How to find cheap flights: 3 tips for saving money on every trip.

Rising airfare prices are a major concern for many when planning trips or business travel. If you're looking for ways to find cheap flights , book at the right time, and avoid overpaying, this article is for you. With a little early preparation, knowing how to monitor prices, and choosing the right airline, you can absolutely buy affordable air tickets without needing complicated experience. The content below will guide you through simple, easy-to-apply methods to significantly save on airfare for each trip.

Tip 1: When to book cheap flights: The secret to choosing your travel dates.

Step 1: The most effective time to find cheap flights

Start searching for domestic flights as early as 6 weeks before your departure date.

• For domestic flights, you should start looking for cheap airfare about 1.5 months in advance.

• Check ticket prices regularly every week to track fluctuations and choose the best time to buy.

• You don't need to buy it on your first search, but don't wait too close to your flight date either, as prices usually increase.

Find international flights 20–24 weeks in advance for the best prices.

• International airfares tend to increase in price sooner than domestic fares, so hunting for cheap flights should start 5-6 months before your trip.

• This timeframe gives you more options regarding airlines, flight times, and reasonable prices.

• Although it may sound premature, this is a practical approach that many travel agencies have successfully implemented.

You shouldn't book tickets too early compared to the recommended date.

• Booking tickets too early (more than 6 weeks in advance for domestic flights or 24 weeks in advance for international flights) usually doesn't offer a significant advantage.

• Ticket prices during this period fluctuate significantly and do not reflect the actual selling prices of the airlines.

• Choosing the right time makes it easier to compare prices and make a more informed decision when booking airline tickets.

General principles when hunting for cheap airline tickets.

• The earlier you book your tickets within a reasonable timeframe, the higher your chances of getting a good price on airline tickets.

• Avoid booking tickets close to the departure date, especially on weekends, holidays, or during peak travel seasons.

• Actively monitoring ticket prices is a simple but very effective way to save money.

Flexible planning thanks to post-COVID-19 ticket exchange policies.

• Many airlines have now waived or reduced fees for changing flight dates.

• This gives you peace of mind when booking tickets in advance, without worrying about extra fees if you need to change your schedule.

• This is a big advantage when planning long-term and hunting for cheap flights for the future.

Step 2: When is the best time to buy airline tickets to save money?

Buy your tickets at least two weeks in advance to avoid price increases.

• The ideal time to buy airline tickets is 2–4 weeks before the flight date .

• When there are less than 14 days left, most airlines start raising ticket prices due to urgent demand.

• This is a crucial step in finding cheap airline tickets that travelers often overlook.

Pay special attention if flying during peak season.

• During peak travel seasons such as holidays, summer, Tet (Lunar New Year), or international travel peaks, ticket prices increase very rapidly.

• Ticket prices can double or triple as the flight date approaches.

• The earlier you book your tickets, the easier it is to get good deals on airfare.

International flight tickets need to be booked in advance.

• For international flights, you should plan and book your tickets at least 3 months in advance .

• International tickets are usually more expensive and less likely to experience significant price drops closer to the departure date.

• Booking your tickets early allows you to choose convenient flight times, suitable airlines, and reasonable prices.

Booking tickets too close to the departure date is almost certainly going to be expensive.

• If you wait until about a week before your flight, you'll likely have to buy very expensive tickets.

• Even budget airlines rarely have cheap tickets available at this time.

• This is a common mistake that causes many people to incur unnecessary costs.

In case of force majeure: consider buying tickets closer to the departure time.

• If you've missed the 2-3 week deadline, the next option is to wait until less than 24 hours before your flight .

• Some companies may offer significant discounts to fill the last remaining stock.

• However, the risk is very high: the flight may be sold out or only have high-priced tickets available.

Step 3: Be flexible with your travel dates to find cheap flights.

Compare ticket prices for flights on nearby dates.

• If your schedule isn't too rigid, try changing your departure and return dates.

• Check ticket prices 3–4 days before and after your planned flight date.

• This method helps you quickly find days with significantly cheaper airline tickets .

Use price comparison websites or airline websites.

• Use ticket price aggregation websites to view multiple prices at once.

• Compare prices directly on the airline's website to avoid missing out on exclusive deals.

• This is a crucial step in the process of finding cheap airline tickets , a method that experienced travelers always apply.

Prioritize choosing the day with the lowest price if the schedule can be adjusted.

• Just a difference of 1-2 days can significantly reduce ticket prices.

• If you have flexibility, prioritize cheaper flight dates instead of sticking to a fixed timeframe.

• Rearranging your plans early can save money without significantly impacting your trip.

Practical examples that are easy to apply.

• Initially: flying on May 1st, returning on May 20th, at a price of approximately $400.

• After checking another date: flying on May 3rd, returning on May 21st, the cost was only about 325 USD.

• Making only minor schedule changes can save a significant amount of money.

Step 4: Choose an early morning or night flight to save on airfare.

Prioritize flying early in the morning or late at night for cheaper prices.

• Most passengers prefer flying at "convenient" times, avoiding the need to wake up early or stay up late.

• Due to high demand, flights at convenient times (e.g., around 9–11 am) usually have significantly higher ticket prices.

• If you want to find cheap flights , consider flying earlier or later than usual.

Red-eye flights are often heavily discounted.

• Flights departing between 9 PM and early the next morning are usually less popular.

• To compensate for the inconvenience, airlines often offer significant discounts on tickets for this time slot.

• This is a great option if you prioritize saving money over flexible hours.

Compare prices for specific flight times.

• Most airline websites and price comparison sites allow you to filter departure times.

• Try comparing the same flight route but at different times, and you'll see a significant price difference.

• Choosing the right flight time can sometimes save you more money than changing airlines.

Practical tips for choosing cheap flight times

• Early morning flights: fewer delays, usually cheaper, suitable for business travelers.

• Night flights: inexpensive, suitable for young people or those who don't mind getting tired too much.

• Avoid peak daytime hours if your goal is to find good deals on airline tickets.

Step 5: Prioritize flying mid-week or on Saturdays to get cheaper tickets.

Choosing a weekday departure date helps reduce costs.

• Flights departing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays are usually cheaper.

• These days see less traffic compared to peak weekends.

• In the experience of hunting for cheap flight tickets, choosing the right flight date is just as important as booking at the right time.

Why are Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually better?

• Many airlines launched promotions for individual routes on Monday evening.

• By Tuesday morning, other airlines typically adjust their prices to remain competitive, causing overall prices to fall.

• Therefore, searching for flights departing mid-week makes it easier to find better prices.

Avoid flying on Fridays and Sundays if you want to save money.

• Friday and Sunday are the two busiest days for domestic travel.

• Ticket prices are usually significantly higher on these days due to the surge in demand.

• If your schedule allows, avoid these two dates to optimize airfare costs.

International airfare: weekdays are almost always cheaper than weekends.

• For international flights, flying on weekdays is usually cheaper than flying on weekends.

• This is especially true for long-haul and connecting flights.

• Planning flexible flight schedules throughout the week makes it easier to find cheaper airline tickets.

There is no absolute formula; it's still advisable to test over several days.

• The strategy of choosing cheap flight dates isn't always 100% effective.

• You should check prices for the same route on different days, including weekends.

• Regularly monitoring prices helps you identify good deals when promotions appear.

Step 6: Stay overnight at your destination on Saturday to buy cheaper tickets.

Plan to stay overnight on Saturday if possible.

• Airfare is often set higher for business travelers .

• This group rarely stays overnight at their destination on Saturdays due to their weekday work schedule.

• When your trip includes a Saturday night , the pricing system usually categorizes you as a tourist, not a business traveler, so tickets are likely to be cheaper.

Why staying overnight on Saturday helps save on airfare.

• Airlines maximize revenue by charging high prices to commuters who are in a hurry and need to travel quickly.

• Flights scheduled for overnight stays on Saturdays typically have fewer business travelers , so the prices are lower to attract tourists.

• This is a common trick used by experienced travel agencies when hunting for cheap airline tickets .

Effective for both domestic and international tickets.

• For domestic flights, this tip is especially effective on popular routes with many business travelers.

• With international flights, staying overnight on Saturdays often significantly reduces the overall cost, especially for round-trip tickets.

• Simply adjusting your schedule to be one day later can save you a significant amount of money.

A quick way to check and compare prices.

• Search for the same flight but change the return date to include or exclude Saturday nights.

• Compare the total ticket prices to see the difference.

• Choose the option that best suits your time and budget.

Tip 2: How to choose the cheapest airline and booking website

Step 1: Find cheap flights using your browser's incognito mode.

Use incognito mode when searching for airline tickets.

• When you search for flights multiple times, travel websites may save your search history via cookies.

• If the system detects that you are viewing the same flight repeatedly, the ticket price may sometimes be pushed higher.

• Using Incognito/Private mode helps limit cookie storage and displays prices more objectively.

How to quickly open incognito mode

• On Chrome or Safari: press Control + Shift + N.

• In Firefox or Internet Explorer: press Control + Shift + P.

• Once opened, search for airline tickets as usual to compare prices.

Why is anonymity especially important?

• When you search for tickets on different dates, old cookies may cause the website to display outdated prices.

• This could easily cause you to miss out on the newly updated lower prices.

• When hunting for cheap airline tickets , this is a small tip that helps avoid misinformation about prices.

Alternatives if anonymity is not available.

• Delete cookies and browser history after each visit to the ticket booking website.

• Then refresh the page and search for the flight again.

• This method helps the website display prices that are as close to the actual prices at the time of the search as possible.

Step 2: Compare ticket prices between airlines using a price comparison website.

Use price comparison websites to find the cheapest tickets quickly.

• Airline price aggregators allow you to compare ticket prices from multiple airlines at the same time .

• Simply enter your departure airport, arrival airport, and flight date, and the system will display a range of different options.

• This is a basic but very important step in how to find cheap airline tickets .

View multiple flight combinations to choose the lowest price.

• Don't just look at the first flight that's proposed.

• Scroll down and compare different flight times, number of layovers, and airlines.

• Sometimes, significant price differences can occur simply because of different flight times or airlines.

Take advantage of affordable monthly calendars.

• Many calendar aggregation websites offer affordable 30-day calendars.

• This tool helps you quickly find out which days of the month have the cheapest airfares.

• This is ideal if you have a flexible schedule and want to optimize costs.

Check again on the website of the cheapest airline.

• After identifying the company with the lowest price on the aggregation website, go directly to that company's website.

• Some airlines offer special deals or better prices when booking directly.

• This method helps you avoid missing promotions that aren't displayed on intermediary platforms.

Some popular ticket price comparison websites

• Priceline

• Travelocity

• Expedia

• These platforms are suitable for quickly checking price ranges before deciding to book tickets.

Step 3: Choose a budget airline if you don't need many amenities.

• Low-cost airlines cut back on services like Wi-Fi, free meals, and reclining seats to drastically reduce ticket prices .

• If you only need to fly from point A to point B, this is a very effective option for finding cheap flight tickets .

• In fact, the fares of budget airlines are sometimes only half that of traditional airlines.

Understand what you're sacrificing when flying budget.

• Checked baggage, seat selection, and meals are not included or subject to separate charges.

• The seating and overall space are simpler, with fewer entertainment amenities.

• Suitable for short flights, solo travelers, or those prioritizing cost savings.

Suggestions for budget airlines by region.

• Fly within the US, Hawaii, or the Caribbean:

  • Frontier Airlines

  • The Times

  • Southwest Airlines

  • Spirit Airlines

• Flying in Europe:

  • Norwegian Air

Practical tips to avoid being overcharged when flying with budget airlines.

• Carefully check baggage fees and additional services before booking your ticket.

• Compare the final price (including surcharges) with traditional carriers.

• Only choose the services you need to fully benefit from cheap tickets.

Tip 3: Secrets to saving money when buying plane tickets: Hunt for deals and discounts

Step 1: Sign up for email notifications about cheap fares so you don't miss out on great deals.

Proactively sign up to receive email notifications about cheap flight tickets.

• Most flight booking and price comparison websites allow you to sign up for email alerts about cheap flights .

• You just need to enter your departure airport, arrival airport, and estimated flight time.

• When ticket prices drop or promotions become available, the system will send you an email notification immediately.

It's recommended to book domestic flights 3-4 months in advance.

• If flying domestically, sign up for cheap flight alerts at least 3–4 months in advance .

• This timeframe allows you to track the trend of ticket prices increasing or decreasing week by week.

• When you see a good price, you can decide to buy it right away without having to guess.

Not decided on your destination yet? You can still find cheap flights.

• If you don't have a specific destination in mind, sign up to receive notifications about the cheapest flights from your usual airport .

• You can also choose nearby airports to broaden your chances of finding good deals.

• This method is ideal for those who prefer flexible travel and prioritize cost-effectiveness.

I already have a specific destination: I'm using a tool to find cheap flights.

• With a clear itinerary, you should sign up for low fare alerts from AirfareWatchdog .

• This platform compiles the best prices for each city of departure and arrival.

• This makes it easier for you to create a more economical and realistic schedule.

Why email alerts are an effective tool for booking tickets.

• No need to check prices every day, saving you time.

• Reduce the risk of buying tickets too early or too late.

• This is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to find cheap airline tickets, a method that experienced travelers always use.

Step 2: Buy separate one-way tickets to reduce the total cost.

Don't assume you'll buy a round-trip ticket.

• Many people tend to look for round-trip tickets thinking they'll be cheaper, but that 's not always the case .

• In many cases, buying two separate one-way tickets can result in a lower total price than a round-trip ticket.

• This is a common tip for frequent flyers when hunting for cheap airline tickets .

The method is simple and easy to apply.

• Instead of looking for a round-trip ticket, look for a one-way ticket for the outbound journey and a one-way ticket for the return journey .

• Compare prices for each leg of the journey independently.

• Choose the option with the lowest total cost.

It is possible to fly round-trip with two different airlines.

• One-way tickets for both the outbound and return journeys do not necessarily have to be with the same airline .

• You can choose the cheapest airline for each leg of the journey.

• This method is particularly effective when a airline offers a cheap fare on the outbound trip but an expensive fare on the return trip.

A practical example that is easy to understand.

• Round-trip airfare from Seattle to Denver: approximately $300.

• A one-way ticket from Seattle to Denver costs approximately $75.

• A one-way ticket from Denver to Seattle costs approximately $75.

• Total cost when purchased separately: only about $150, saving almost half.

Note when applying this tip

• Carefully check your luggage and ticket conditions for each leg of the journey.

• Ensure your flight times are appropriate, avoiding overly tight gaps if there are any schedule changes.

• The final price comparison includes additional fees , not just the initial price displayed.

Step 3: Utilize travel reward points to save on airfare.

Understanding the principle of earning frequent flyer miles from travel cards.

• Some payment cards offer travel points that allow you to redeem daily spending for airline miles.

• Once you accumulate enough miles, you can redeem them for round-trip air tickets or get a significant discount on your airfare.

• This is a popular way to save money for frequent flyers, especially when combined with buying tickets at the right time.

How to apply safely for those who do not manage their own cards.

• If you are not yet eligible to have the card in your own name , you can discuss this with your parents/guardians to jointly manage and use it appropriately.

• The goal is to accumulate miles from essential expenses (living, studying), avoiding unnecessary spending .

• Accumulated miles can be used for family trips or planned outings.

Choose the card that best suits your flight needs.

• Not all cards can be redeemed for miles with all airlines.

• Each card has different reward systems, maintenance fees, and benefits .

• Prioritize cards that are compatible with frequently used airlines and offer easily convertible benefits.

Co-branded card with the airline

• Some airlines issue their own mileage accumulation cards.

• This type of card usually offers initial mileage rewards and continues to accumulate miles as you spend.

• Suitable for families who frequently fly with the same airline.

Practical tips to avoid "losing points because of fees"

• Only use the card for planned expenses.

• Keep an eye on your frequent flyer mileage expiration date to redeem your mileage points in time.

• Compare the price of tickets converted to miles with the price of tickets paid in cash to choose the most economical option.

Step 4: Use your frequent flyer miles to redeem a free flight ticket.

Sign up for the frequent flyer program of the airline you fly with most often.

• Most airlines have frequent flyer programs .

• If you frequently fly with a particular airline, prioritize signing up for their program to earn miles faster.

• Registration is completely free and can be done online in just a few minutes.

Earn frequent flyer miles with each trip.

• Each time you purchase a ticket and complete a flight, you will earn a certain number of miles.

• After accumulating around 20,000–40,000 miles , you can usually redeem them for a free domestic return ticket .

• This is a long-term strategy for finding cheap flights, ideal for frequent flyers.

How to register for and use frequent flyer miles.

• Visit the airline's official website.

• Fill in basic information such as full name, contact address, and payment information (if required).

• After registering, you will be given a loyalty code to log in and manage your frequent flyer miles.

Redeem your frequent flyer miles at the right time to maximize value.

• Miles can be used to redeem tickets, upgrade seats, or get discounts on fares.

• You should check your mileage and expiration date regularly to avoid running out of fuel.

• Compare redeeming tickets with miles versus buying tickets with cash to choose the most economical option.

Practical notes for beginners

• Flight miles won't increase rapidly if you fly with many different airlines.

• It's advisable to focus on one main airline to reach the ticket change deadline earlier.

• This strategy requires time, but its long-term effectiveness is evident.

Advanced tips for finding cheap flights and maximizing your flying experience.

The cheapest ticket doesn't always qualify for an upgrade.

• The cheapest tickets are usually not eligible for upgrades .

• If you'd like the opportunity to upgrade your seat, contact the airline or travel agent directly to inquire about which ticket types are eligible for upgrades .

• The initial price might be slightly higher, but the overall experience is well worth the money.

Search for international flights by "country of departure" for better prices.

• International flight prices sometimes vary depending on search market trends .

• For example, if flying from Bangkok to Vancouver, try searching for tickets as if you were buying in Thailand instead of in the US.

• This method may help you access lower prices due to the regional ticketing strategy.

Flying on holidays is often cheaper than you think.

• Most people don't want to travel on holidays.

• Therefore, airline tickets on holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, etc.) are usually cheaper than on days closer to the holiday.

• If you're flexible, this is a great tip to save money.

Want to fly first class but save money? Choose business class.

• On many flights, business class and first class passengers sit in the same section at the front, eat the same meals, and receive almost identical service.

• However, business class tickets are usually only about half the price of first class.

• This is a smart way to experience premium quality without spending too much money.

Sign up to receive notifications from your favorite airport and airline.

• Some cheap deals are only posted directly by the airline or airport.

• Sign up for emails or notifications from your nearest airport and preferred airline so you don't miss out on great deals.

• This is a very effective step in finding cheap airline tickets.

Prioritize major international airports when flying long distances.

• For international flights, flying to or from a large international airport is usually cheaper than flying to a smaller airport.

• The reason is the higher frequency of flights and the greater level of competition.

• If necessary, you can take a short additional ride to save on the overall cost.

Tuesday is usually the cheapest day of the week to fly.

• Numerous studies show that ticket prices are typically lower on Tuesdays than on other days.

• If possible, prioritize flying on this date to optimize costs.

References

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/travel/
   book-well-ahead-to-save-money-on-airfare.html
2. https://www.smartertravel.com/10-tips-finding-cheap-airfare/
3. https://www.businessinsider.com/23-secrets-to-booking-cheap-flights-2012-7
4. https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/spending/
   articles/insider-secrets-to-booking-cheap-airfare
5. https://thriftynomads.com/booking-cheapest-flight-possible-anywhere/
6. https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnnyjet/2017/10/30/
   10-tips-on-finding-cheap-flights-online/#34f2d81b41b0

Translated by Leigh Kennedy Ly .