Okay, real talk: how many of you have thought about going on vacation only to find ticket prices are somehow twice as much as what you were expecting? (Maybe that’s just a “me problem”). The average plane ticket can double the price of your trip, but there are ways you can find good flights that won’t break the bank. It’s taken me some time, but I’ve figured out a method that has helped me score tickets one-third of what they normally cost: First, a few tips:Be flexible with your destination and dates whenever possible. I’m in college, so the dates I’m available to travel are pretty limited, and often fall into the peak travel season. However, I’m also willing to travel just about anywhere, and I have a list of the top countries I want to visit next which I keep an eye out for. By remaining as flexible as possible, and being willing to travel during the off-season, you’ll be able to find the cheapest flights. Say no to add-ons. When I traveled to England this past August, I scored a cheap flight, but nearly everything cost extra. A checked bag would have cost me $60! To work around this, I took all of my clothes in a carry-on, and it worked out perfectly. While saying no to upgrades takes a little creative thinking (and packing), you’ll be able to avoid hidden fees. The name of the game is action. When searching for cheap flights, fares often don’t last long--sometimes they’re only available for a day or so before they jump up again. Acting quickly can mean the difference between a $400 and $1000 flight. How I Score Cheap FlightsFirst off, I check Scott’s Cheap Flights. You need to make an account, but there is a free option, which I use (I said this was a c h e a p guide, y’all, and I meant it!) On the free account, they will show you limited destinations with a full guide attached, telling you how long they expect the prices to last, which cities offer the best outgoing prices, special fees, etc. However, they also show you advertised premium deals with the basics--destination, average cost, and what time of year the fare is good for. Armed with this information, narrow down which destinations you would like to go the most, and hop on over to Google Flights. Plug in whichever airport you want to fly out of (in my case, I generally check SFO and OAK), your destination, and proposed dates, and click search. Next, click “Date Grid.” This page, in combination with “Price Graph,” will show you the cheapest dates to fly. The Price Graph page shows me that I can save almost $900 by traveling earlier in December rather than over the holiday... ...but checking out the Date Grid shows me it’s actually cheaper to fly out three days earlier than when the Price Graph suggested. And there we have it! Super-cheap flight to England: Sold! Through this method, I was able to catch a nonstop, round-trip flight to London for $450 during peak travel season in August, when most other flights were three times that much! There are a few other resources I check out on occasion, which you can find in my Cheap Travel Resource Cheat Sheet on my Resources Page, free to access for email subscribers. One of my favorites is Airwander, a stopover search which allows you to find cheap, 1+ day layovers, for you to explore new cities on the way to your destination (and sometimes even save $$$)! I also highly recommend checking out Scott’s Cheap Flights guide to finding cheap flights, which is an invaluable resource. (Scott’s isn’t an affiliate, I’m just a huge fan). What are your cheap flight hacks? Do you have anything to share? Drop your tips in the comments below! Like this post? Why not share it?If you enjoyed this article, please leave me a comment telling me what you think! Or, if you found it useful, share it with your friends! You'll be helping me turn my passion for travel into a business, and more importantly, you'll be helping your friends out with any travel questions they might have, too. See more adventuresIf you liked this post, you may also like:
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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