlines such as:
- Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet (Europe)
- Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit (U.S.)
- AirAsia (Asia)
These companies offer very competitive prices, although they charge extra for baggage or seat selection.
5. Avoid checked baggage (if possible).
Traveling with only carry-on luggage can save you between 30 and 100 € per trip. Pack smart, use compact backpacks and versatile clothing. In addition, you will save time by not having to check in or wait for luggage.
6. Search from an incognito window or switch devices.
Airline websites sometimes raise prices if they detect repeated searches from the same browser. Solution this way:
- Search in incognito mode.
- Change browser or device.
- Clear cookies.
This can help you avoid artificially inflated prices.
7. Take advantage of points and loyalty programs
Signing up for frequent flyer programs (such as Iberia Plus, Flying Blue, SkyMiles…) can allow you to accumulate points with each trip, redeem them for free flights or upgrade your fare.
You can also take advantage of credit cards with miles that will give you a bonus on your purchases.
8. Consider alternative airports
Flying to a nearby secondary airport can be much cheaper. For example:
- Instead of flying to London-Heathrow, look at options at Gatwick or Luton.
- Instead of Milan-Malpensa, consider Bergamo.
Then you can easily reach the center by train or bus, saving in total.
9. Book flights with stopovers (if you have time).
Direct flights are more convenient, but those with stopovers are usually cheaper. If you are not in a hurry, this can be a good way to save considerably.
10. Avoid unnecessary extras
Low-cost airlines charge for everything: seats, meals, priority boarding… Eliminate everything that is not essential. If you check in online and bring your own light meals, you can avoid additional costs.
In a nutshell
Cheap air travel is entirely possible if you are flexible, use comparison tools and book strategically. A little planning can translate into hundreds of euros in savings and more trips per year.
