Are you in dire need of a vacation right now? If so, get ready for a week off while you’re exploring hundreds of aggregators, booking sites, and airline websites to score cheap tickets for your next holiday!

Sound familiar?

Airline tickets usually don’t come cheap, so those of us who scour the web in search of cheap flights usually put in a considerable amount of time to find them.

But time is money too, so here are some tried-and-tested strategies that will help you discover cheap flights faster than you’re used to. 

How to Score Cheap Airfare Flights in 9 Simple Steps

Choose the Most Cost-Effective Dates

Typically, people fly throughout the week and return home on weekends. As such, the cost of flights is most expensive during this time; supply and demand principle.

But beyond this, airline companies set the prices of airline tickets on a dynamic basis. This means they keep a close eye on any movements in the market and modify ticket prices based on what’s going on.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are frequently the cheapest travel days of the week. Meanwhile, the most expensive days are Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. Since airlines know that most business travel occurs between Monday and Friday, flights departing Monday and returning Friday are usually more costly.

If you plan to take a vacation and would like to save a couple of bucks, you can check websites such as NextVacay.com. These sites offer the best airline deals worldwide so that you can enjoy your dream vacation without breaking the bank.

Connecting Flights Are an Option

You can save a lot of money on aircraft tickets using this method; hunt for a connecting flight requiring a transfer when flying between two locations on the same route. These flights are far less expensive than booking the two legs separately. 

Avoiding tight layovers should be your rule of thumb. Airline companies sometimes schedule connecting flights several days apart, allowing you to visit the stopover destination before boarding your connecting aircraft. This can be a great way to add another destination to your holiday, for a cheaper flight! 

Pay Attention to Expert Advice

Many travel experts spend their days scouring the globe for the best travel deals, and whether it’s your local travel agent, newspaper colomnist, or travel blogger, it does pay to listen to expert advice.  

These bargain hunters are always on the lookout for the finest deals, whether it’s on flights, hotels, or rental vehicles. And airlines may even notify them of special offers ahead of time.

When you find a travel expert who puts out reliable information, sign up to their newsletter, follow them on social media (and enable notifications), and bookmark their website so you hear about deals as soon as they’re found.

Make Use of Automated Price Tracking

Most travel search engines give you the option to send alerts when ticket prices drop. This can be via either email, or many now have mobile apps which will send you push notificaitons. 

These sites are excellent tools to find cheap flights regardless of the airline, and allow you to comapre prices across the market.

We alsways recommend jumping onto the airline website directly after you find a deal to confirm if you can get it cheaper, or, if it’s the same price, it’s much better booking directly than via a third party website (though definitely use the aggregators for your research).

Use Social Media to Keep Up With Airlines

Following an airline on social media is essential if you’re after cheap flights, as many will issue exclusive promotional codes on their Facebook or Twitter profile.

You can gain a lot from social network sites these days. Make sure you enable notifications so their updates show up in your feed, and then watch out for advertising offers and last-minute tickets, as well as competitions and giveaways for free flights.

For the same reason, we also recommend signing up for airline newsletters. Every airline has one these days, and it will notify you of discounts and flash offers. These reductions can be as much as 50% off the published rates, which can obviously save you a lot of money!

Search in a Different Currency

This strategy is hit-or-miss, but it’s worth a go. Check for flights in a country with a weaker currency if your country’s currency is more vital than others (particularly the one you want to visit). 

If you’re looking for a flight run by a foreign airline, this is a great way to go. When comparing prices, you could find that booking in the carrier’s native currency or region, allowing you to save a significant amount of money.

Again, this isn’t always the case, but it can occasionally result in a more excellent price. You may need to do this on several various search engines before hitting the jackpot.

Purchase a Ticket in Advance

Sure, this is a tried-and-true method for getting inexpensive flights, but nothing beats the discounts you can get on an airline ticket by booking in advance.

Booking tickets early has always proven to be the best way to get lower prices. The best time to buy an airline ticket is 47 to 90 days before departure, depending on the season and your location. And anything earlier or later than that can become a bit more expensive.

Consider Flying a Low-Cost Airline

Check if budget airlines (low-cost carriers) fly to your desired vacation location in addition to exploring the big airline booking sites.

You might be surprised by how inexpensive these flights are because budget airlines don’t give all of the niceties that major airlines do, such as free checked luggage, food, beverages, and extra legroom.

Use Frequent Flyer Miles

It’s a no-brainer when you can use your frequent flier miles instead of paying a charge. Although redeeming points has gotten more complicated in recent years, it is still a feasible alternative, especially if you book ahead of time.

Airlines pick a small number of eligible tickets for award travel on each trip, and these seats fill up rapidly.

To Wrap It Up

In the end, there are several methods for obtaining a low-cost plane ticket. The tips mentioned above are some of the most effective; tricks to keep in mind if you’re up for some unforgettable traveling experience without hurting your finances.