Finding cheap flights to anywhere requires a combination of research, flexibility, and timing. This includes understanding how flight pricing works, using flight search engines that leverage cost-saving hacks, such as price alerts, and knowing when to book. For example, short-haul flights within Europe are typically best booked one to three months in advance, while travel during high season often requires booking three to six months ahead. That said, pricing patterns can vary by route. It’s generally easier to find cheap flights on well-connected routes, such as Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, because multiple airlines, including AirAsia , Singapore Airlines , and Scoot , cover them, increasing competition. To secure the cheapest flights to anywhere, it’s important to compare all available options, including different airlines, departure times, and routes with stopovers, to maximise your chances of getting a good deal.
Learn the Basics of Flight Pricing
Having some understanding of flight pricing will already put you one step ahead of most passengers.
Dynamic Pricing
Carriers are notorious for using dynamic pricing on flights. This is a system where fares change in real time based on factors such as the number of bookings, available seats, and competitors’ prices.
Demand for Routes
Some routes are more popular than others. Take Kuala Lumpur to Singapore , for example. This is a prime example of a route that gets a lot of traffic, but it’s served by many carriers, such as AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, and Scoot, so it’s easier to find good deals. In contrast, flights to destinations like Koror, the capital of Palau, are typically much more expensive due to their limited access and fewer flight connections.
Time of Year
The time of year is a major price-determining factor for airlines, as more people travel during certain periods. For example, summer in Europe is popular because schools are out and the weather is more favorable, so airlines may increase their prices. Be on a look out for flights during shorter holidays such as labor day . You can still travel but still escape seasonal price hikes.
Utilize Flight Search Engines
Flight search engines like Kiwi are designed to help everyone travel without having to spend extortionate amounts of money by booking directly with airlines. Here’s how companies like ours put more money back in your pocket while helping you travel wherever you want.
Flight Price Alerts
Price alerts allow you to monitor any flight without constantly checking for updates. You simply set an alert for the route you’d like to take, such as Dublin to London Heathrow , and you’ll receive an email whenever the price changes, whether it goes up or down.
Hidden-City Ticketing
Escape the high prices of direct routes by using hidden-city ticketing. Instead of paying double for an expensive airfare from Jakarta to Sydney, hidden city ticketing gives you the opportunity to book your trip with a stopover in Sydney and skip the final leg.
Self Transfers
Planning to travel from Tbilisi to Kolkata, but there are no direct flights with the airline you want to fly with? This is where self-transfers come in handy. You can avoid inflated prices by using self-transfers to build an itinerary that suits your needs by combining a few legs with different airlines at the lowest price.
Throwaway Ticketing
Flying one way is often more expensive than booking a return ticket. Throwaway ticketing takes advantage of this by helping you book a return flight, but you only use the outbound flight, which gives you the cheapest tickets.
Nomad
Nomad is a Kiwi-exclusive feature that lets passengers combine multiple cities into a single itinerary at a lower rate than booking each leg separately. For example, if you want to visit Madrid , Paris, and Athens in one trip, you’ll be able to use Nomad to build an itinerary and bundle all fares into a single ticket.
Be Flexible
Having some flexibility can be great for finding more affordable airfares. Here are some strategies to adopt.
- Be less strict with your dates: There’s no need to stick to specific dates if you’ve got some time on your hands. If the route you’re considering is cheaper to fly the following week, wait it out.
- Use different airports: Check alternative airports at your destination to see if flights are cheaper. Some cities have multiple airports, and one may offer better prices than another. Buenos Aires is a good example of this.
- Don’t be afraid to fly early or late: Waking up at 3 am or staying up through the night for a flight may sound grim, but it can be kinder to your wallet. With fewer travellers booking these flights, airlines cut prices to ensure seats don’t go unused.
- Add a layover: Including a layover in your itinerary can often reduce costs. Airlines frequently raise prices on direct routes, knowing many travelers are willing to pay more to avoid a stop.
Know When to Book
Timing is essential for booking flights. Anyone who travels often knows not to jump on the first price they see when they start searching. Just because a flight is priced at a certain rate one day doesn’t mean it will stay that way the next.
While the general rule of thumb is to book flights from your departure city 1 to 3 months before your trip, there are exceptions. This guideline works well for most flights within Europe during the year, but during periods when there’s an increase in people traveling, such as summer, it’s safer to book three to six months in advance to enjoy better prices.
Signs that you should book:
- You notice a drop in prices: If the fare you’re watching drops suddenly, don’t wait around for it to go even lower. Take advantage of the lower airfare.
- Airline sales: Airlines run sales frequently. As soon as you see a sale released by the carrier you want to fly with, book your flights while the opportunity is there.
- There’s no sign of change: If you’ve been monitoring a flight with price alerts for a while and your travel dates are approaching, it’s usually best to book at the current price rather than keep waiting. Fares are likely to increase closer to departure.
Make Use of Regional Hubs
Regional hubs can be extremely useful for reaching a particular destination because they’re often cheaper to fly into. One effective tactic involves booking a flight to a major hub first, then purchasing a separate, lower-cost flight to your final destination. By using the hub to reach the region, you can often avoid paying the higher price of a single direct airline ticket to a smaller or less busy airport.
Here are some of the most popular hubs around the world:
- North America: John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York, USA)
- South America: São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (São Paulo, Brazil)
- Africa: Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
- Oceania: Sydney Airport (Sydney, Australia)
- Asia: Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar)
- Europe: Frankfurt Airport (Frankfurt, Germany)
Pay in Foreign Currencies
Always double-check to see whether it’s cheaper to pay in a different currency for flights. For example, a flight to Manila may cost less when paid for in Philippine Pesos rather than Euros or US Dollars. Before completing the purchase, make sure that the exchange rate is favorable. Also factor in any foreign transaction or conversion fees, as these may reduce the amount you’ll be able to save, so it may not be worth your while at all.
Book Smarter and Avoid Overpaying for Flights
Do flight prices really change every day?
Flight prices can change multiple times throughout the day, depending on factors such as demand, external events, and how many seats are still available. Fluctuations are driven by dynamic pricing algorithms, which automatically adjust fares based on these conditions.
Is flying midweek actually cheaper?
Flying midweek is often cheaper than flying on weekends because fewer people are traveling for leisure or taking weekend getaways. To fill seats that haven’t been booked, airlines will often lower their prices, making midweek flights more affordable.
Are budget airlines always the cheapest option?
Not necessarily. While the base fares can be very affordable, budget airlines often make up the difference through extra add-ons that are usually included with full-service airlines, such as meals, checked baggage, and seat selection. Compare both options based on your specific travel needs to determine which offers tickets at the cheapest price.
Should I use incognito mode when trying to find the best flight deals?
No, the idea that using incognito mode saves you money on flights has largely been debunked. Airlines don’t use your browsing history to set prices on their booking sites. Instead, they rely on dynamic pricing. Because of this, using incognito mode isn’t necessary. Some people choose to use a VPN to mask their location, which can sometimes affect pricing, but this method isn’t guaranteed to work and isn’t always 100% reliable.
