Practical, honest cheap flight tips and tricks: what really lowers the price, and what to avoid.
If there is one rule for how to find cheap flights, it is flexibility. Prices for the same route can change a lot from one day to the next, so moving your departure or return by a day or two often makes a bigger difference than any trick. Midweek flights, early-morning and late-evening departures, and trips that avoid school holidays and long weekends tend to cost less. If your destination is flexible too, compare a few places before deciding where to go; our destination guides say when each tends to be cheapest.
Check every airport you could reasonably use at both ends of the trip. A bigger airport an hour away may have more airlines and lower fares; a smaller one may save you time and stress. In the search box above, try each airport code separately and compare. Remember to count the cost and time of getting to and from each airport. Our guide to cheap domestic flights lists the alternate airports in major US metro areas.
Fare alerts do the watching for you: set one for your route and dates, and you will see how prices move before you commit. Rather than chasing a perfect day of the week to buy, aim for a sensible booking window: for many domestic trips, roughly one to three months ahead; for long-haul international trips, a few months ahead, and earlier for peak seasons. Book when the price looks fair against what you have seen. Waiting for it to fall further is a gamble.
The lowest fare on many airlines is basic economy. It gets you a seat on the plane, but usually without advance seat selection, with the last boarding group and with no changes allowed or only for a fee; on some airlines and routes it also excludes a full-size carry-on bag. That is a fine trade for a short solo trip with a backpack, and a poor one for a family that wants to sit together or anyone whose plans may change. Compare the total cost of the cheapest fare plus the extras you need against the next fare up.
Two US rules are worth knowing. First, if an airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket rather than a voucher; DOT has been reviewing some details of its 2024 refund rule, so check the current position on the U.S. Department of Transportation's air consumer pages. Second, for bookings made at least seven days before departure, airlines serving the US must either hold your reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or let you cancel within 24 hours without penalty. Most airlines choose the free cancellation option, which gives you a day to keep shopping or to fix a mistake.
Hidden-city ticketing means booking a flight with a connection in the city you actually want to reach, then leaving at the connection. It can sometimes look cheaper, but airlines prohibit it in their conditions of carriage. The risks are real: any checked bag goes to the final destination, the rest of your itinerary (including the return flight) is usually cancelled once you skip a segment, a schedule change can reroute you through a different city, and airlines may take action against your frequent flyer account. For most travelers, the savings are not worth it.
Fly in the shoulder seasons, typically spring and autumn, when fares and crowds are often lower than in summer. Compare gateway cities: a cheap flight into one major hub plus a short train or low-cost flight onward can beat a direct ticket to a smaller city. Open-jaw tickets, flying into one city and out of another, save backtracking and often cost about the same as a round trip. Our cheap flights to Europe guide covers the main airports country by country.
Last-minute fares are usually higher, but there are still ways to save: widen your airport search, compare two one-way tickets with a round trip, consider flights at unpopular times, and be open to a different destination. Travelling light helps too, so a cheaper fare without a checked bag is a real option. Our last-minute flights page has more ideas, and if your trip is complicated, a travel advisor can quote it for free.
Ready to compare? Use the search box at the top of this page, or compare flights on KAYAK.
Be flexible with dates and airports, compare many airlines at once, set fare alerts for your route and book when the price looks fair rather than waiting for a perfect moment.
There is no reliable best day to buy. The day you fly matters more: midweek departures and less popular times are often cheaper than Fridays and Sundays.
For bookings made at least seven days before departure, airlines serving the US must either let you cancel within 24 hours without penalty or hold the fare for 24 hours without payment. Most offer free cancellation.
It can be for short trips with little luggage and firm plans. Basic economy usually means no advance seat choice, last boarding and no or costly changes, and some fares exclude a full-size carry-on.
It is not illegal, but airlines prohibit it in their conditions of carriage and can cancel the rest of your itinerary, send checked bags to the ticketed destination and penalize your loyalty account.
Travel in spring or autumn, compare gateway airports, consider open-jaw tickets and continue by train or a short low-cost flight.