How to find cheaper flights
Flights are often the biggest single cost of a trip. There is no magic trick, but these habits reliably lower the price.
- Be flexible with dates. Use a calendar or month view in Google Flights or Skyscanner; a day or two earlier or later can change the price a lot.
- Check nearby airports at both ends of the trip.
- Set price alerts for your route and book when the price drops into the range you expect.
- Compare the full price on budget airlines. Add the bags, seats and fees you actually need before comparing.
- Travel light. A carry-on-only trip avoids checked bag fees. Our packing list helps.
- Look at one-way tickets on different airlines for the outbound and return.
- Avoid school holidays and festivals at your destination if you can.
- Book directly with the airline once you have found the fare. It is often the same price and easier to change.
- Don't rely on 'hidden-city' ticketing. It breaks most airlines' rules, you can't check bags, and the airline can cancel the rest of your booking.
When you know your flight cost, add it to the trip budget calculator to see the full trip price.