11 tips for finding budget airfare

Buying airfare can be tricky, often requiring patience to uncover the best ticket prices.

With a bit of time and planning, you can discover fantastic deals on both distant and nearby travel destinations.

To help you secure an excellent rate for your next journey, we've compiled our top proven strategies for finding the lowest airfare.

Every travel scenario is different, and while not all these strategies will apply to every flight, we've aimed to provide a wide array of tips to help you save money. Just remember, your results may vary depending on your chosen routes and travel dates.

No matter your destination or schedule, save this article for quick access to these money-saving airfare strategies.

Begin with Google Flights

When looking for a flight, start by identifying which airlines service the route you wish to take. This will give you a clearer picture of average ticket prices.

Rather than checking each airline's website one by one, use an aggregator site like Google Flights, which provides pricing from various airlines for a specific route.

Google Flights is a powerful search engine that shows prices based on your travel dates and routes. It also features a date grid and price graph to display alternate pricing and trends over time.

Knowing these benchmarks can help you recognize when you're getting a good deal and when it might be wise to wait for lower prices.

One of the many features of Google Flights is the ability to set up fare tracking alerts, so you receive email notifications if prices for your desired route decrease. You can also input your departure city and travel dates to see global flight prices.

Keep in mind that Google Flights is not a booking site, so you cannot reserve or purchase your ticket directly through it.

When you select a flight to book, you'll be redirected to the airline's website to complete your reservation. This is a good time to consider signing up for the airline's loyalty program if they offer one.

Don't hesitate to explore budget airlines

If you're seeking inexpensive airfare, one reliable option is to consider ultra-low-cost airlines.

Airlines such as Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant Air, and Avelo often provide round-trip flights priced between $50 and $100 — and occasionally even lower.

Budget flights come without frills. If you're worried about missing complimentary snacks or beverages, consider bringing your own. Pack a book or download a podcast to entertain yourself in the absence of Wi-Fi, and make sure to fill up a reusable water bottle after passing through security.

Note: It's advisable to avoid low-cost airlines if you need to check bags and can’t travel with just a carry-on. Budget carriers often charge for both carry-on and checked luggage. However, it's still worth comparing the total cost of your luggage and airfare against other airlines that offer free checked bags.

Look for both one-way and round-trip flights

Typically, round-trip tickets are more affordable than purchasing two one-way flights, though there are always exceptions.

For instance, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines often price their tickets as one-way fares; thus, a round-trip flight is simply the total of the two one-way prices. You might sometimes find the best round-trip deal by combining two one-way tickets, possibly with different airlines.

Keep in mind that Google Flights is an excellent resource for identifying when booking separate one-way tickets might be the most economical choice.

However, booking two one-way flights can involve some risk if you need to change or cancel your travel plans. For example, if you book outbound and return flights with different airlines, and both impose $200 fees for changes or cancellations, you'll face those charges twice if adjustments are necessary.

If you change both legs of a round-trip flight booked with a single airline, you would only incur that fee once (or possibly none at all if you choose an airline that doesn't charge change fees).

Search for one seat at a time

A lesser-known aspect of airline pricing can lead to significantly higher costs when booking for multiple passengers instead of just one. Airlines organize their seats into fare classes, often referred to as "buckets," which aren't always easy for consumers to see.

For instance, if there are only three seats available in a fare bucket priced at $300 each, the next fare bucket could be $400 per ticket. When searching for four seats, all passengers may end up in the $400 fare bucket instead.

Searching for just one seat might reveal one of the remaining $300 tickets. With a bit of experimentation, you'd realize it's smarter to book one reservation for three tickets at $300 each and a separate one for the fourth ticket at $400. By using this approach, you could save $300 compared to booking all four seats at once.

To simplify this process, many airlines will display how many tickets are available at each price. For example, consider a flight from New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Miami International Airport (MIA) with Delta Air Lines.

When searching for six or more tickets, the price of that one-way flight can increase by approximately $30 per passenger. This strategy is also effective for booking multiple award flights.

If you decide to use this method, make sure to contact customer service after your booking to link your reservations. This will help ensure your group stays together in case of delays or cancellations that require rebooking.

Consider looking at alternative airports

At times, flights from your primary airport can be exorbitantly priced, making it worthwhile to explore a second or even third airport option. Many airlines offer the ability to search across all regional airports by entering the destination city instead of a specific airport, or by selecting a box labeled "search nearby airports."

For instance, the New York metropolitan area features three major airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). However, expanding your search to include nearby Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), Westchester County Airport (HPN), and New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) in Orange County could yield even more flight options.

When using Google Flights, you can input your departure and arrival cities instead of specifying a particular airport. This can reveal a wider array of flight choices, potentially at lower prices.

Utilize your elite status

While having elite status won't directly provide discounted tickets, it can help you save in other ways. Many airlines allow elite members to stand by for earlier flights or to make same-day confirmed changes. For example, Southwest provides same-day standby for all passengers.

This flexibility could enable you to book a cheaper flight at a less desirable time and then switch to your preferred flight at no extra charge. Even if you lack elite status, the fee for standing by or making a same-day confirmed change might be less than the fare difference between your desired flight and the least expensive option available. Just be ready to take your original flight, as there's always a chance that the flight you wish to take might be fully booked.

For more information on the elite status programs of major airlines, refer to the following guides:

• Understanding American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to achieve it
  
• Delta Medallion status explained: What it entails and how to qualify
  
• United Premier status overview: What it is and how to earn it
• Alaska Airlines MVP elite status: What it includes and how to get it
  
• Southwest A-List status: An overview of benefits and how to achieve it
  

Choose the right credit card

Having the right credit card can lead to significant savings on airfare in various ways. For instance, The Platinum Card® from American Express provides 5 points for every dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from the airline or via the Amex Travel portal (up to $500,000 in annual purchases, after which it’s 1 point per dollar).

Other American Express cards, such as the American Express® Green Card and the American Express® Gold Card, also offer enhanced points for flight purchases.

You can reduce the cost of your flight by using your American Express Membership Rewards points. If you have accumulated points, you can apply them to flights booked through the Amex Travel portal or transfer them to a partner airline. This can be a valuable way to save money when cash prices for your desired flights are high.

The details for the American Express Green Card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Explore first-class options

For reasons that remain a mystery, occasionally you might find a first-class ticket priced similarly to — or even lower than — an economy ticket. Some reasons for this include passengers overlooking first-class pricing and companies often prohibiting employees from booking these seats, even when they're cheaper. Additionally, discounted first-class fares may be available when only full-fare economy tickets are on the market.

Regardless, always compare the price of a first-class ticket before settling on a higher-than-average economy fare. When you consider the extra miles earned, complimentary baggage allowance, lounge access, and inflight amenities, the slight increase in price may be worthwhile.

Search for coupons and special offers

Like any industry, airlines sometimes provide coupons and discounts. For instance, your Amex Offers might include airline rebates, or you could find savings with an all-you-can-fly pass offered by Frontier. Other budget airlines, such as Southwest, frequently provide flight deals that can save you significant amounts on airfare.

Purchase miles

If you find yourself facing a steep fare and a lack of miles, think about buying the miles necessary for an award ticket, especially if they are on sale. It's generally not advisable to buy miles without a specific award in mind and without a bonus, but if purchasing miles allows you to save money and immediately redeem them for an award flight, it can be a smart choice.

Rebook, rebook, rebook

Many airlines permit you to rebook your ticket if the price decreases after you've booked. For instance, if the fare for your Southwest flight drops post-booking, you can rebook your flight and receive either a credit or a cash refund based on your fare type.

Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines also have a "no-change-fee" policy for most flights and fare classes. After booking, make it a habit to check for fare drops regularly so you can secure that refund if the price goes down.

In summary

Buying airline tickets can be a complex process. Fortunately, there are several straightforward strategies you can employ to reduce your out-of-pocket costs when booking flights. Even if you implement just a couple of these techniques, you'll be on your way to securing the best flight deals for your upcoming journey.