Hey there, dear students and readers! Since the end of our pandemic saga, there’s been an unprecedented surge in travel rates, which has caused travel prices to skyrocket and that can definitely put a strain on our wallets.
Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to uncover the best deals on flight tickets. So, without further ado, let’s tackle today’s topic head-on: where and how to unearth the cheapest flights possible? Let’s jump right in!
Disclaimer: Rest assured, this is not a sponsored endorsement. I share insights gleaned from personal experience, devoid of any affiliations with the mentioned entities
Skyscanner: Your Compass in the Sky
My go to flight search engine is Skyscanner, this is by far the most accurate, precise and reliable search engine in my opinion. Skyscanner also has all the features I love. The month view is really useful to see where there are cheaper flights and allow me to plan my travel dates better. I also love the search to travel to “anywhere”, this helps me to find cheap flights to random locations I have never been to or places I don’t mind visiting again.
It is just generally useful for when you are on a budget and need a search engine to do the manual searching of finding you a cheap location to go to.
business-class.com: Elevating Your Journey, Affordably
Got a bit of extra money to spend? I jumped straight to business-class.com. This awesome team works alongside airlines to reserve and secure discounts on first and business class flights. No matter where you want to go, they can find business class deals to take you there. By simply entering your destination and searching your desired travel dates, the experts at business-class.com help you book cheap business class flights for an affordable trip. I have personally used this service multiple times and they really pull through with the prices. I have booked both Business Class and Premium Economy with their service.
How do they do it? business-class.com ensures the greatest possible value for your travel by negotiating lower prices on available seats and matching those seats to your schedule and budget for business class tickets. It’s really amazing!
Skylux Travel: A Touch of Opulence, Within Reach
Skylux Travel is basically another version of business-class.com but I might say they are slightly better. They offer discounts of up to 77% on Business and 80% on First class.
They also have quite the reputation after having won:
- Top Rated Airline Ticket Agency from Trustpilot
- North America’s Leading Travel Agency 2023
- Best Luxury Airline Ticket Agency 2023
- Rated as an A+ by Better Business Bureau.
I used this service to book my Swiss Airlines Business Class flights and I am regularly sending in requests for quotes on random travel dates looking for opportunities to fly.
Airline Websites: Unveiling Hidden Gems
You might not have expected this one but sometimes the Airlines can be your best friend. This is especially true with Economy flights and the Budget airlines. Comparing flights on their site is 7 times out of 10 the cheapest way to book and is the cheapest prices you will find.
Not to say this doesn’t apply to the International Giants but it is less common. I sometimes use services like Skyscanner to scour which airlines are offering low prices and then navigate to those airlines websites, search the same dates and sometimes the prices are lower. It is always worth a quick check and you never know how much you could save
Google Flights: Your Digital Navigator
Skyscanner 2.0 is what I like to call this. Google Flights is highly underestimated. If they had a mobile app, it would constantly be open on my phone. The efficiency and accuracy is spectacular with Google Flights. I also love the month view as it works more often when searching, skyscanner can sometimes not show any prices in the month view.
I swear by this site, it will show you all types of routes, combinations and flights with stopovers. Now I have never booked through the site, I use it as a reference, for example, if I search New York to London and the cheapest flight on Google Flights is with United, I then navigate and book through the United site as it is generally the same price and it is always safer, more efficient and convenient booking through the airlines website.
Airline Apps: Unlocking Exclusive Offers
This is a controversial one, some people swear by this method and others (me) say it does not make a difference. Airlines mobile apps sometimes run specials that only apply if booked on the app, however it’s not common, what is more common is specials on the app if you have some form of Elite status with their frequent flyer program.
I know this is true for Delta as I have friends with status on this carrier and have mentioned many times how they scored lower prices on flights or were able to upgrade for a much lower price than I could. This is the only airline I have seen it with so far, never experienced it myself but nonetheless, it was worth mentioning and maybe you might have some luck!
General Flight Search Tips:
- Compare all options
Always check every possible option, don’t dismiss something because you “tHinK” it will be expensive. You never know when it might be your lucky day and you may score some really great prices on a flight or they may be a special/sale you did not know about. Go wild! Search for First Class if you have to! You never know until you try.
2. Use search engines as a guide
I always prefer to use the airline websites to book my flights if I am not using a travel agent. The reason for this is that it is the safest way, there is always a confirmation email, they are a well known site designed for high volume and booking and they have a reputation, 9 times out of 10 that site is working perfectly and even if you do have any issues, it is easier to reverse a transaction or have customer service sort out the issues.
This also applies when you need to do flight or name changes. When booking through 3rd party sources or websites that are not so common, changes and issues with payments always seem to come up and I just have not had great experiences. This is why I prefer to use search engines like Skyscanner, Google Flights and others as references of which airline website I need to book with.
3. Using Miles to your benefit
Have some extra miles that are about to expire or you don’t mind using? Look into the option of paying for flights with only miles or a mix of miles and cash. This usually helps to bring the cost of flights significantly down during peak travel periods but I use it when I am running a little low on money to cover the cost of some flights. I know availability can be a pain but it’s like I said before……explore all options!
These are also pretty handy when looking for upgrades.
4. Look at travel times/peak & off peak periods
Not a site or app, but a piece of advice, try to plan and search around the calendar. Look at when are the peak periods? What is the climate of the place you are going to? When are the peak travel days that raise flight prices?
Sometimes you can adjust or plan a few weeks or months ahead to avoid higher prices and travel in the less busy periods. It makes your trip smoother, cheaper and allows you to enjoy the experience more peacefully.
5. Book at the right time
Did you know that timing can significantly impact the cost of your flight bookings? In some interesting studies, it was found that for flights to Europe, the optimal booking window is around 120 days prior to departure. Conversely, when travelling domestically, it’s advisable to wait until approximately 64 days before your intended departure date. This strategic timing can translate into substantial savings on your airfare.
The fluctuations in flight prices are often driven by airlines’ efforts to gauge and respond to demand. By capitalising on periods of low pricing and acting swiftly, travellers stand to benefit from considerable cost reductions. Google Flights offers a valuable tool in this regard. While conducting flight searches, Google presents a helpful tracker that displays average ticket prices and identifies opportune moments to secure your bookings, thereby maximising savings.
6. Set a Price Alert
Stay ahead of price fluctuations with the assistance of price alerts, which can notify you when the fares you’re eyeing experience a drop. Once more, Google Flights comes to the rescue with a convenient feature that automatically alerts you to cheaper flight options. Setting up these alerts is a breeze. Begin by conducting your search as usual. Then, on the results page, navigate to the toolbar where you’ll find a toggle to activate price tracking. With this tool at your disposal, you can effortlessly stay informed and seize the best deals as they arise.
In the pursuit of affordable flights, knowledge is undeniably your most potent asset. Armed with the insights gleaned from our exploration today, may you embark on future adventures with confidence and savvy. Until next time, happy travels, fellow globetrotters!