19 Tips for Snagging the Best Flight Deals Right Now

Last year was a rollercoaster for travel—the excitement of reopening borders clashed with the struggles of air travel disruptions. This year, however, presents a stark travel reality. As demand surges in the post-pandemic world, airfares have soared, leaving many travelers in shock at the prices.

According to travel booking site Hopper, summer flight prices to Europe and Asia are at their highest in over five years. On average, round-trip tickets to Europe are exceeding $1,100, while flights to Asia are averaging more than $1,800—each increasing by over $300 compared to last summer.

Flight prices are rising due to a combination of high demand, inflation, soaring oil prices, and insufficient capacity—and there's no sign of a drop in sight. For many travelers, flight costs can significantly affect their budget and decisions on how many trips they can plan each year.

But what if you could book more intelligently? It might be time to adopt a more strategic approach to planning flights. The days of casually securing tickets are behind us. Last-minute deals? Mostly a thing of the past. To find great fares, these expert tips and tricks are essential. Get ready to think outside the box, be resourceful—maybe even a little sneaky.

These days, finding good flight deals can feel as rare as discovering a four-leaf clover or witnessing a shooting star, says Katy Nastro, travel expert from flight deal tracking site Going.com (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). However, Nastro reassures that airfare bargains are still available, though it may require a more discerning eye to spot them.

Here are some strategies to help you uncover more budget-friendly airline tickets amidst the sea of soaring airfares.

Timing is Key: Know When to Book for the Best Prices

One of the biggest challenges of booking flights is figuring out the perfect moment to hit that 'book' button for the best fare (is Tuesday still considered the optimal day for booking flights?). This decision can be quite dramatic, given all the analysis and budgeting that precedes it. If the price seems high, is it wise to wait and see if it drops, or is it likely to increase?

“Airfare is unpredictable and can change rapidly, typically trending upwards as your travel date approaches,” Nastro explains. “To maximize your chances of landing the best fare, aim for the Goldilocks window—the timeframe that's just right, neither too early nor too late, when the chance of finding a cheap flight is highest.”

For domestic flights, aim to book between 1 and 3 months prior to departure, or 3 to 7 months ahead for peak summer travel, suggests Nastro. For international flights, the ideal booking window is 2 to 8 months in advance during off-peak seasons, and 4 to 10 months in advance for peak travel periods abroad.

Regarding U.S. domestic flights, prices are generally at their lowest 21-60 days before departure, with the lowest average fare occurring 44 days out, according to James Byers, group product manager for Google Flights, in a recent blog post. The optimal time to book a flight from the U.S. to Europe is 129 days before departure, with lower prices typically found between 50 and 179 days out. For flights to Mexico or the Caribbean, booking 59 days in advance often yields the best deals, with prices usually dipping between 37 and 87 days before travel.

“However, these trends may not apply to every specific route, so it’s wise to plan and book early,” advises Byers.

Best Days of the Week to Fly for the Cheapest Rates

Steering clear of weekends and the days immediately surrounding them can lead to substantial savings. According to flight booking site Hopper, travelers can save an average of 17 percent, or $56 per ticket on domestic flights, by flying midweek on Tuesday or Wednesday. Additionally, flying on Saturday may also offer savings, as many travelers prefer to maximize their weekend plans.

Consider a (new) budget airline

In recent months, several low-cost airlines have emerged, relaunched, or expanded their services, providing much-needed options for travelers facing high airfare prices. These carriers not only offer affordable flights but often run fare promotions that can reduce costs even more. While the service may be more basic and no-frills, trying them out can be worthwhile, and we've explored many of these options recently:

• Breeze Airways: This domestic low-cost airline, founded by JetBlue's David Neeleman, features one-way fares starting at just $39. Breeze operates a three-tier fare system: Nice (no-frills), Nicer (includes perks like a free checked bag), and Nicest (first class). Breeze Airways currently serves 37 U.S. destinations, and we've reviewed the experience recently.
  
• Condor: This German low-cost airline, Condor, has been a fixture for decades but recently added new Airbus A330neo aircraft for its long-haul routes, offering beautiful new seating options across business, premium, and economy classes—at lower prices.
  
• French Bee: Based in Paris, this low-cost airline reintroduced transatlantic and transpacific flights from the U.S. to Paris and Tahiti in 2021. Check out our review of flying with French Bee.
  
• JetBlue: While not a newcomer, JetBlue has expanded its transatlantic services, now flying to London, Paris, and Amsterdam with fares starting around $479 roundtrip.
  
• Norse Atlantic Airways: This revamped version of the former Norwegian Air has been growing its U.S. routes. It flies from New York’s JFK to Berlin, London, Paris, and Oslo; from Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale to London and Oslo; and from Boston, Orlando, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., to London. Service from JFK to Rome begins on June 30.
  
• Play: This Icelandic budget airline offers one-way fares to Europe for as low as $110. We tested Play to see what those prices really deliver.
  
• Zipair: A low-cost carrier under the Japan Airlines (JAL Group) umbrella, Zipair launched quietly during the pandemic in 2020 and is now expanding its international routes as Japan reopens. The latest addition is a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo's Narita International Airport, with one-way fares starting at $325, joining existing services from Los Angeles, San Jose, and Honolulu.

Take Advantage of a 24-hour Price Hold

U.S. airlines are mandated by the Department of Transportation to provide a full refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking. While this window isn't extensive, it does permit travelers to explore and re-evaluate different options, knowing they’ll receive their money back if they cancel within that timeframe. This can be particularly useful when researching flight reservations and comparing various choices, such as booking a round-trip with one airline versus two one-way tickets, opting for nonstop flights versus connections, or experimenting with different travel times and dates.

Explore Foreign Carriers—and Regional Airlines

Many travelers in the U.S. typically begin or end their flight searches with major domestic airlines, but when traveling abroad, it's wise to also check international carriers that serve your destination. For instance, TAP Air Portugal frequently offers excellent deals on flights to Europe, while Turkish Airlines is known for competitive prices on various international routes.

Additionally, consider regional airlines (like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Norwegian in Europe) that can make connecting flights more economical. Just remember to allow ample time for layovers, as missed connections due to tight schedules are your responsibility. Also, if transitioning from a legacy carrier to a low-cost regional airline, be cautious of baggage limits. Most low-cost airlines have stricter baggage policies and may charge hefty fees for excess weight, potentially negating any savings.

Consider Booking Two One-Way Flights with Different Airlines Instead of One Round-Trip

Nastro suggests a creative approach to finding affordable airfares by comparing one-way flights across various carriers. “Sometimes, you can actually save money by booking separate legs of your journey on different airlines, thanks to good old competition,” she explains. For instance, you could fly from Chicago to New York with Delta and return on American—essentially crafting your own itinerary.

Let Flight Deals Guide Your Destination Choices

If you're serious about scoring airfare deals, Nastro recommends allowing the deals to shape your travel plans rather than fixating on a specific destination and hoping for a discount to appear.

One effective strategy is to sign up for airfare deal tracking services or newsletters like Going or Dollar Flight Club. When incredible flight offers land in your inbox, use that inspiration for your next adventure—it's spontaneous travel at its most affordable. Additionally, consumer travel media highlight exceptional fare sales, so subscribing to those newsletters can be beneficial too.

Another option is to use United Airlines’ newly launched “shop by map” feature, which enables travelers to input their departure location, potential travel dates (either within the next 30 days or a custom timeframe), and their budget. You can refine your search based on specific interests like national parks, beaches, culture, cuisine, skiing, and snorkeling. United then displays flight prices worldwide on a map, highlighting some of the best deals available.

Travel During Shoulder Season

With summer 2023 shaping up to be one of the priciest air travel seasons in recent years, let’s highlight one of our favorite travel periods: shoulder season. This quieter time in spring, fall, and winter occurs between busy school vacations and holidays. With fewer travelers on the road and lower demand, airlines often introduce enticing fares and promotions to encourage bookings. Hopper estimates you could save up to 30 percent on peak summer flights in July and August just by traveling in September.

Choose Red-Eye Flights or Layovers

We understand—it’s not for everyone. But for those who can get some decent sleep on a plane (perhaps with a great travel pillow) or don’t mind feeling a bit groggy upon arrival, red-eye flights (overnight flights) are generally more affordable, according to Muriel Assouline, managing director of French low-cost carrier French Bee. They also help maximize your time at your destination.

When it comes to adding a layover to your flight, Google suggests that being open to this option can significantly cut costs. According to their recent blog post on saving money while flying, nonstop fares tend to be, on average, 20 percent more expensive than those with layovers.

Consider Departing from Alternate or Nearby Airports

Assouline points out that searching for flights from “the next largest airport after the obvious choice” often yields better deals, particularly with low-cost carriers—like considering Paris Orly in addition to Paris Charles de Gaulle. Nastro adds that sometimes it pays to drive a bit further to a larger airport, which can lead to significant savings. For example, someone living outside Philadelphia planning a trip to Paris this October might find roundtrip tickets for $946 from Philly, but if they drive an hour and a half to Newark, they could snag the same trip for just $506, saving $440 in the process.

Receive Flash Sales Through Airline Loyalty Programs

While they’re known as “loyalty” programs, don’t limit yourself to just one airline. Enroll in multiple airline loyalty programs—not only will you earn points and miles, but you’ll also gain access to their mailing lists to be among the first to know about flash sales. You can register online or through their apps, and it’s worth noting that airlines often send these deals to their customers simultaneously with media announcements (we can confirm this!).

Establish a Price Alert

Creating a price alert through booking platforms like Google, Kayak, or Hopper is a smart move during your airfare research. There’s nothing quite like an automatic price tracker that notifies you when the fares you’re watching fluctuate. It’s like having your very own flight monitoring assistant. If you have some flexibility in your travel dates, Google’s price alert feature allows you to track fares for “any dates,” notifying you of price drops for flights departing anytime within the next three to six months.

Utilize a Fare Comparison Calendar

Seriously, how did we manage to shop for airfares before the advent of fare comparison calendars on airline and travel booking sites like Google? These tools have become so prevalent and user-friendly that they are now essential for booking flights. Fare comparison calendars are among the most useful resources in your airfare shopping toolkit. They provide a comprehensive overview of fares across a month or even a year, helping you understand price trends and identify the optimal time to book your flight.

Consider Booking a Vacation Package That Includes Flights and Hotels

As noted by Dinogo’s air travel correspondent, Barbara Peterson, airlines often provide lower fares for those opting for bundled packages, such as those available through JetBlue Vacations or British Airways’ air and hotel deals—especially the enticing offers from British Airways. These deals are genuinely appealing.

Rebook if Your Flight Price Drops

During the pandemic, major U.S. airlines like Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Hawaiian, and United eliminated their longstanding change fees for all but basic economy fares (Southwest never charged change fees). This shift makes altering your flight much more straightforward and cost-free. Previously, changing a flight often wasn’t worth it due to hefty change fees—around $200—meaning you’d often end up paying more. Now, if fares drop, you can cancel your flight, receive travel credits, and rebook at the new lower price without any fees, provided you haven’t booked a basic economy ticket. While the refund will be in flight credits instead of cash, it’s still worthwhile if you believe you’ll use them before they expire (some airline credits have no expiration date).

Keep Searching

In line with the previous point, just because you’ve secured your flight doesn’t mean your search should end. Continue exploring through airline websites or booking platforms and maintain those price alerts. It’s important to stay informed if fares decrease, so you can take action—specifically, to cancel and rebook at the lower price, of course.

Utilize a travel credit card to accumulate miles

Airline miles function as a form of travel currency—travelers can use them to pay for flights, significantly lower flight costs, or upgrade their service class. With top-notch travel credit cards offering enticing mileage bonuses, users can transform their everyday spending into valuable miles. This strategy allows for earning miles effectively 'for free' by leveraging routine purchases.

Reserve your flights early to maximize the value of airline miles

After accumulating miles with a travel credit card, it’s crucial to book your flights as early as possible when mileage redemption rates are at their lowest. As your travel date approaches, the availability and cost of redeeming miles tend to increase. For example, you could secure a one-way international economy ticket for just 15,000 or 20,000 miles if you plan ahead (think several months in advance). However, this can soar to 70,000 miles or more if you delay your booking.

Tips for maximizing your miles

Paul Rubio, Dinogo’s expert on points and miles, shared a valuable tip for getting the most value from your miles: “While many frequent flyer programs have shifted to dynamic pricing models linked to a weaker dollar, British Airways’ Avios program continues to offer remarkable value due to its distance-based award chart that isn’t tied to a dollar amount,” Rubio explains.

He also mentions that British Airways is part of the Oneworld alliance, meaning you can book flights with Avios on Oneworld partners like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Bonus: Major credit card loyalty programs from American Express, Chase, Capital One, and Citi can transfer to Avios at a 1:1 ratio.

“Let me illustrate with a quick example,” he adds, “this August, the lowest one-way business class flight from Miami, Florida to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos using AAdvantage points on American Airlines costs 25,000 points. In contrast, booking the same flight with Avios only requires 15,000 miles and the same taxes of $92.55. That’s a 40 percent reduction in miles!”