Flying is an exciting and efficient way to travel the world. You can use the flight and time waiting at the airport to catch up on work, read, listen to podcasts, or spin the reels on the go with ease. The only drawback is that flying can be an expensive mode of transportation. If you’re a budget-conscious traveller, you’re likely looking for many ways to find savings, starting with your flights to and from your destination.

To help you with that, we’ve compiled a list of five proven ways to find the best flight prices. Combined, these will help you travel and stay on budget.

1. Use Flight Comparison Websites

When you’re a bargain hunter searching for more affordable flight options, you’ll likely search for different airlines and flight options to find a good deal. Flight comparison websites make doing this far easier since they compare prices across various airlines, airports, and travel dates in one place. They allow you to broadly search for the most affordable options for your desired destination. Popular options include Google Flights and Expedia.

Websites such as Kiwi or Skiplagged will combine different airlines to find you the cheapest connecting flights to your destination or provide “hidden city” flights, though these come with a few concerns to be aware of.  If your first flight is delayed and you’re using different airlines, you won’t be protected the way you would be by using a single airline. With hidden city flights, you can’t book round trips and may face repercussions from your airline. Because of this, fully explore what the flight comparison websites offer, and don’t just focus on the final price tag.

2. Be Flexible with Your Travel Destinations, Dates, and Times

The places, seasons, and days you choose to travel significantly impact flight prices, so if you can be flexible with when and where you travel, you can open up far more budget-friendly travel options. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the cheapest days to fly. If you can fly very early or late in the day, you can also find deals this way. If you’re looking for a specific destination, travelling during the off-season can bring many savings and offer a more enjoyable tourist experience, with fewer tourists visiting popular attractions. Many flight comparison websites also offer tools that help you find more affordable seasons, days, and times to travel, helping you book more economically.

If you aren’t tied to a specific destination, you can also plan your travel around more affordable ones. There are many affordable European destinations when flying from the UK, giving you an escape and helping you save money for your travels.

3. Set Fare Alerts

Fare alerts allow you to get real-time updates when flight prices drop, allowing you to get amazing deals as soon as they’re available. If you have your heart set on a specific destination or less flexibility when you travel, this can be a great way to find savings. Website comparison tools such as Google Flights, KAYAK, Skyscanner, and Hopper allow you to set fare alerts for specific times, destinations, and different airlines. You’ll receive a notification by email or phone so you can get updates in whatever way is most convenient for you. These tools also allow you to rebook flights for more savings, so you’re not locked in at a higher price after booking your tickets.

4. Consider Nearby Airports

When booking flight routes, consider looking at nearby airports within your destination, as smaller airports can be cheaper to fly in or out of. Expanding your search to include different airports gives you more options than relying on main thoroughfares, allowing you to pick and choose savings when they’re available and convenient. Many flight comparison websites allow you to include nearby airports in your search and set alerts for them, allowing you to adjust flight plans and book the most affordable route to your destination. Many major cities have more than one airport, meaning you’ll likely find many travel options, whether you’re touring through Europe, Asia, or the Americas.

5. Book in Advance

For a long time, it was common to hear that booking at the last minute was a great way to save money, but this also came with the stress of not having everything you need for travelling set out in advance. It has also not been a proven method for getting good savings. Instead, it’s best to book a few months before you plan to travel. Tracking and monitoring flight prices can help you predict the best time to book for your destination and the travel date you have in mind. Booking in advance and setting fare alerts for your route also gives you time to wait for prices to drop and rebook for cheaper options.

Bonus Tip: Forget These Myths for Finding Good Flight Prices

There are many ideas about the best ways to find good flight prices. However, many of these long-held ideas are nothing more than myths. A few myths to avoid or forget about while booking flights and planning your travels include:

• Tuesdays are the cheapest days to buy plane tickets
• August 23rd is the cheapest day of the year to purchase tickets
• Booking flights late at night saves you money
• You should only search for flights using your browser’s incognito mode

These myths may have had some truth to them at some point but no longer do, or they may have just been repeated so often that people began to believe they were true without there ever having been evidence.

Conclusion

With these five proven ways to find the best flight prices, you can enjoy the trip of your dreams while sticking to a budget.