How to Find Cheap Flights in 2023: The Ultimate Guide

Finding a cheap flight can make your travel dreams come true, but it can also be a daunting task. There are so many factors that affect the price of airfare, such as demand, season, destination, competition, fuel costs, and more. How can you find the best deal among thousands of options?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll share some of the best tips and tricks on how to find cheap flights on any airline. Whether you’re planning a trip to Europe, Asia, Africa, or anywhere else in the world, these tips will help you save money and time on your flight search.

1. Ignore the Myths

The first thing you need to know is that there is no magic formula or secret trick to finding a cheap flight. You may have heard some myths online about how to find cheap flights, such as:

• It is cheaper to buy airfare on a Tuesday or any other specific day of the week.
• Searching incognito or clearing your cookies leads to cheaper deals.
• There is an exact date or time period in which to book your airfare.
• You can predict airline prices and websites that do are reliable.

These are all lies. They are based on outdated or inaccurate information and will not help you find a cheap flight. Airlines use complex algorithms and dynamic pricing to determine their fares, based on various factors that change constantly. There is no one-size-fits-all rule or hack that works for every flight.

Instead of following these myths, you should focus on the tips that actually work and are based on facts and data. Here are some of them:

2. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates and Times

One of the most important factors that affect the price of airfare is the date and time of your travel. Generally speaking, flying during peak seasons, holidays, weekends, or popular times of the day will cost you more than flying during off-peak seasons, weekdays, or less popular times of the day.

For example, flying to Europe in the summer will be more expensive than flying in the winter. Flying on a Friday night will be more expensive than flying on a Tuesday morning. Flying on Christmas Eve will be more expensive than flying on any other day in December.

Therefore, if you want to find a cheap flight, you should be flexible with your travel dates and times. Try to avoid traveling when everyone else is traveling and look for alternative dates and times that are less in demand.

To do this, you can use tools like Google Flights , Skyscanner , or Kayak , which allow you to compare prices across different dates and times. You can also use their calendar or chart features to see the cheapest days or months to fly to your destination.

For example, using Google Flights , you can see that flying from New York to London in January 2023 costs $344 round-trip if you fly on January 18 and return on January 25. However, if you fly on January 11 and return on January 18, it costs $284 round-trip. That’s a saving of $60 just by changing your dates by one week.

3. Be Flexible with Your Destinations

Another factor that affects the price of airfare is your destination. Some destinations are more expensive than others due to factors such as distance, taxes, fees, competition, demand, and more.

For example, flying from New York to Tokyo will be more expensive than flying from New York to Toronto. Flying from New York to Paris will be more expensive than flying from New York to Lisbon.

Therefore, if you want to find a cheap flight, you should also be flexible with your destinations. Instead of having a fixed destination in mind, look for alternative destinations that are cheaper or offer better value for money.

To do this, you can also use tools like Google Flights , Skyscanner , or Kayak , which allow you to search for flights to anywhere in the world. You can also use their map or explore features to see the cheapest destinations from your departure airport.

For example, using Skyscanner , you can see that flying from New York in January 2023 costs $284 round-trip if you fly to London. However, if you fly to Barcelona , it costs $231 round-trip. That’s a saving of $53 just by changing your destination by one country.

4. Fly Budget Carriers

Another way to find a cheap flight is to fly with budget carriers. Budget carriers are airlines that offer low fares by cutting costs on amenities, services, and extras. They usually charge for things like checked baggage, seat selection, meals, drinks, entertainment, and more.

Some of the most popular budget carriers in the world are Ryanair , EasyJet , Southwest , JetBlue , AirAsia , and Norwegian . They often fly to secondary airports, which are smaller and less convenient than major airports, but also cheaper and less crowded.

Flying with budget carriers can save you a lot of money on your flight, especially if you travel light and don’t need a lot of extras. However, you should also be aware of the potential drawbacks and hidden fees that may come with flying with budget carriers.

For example, you may have to pay extra for:

• Checked baggage or carry-on baggage that exceeds the weight or size limit
• Seat selection or priority boarding
• Meals, drinks, snacks, or entertainment
• Printing your boarding pass or checking in at the airport
• Changing or canceling your booking
• Taxes, fees, or surcharges that are not included in the advertised fare

Therefore, before you book a flight with a budget carrier, you should read the fine print and compare the total cost with other airlines. You should also check the reviews and ratings of the budget carrier to see what other travelers have experienced.

5. Don’t Always Fly Direct

Another tip to find a cheap flight is to not always fly direct. Flying direct means flying from one airport to another without any stops or layovers. Flying direct is usually faster and more convenient than flying with stops or layovers, but it can also be more expensive.

Flying with stops or layovers means flying from one airport to another with one or more stops or layovers in between. A stop is when you stay on the same plane but it lands at another airport before reaching your final destination. A layover is when you change planes at another airport before reaching your final destination.

Flying with stops or layovers can save you money on your flight, especially if you fly to a popular hub or a nearby city and then take a connecting flight to your final destination. However, you should also consider the trade-offs and risks that may come with flying with stops or layovers.

For example, you may have to deal with:

• Longer travel time and more fatigue
• More hassle and stress of changing planes or terminals
• More chance of missing your connection or losing your baggage
• More uncertainty and variability of prices and availability

Therefore, before you book a flight with stops or layovers, you should compare the price difference with direct flights and weigh the pros and cons. You should also check the duration and location of your stops or layovers and make sure you have enough time and comfort to make your connection.

6. Keep an Eye for Special Deals

Another way to find a cheap flight is to keep an eye for special deals. Special deals are offers or discounts that airlines give to attract customers and fill seats. They can be for various reasons, such as:

• Mistake fares: These are fares that are published by mistake due to human error or technical glitch. They are usually much lower than the normal fares and can be fixed or honored by the airline.
• Flash sales: These are fares that are offered for a limited time or quantity by the airline. They are usually much lower than the normal fares and can be sold out quickly.
• Promo codes: These are codes that give you a discount on your fare when you enter them during the booking process. They are usually offered by the airline or by third-party websites or apps.
• Loyalty programs: These are programs that reward you with points or miles for flying with the airline or its partners. You can use these points or miles to redeem for free flights or discounts on future bookings.

To find these special deals, you need to be alert and proactive. You can do this by:

• Signing up for newsletters or alerts from airlines or third-party websites or apps that offer deals
• Following airlines or third-party websites or apps on social media platforms like Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , etc.
• Joining online communities or forums where travelers share tips and deals
• Checking websites or blogs that specialize in finding deals

Some of the best websites or apps to find special deals are:

• Scott’s Cheap Flights : This is a service that sends you email alerts when there are mistake fares or flash sales from your departure airport.
• Airfarewatchdog : This is a website that tracks fares from various airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination.
• Skiplagged : This is a website that finds hidden city fares , which are fares that are cheaper if you get off at a layover city instead of flying to your final destination.
• Hopper : This is an app that predicts future prices and tells you when is the best time to book your flight.

7. Remember Not All Search Engines are Equal

Another tip to find a cheap flight is to remember that not all search engines are equal. Search engines are websites or apps that help you find and compare flights from various airlines and sources. However, not all search engines show you the same results or prices.

Some search engines may have exclusive deals or discounts with certain airlines or sources. Some search engines may not include all the airlines or sources that fly to your destination. Some search engines may charge extra fees or commissions on top of the fare.

Therefore, if you want to find a cheap flight, you should use multiple search engines and compare the results and prices. You should also check the official websites of the airlines or sources that offer the best deals, as they may have lower prices or better terms and conditions.

Some of the best search engines to find cheap flights are:

• Skyscanner : This is a website that compares flights from over 1,200 airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination. You can also use its map or explore features to find the cheapest destinations from your departure airport.
• Google Flights : This is a website that compares flights from hundreds of airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination. You can also use its calendar or chart features to see the cheapest days or months to fly to your destination.
• Momondo : This is a website that compares flights from over 700 airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination. You can also use its price alert feature to get notified when the price drops for your destination.
• OneTravel : This is a website that offers flights from various airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination. You can also use its promo codes or coupons to get discounts on your booking.
• Costco Travel : This is a website that offers flights from various airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination. You can also use its membership benefits to get extra perks or savings on your booking.

8. Take Advantage of Student Discounts

If you are a student, you can take advantage of student discounts to find a cheap flight. Student discounts are offers or discounts that airlines or third-party websites or apps give to students who have a valid student ID or email.

Student discounts can save you money on your flight, especially if you travel to popular student destinations or during peak seasons. However, you should also be aware of the terms and conditions that may apply to student discounts, such as:

• Age limit: Some student discounts may only apply to students who are under a certain age, such as 25 or 30 years old.
• Booking limit: Some student discounts may only apply to bookings made within a certain time period, such as 6 months before departure or 3 months after arrival.
• Travel limit: Some student discounts may only apply to travel within a certain region, such as Europe or North America.
• Verification: Some student discounts may require you to verify your student status by providing a valid student ID or email.

To find student discounts, you can use websites or apps that specialize in offering them, such as:

• StudentUniverse : This is a website that offers flights from various airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination with student discounts applied. You can also use its membership benefits to get extra perks or savings on your booking.
• STA Travel : This is a website that offers flights from various airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination with student discounts applied. You can also use its ISIC card to get access to more than 150,000 discounts worldwide.
• Skyscanner : This is a website that compares flights from over 1,200 airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination with student discounts applied. You can also use its map or explore features to find the cheapest destinations from your departure airport.

9. Mix and Match Airlines

Another way to find a cheap flight is to mix and match airlines. Mixing and matching airlines means booking different airlines for your outbound and inbound flights. For example, you can book Delta for your outbound flight and United for your inbound flight.

Mixing and matching airlines can save you money on your flight, especially if you fly to different airports or hubs that have different prices or competition. However, you should also consider the trade-offs and risks that may come with mixing and matching airlines, such as:

• More hassle and stress of checking in and boarding with different airlines or terminals
• More chance of missing your connection or losing your baggage
• More uncertainty and variability of prices and availability
• Less chance of getting a refund or compensation if something goes wrong

Therefore, before you book a flight with different airlines, you should compare the price difference with booking the same airline and weigh the pros and cons. You should also check the duration and location of your layovers and make sure you have enough time and comfort to make your connection.

To find flights with different airlines, you can use websites or apps that allow you to mix and match airlines, such as:

• Kayak : This is a website that compares flights from hundreds of airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination with different airlines. You can also use its hacker fares feature to find flights with different airlines that are cheaper than booking the same airline.
• Kiwi : This is a website that offers flights from various airlines and sources and shows you the best deals for your destination with different airlines. You can also use its guarantee feature to get a refund or compensation if something goes wrong with your connection.
• AirWander : This is a website that finds flights with different airlines that are cheaper than booking the same airline. You can also use its stopover feature to add a free or cheap stopover to your trip.

10. Use Points and Miles

Another tip to find a cheap flight is to use points and miles. Points and miles are rewards that you earn for flying with an airline or its partners, or for using a credit card or other services that are affiliated with an airline.

Points and miles can help you save money on your flight, as you can use them to redeem for free flights or discounts on future bookings. However, you should also be aware of the terms and conditions that may apply to points and miles, such as:

• Expiration: Some points and miles may expire after a certain period of time or inactivity, so you should use them before they do.
• Availability: Some points and miles may have limited availability or blackout dates, so you should book early or be flexible with your dates.
• Fees: Some points and miles may have fees or taxes associated with them, so you should check the total cost before redeeming them.
• Value: Some points and miles may have different values depending on how you use them, so you should compare the value of using them versus paying cash.

To earn points and miles, you can join loyalty programs that reward you for flying with an airline or its partners, such as:

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan : This is a program that rewards you based on the number of miles you fly, instead of how much you spend. You can earn miles by flying with Alaska Airlines or its partners, such as American Airlines , British Airways , Emirates , etc. You can also earn miles by using credit cards , hotels , car rentals , shopping , dining , etc. that are affiliated with Alaska Airlines. You can redeem miles for free flights or discounts on Alaska Airlines or its partners.
• JetBlue’s TrueBlue : This is a program that rewards you based on how much you spend, instead of how many miles you fly. You can earn points by flying with JetBlue or its partners, such as Hawaiian Airlines , Icelandair , Emirates , etc. You can also earn points by using credit cards , hotels , car rentals , shopping , dining , etc. that are affiliated with JetBlue. You can redeem points for free flights or discounts on JetBlue or its partners.
• Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards : This is a program that rewards you based on how much you spend, instead of how many miles you fly. You can earn points by flying with Southwest or its partners, such as AirTran Airways , Hawaiian Airlines , etc. You can also earn points by using credit cards , hotels , car rentals , shopping , dining , etc. that are affiliated with Southwest. You can redeem points for free flights or discounts on Southwest or its partners.

To use points and miles, you can book flights directly from the airline’s website or app, or from third-party websites or apps that allow you to use them, such as:

• AwardHacker : This is a website that helps you find the best way to use your points and miles for your destination. You can enter your departure and arrival airports, your preferred class of service, your preferred alliance, and your available points and miles from various programs. It will then show you the best options for redeeming them, including the number of points and miles required, the fees involved, the availability, and the value.
• AwardWallet : This is a website that helps you track your points and miles from various programs. You can enter your account information from various programs, such as airlines, hotels, credit cards, etc. It will then show you your balance, expiration date, activity history, and redemption options for each program.

Finding a cheap flight can be a challenge, but it is not impossible. By following these tips and tricks, you can save money and time on your flight search and book the best deal for your trip. Remember to:

• Ignore the myths and focus on the facts and data
• Be flexible with your travel dates, times, and destinations
• Fly with budget carriers or with different airlines
• Keep an eye for special deals or discounts
• Use points and miles or student discounts
• Use multiple search engines and compare the results and prices

With these tips and tricks, you can find a cheap flight to anywhere in the world. Happy travels!