In addition to being flexible with dates, there are several tips and tricks to apply to find cheaper flight deals. Some require you to be proactive, while others need a simple notification setup. I’ve traveled to over 25 countries using the cheaper flight hacks outlined below.
1. Skyscanner Price Drops
The easiest way I’ve saved money on flights is by using Skyscanner’s price drop alerts. I would guess that this tool alone has put thousands of dollars back in my pocket (allowing me to travel even more!).
When you see flights that you like, use the Like these flights? toggle on your smartphone. Alternatively, select Get price alerts on your computer. Skyscanner will ask you to either sign in to your account or create a new one.
Google Flights has a similar feature. I recommend using this hack to get cheaper flights in the off-season, especially when you can find excellent deals.
2. Set Up Alerts for Last-Minute Deals
When I was younger, I thought you had to book flights more than six months in advance (mainly because I traveled often between the U.K. and the U.S.). But when I started traveling on my own, I learned this wasn’t always true. Especially now, you can always find last-minute deals for spontaneous trips.
Many flight comparison sites and airlines will let you set up alerts for last-minute deals. To do so, use the same steps mentioned above. Decide whether you’re flexible with your dates or want to travel within a specific period – I recommend KAYAK for the latter.
You can also browse last-minute deals on flight comparison sites if you’re more open-minded about where you travel. Through this hack, I’ve visited many amazing European countries, such as Poland and the Netherlands, on chaper flights. However, it’ll also work for other continents.
3. Browsing in Incognito Mode
If flight comparison sites have information about your browsing history, and you’ve shown a clear interest in booking, you could see inflated flight prices. Using a VPN often doesn’t work, as many websites will block your payment, making Incognito Mode a better alternative.
With Incognito Mode, you should see more accurate flight price comparisons. This hack isn’t foolproof, but it will significantly improve your chances of scoring cheaper flight tickets.
Before using the Incognito Mode, use can even work within AI to plan your next trip. Once you’ve found what you’re interested in, you can then use this hack to find cheaper flights.
4. Signing Up for Newsletters
I sometimes don’t want to browse airline or flight comparison sites for cheaper prices, and signing up for newsletters is a great hack to take advantage of that information anyway. Having deals delivered to my inbox means that I can then decide if I want to take up those offers.
Jack’s Flight Club is the most famous example, and the free newsletter is pretty good. You can also upgrade to a premium plan starting at $60 per year, which gives benefits like error fare alerts.
There are various other newsletters, but most of these offer a trial period rather than a completely free plan, making Jack’s Flight Club your best newsletter option.
5. Changing the Currency and Location
Flight prices can change, depending on your chosen currency and location. Unlike using a VPN, I’ve found that I can usually book flights this way (especially if I use an international bank card like Wise or Revolut).
Many flight comparison sites let you change your location and currency. From personal experience, changing the currency is more important, as you can get great deals, depending on the exchange rate at the time of booking.
Besides your payment actually going through, I recommend using an international bank card for the simple reason that you’ll pay in the currency you choose. Many traditional banks will charge exchange fees and give you a worse rate.
6. Browsing Different Flight Comparison Sites
We all have our favorite flight comparison sites, but it’s a good idea to compare prices across each one. For example, I mainly use Skyscanner but have found some good deals on KAYAK and Momondo.
When you click on a flight price, you’ll see different travel agents offering tickets on the same route. However, I’ve had some negative experiences when a flight was canceled: they wanted more money than it was worth to get a refund. By browsing different comparison sites, you can review what others think of their customer support and other factors.
Searching for cheaper flight tickets can be daunting if you’ve never done it before, but thankfully, these hacks provide plenty of options. Start by setting up price alerts and looking for last-minute deals, and consider signing up for newsletters. Once you’ve booked your flights, make sure you buy these must-have tech products for travel.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.
