Budget Travel How to Find Cheap Flights

It all begins with the airfare. Can you afford to fly to your next holiday destination? Well, it depends. How flexible are you? Savvy travelers are those that do not travel in the height of any season or can wait a week or two in order to find the best fares. You’ve probably heard this before, but it really does pay off to have a bit of leeway to when exactly you can jet off.It is also wise to start your search about 3 months in advance. Yes. Don’t wait until a month before to start looking for flights. Of course, you can’t always be so well prepared. But if you have been wanting to go to Hawaii for years and finally decide this is the year, then it’s smart to start your search well ahead of time.Even if you already have a particular month in mind, there are flight search techniques you can use that can save you money. Here are some tips on how to find cheap flights:Search for flights like the pros
Meta-search: Searching for airline flights has become easier with many one-stop meta-search websites like Kayak.com, Farecompare.com, and Cheapoair.com. These sites allow you to search for the best fares in one quick swoop. One thing, though, is that they do not necessarily include all airlines. Some airlines simply do not allow their fares to be listed on these websites. By all means do begin with a fare comparison, but also include other alternatives like the options below.ITA Matrix: ITA shares the same technology that is used on many fare comparison websites. The difference is that you have access to more ‘advanced’ options, such as a calendar that list the cheapest days to fly. This is a very useful function for those who are flexible on their travel dates. You can also narrow your search to include the number of stops and the number of days of your stay. One thing to note is that the ITA Matrix does not sell the actual fare. You must go to the actual airline to book your ticket.Buy your ticket early in the week: Aim to search for sites on a Monday or Tuesday, as this is when a lot of airlines list their lowest fares. To test this theory out, conduct a hypothetical search now and continue for a couple of weeks. This can give you a good idea of airfare trends and to learn exactly when is the best day to buy.Before you purchase: Ok, you’ve spent months planning and researching and you think you’ve found the perfect fare. However, you have a feeling that in a week or two things could change. To get an idea of how flight prices change, use a fare predictor like the one at Bing.com, which lets you know if fares are rising or dropping in a seven-day period.Yes, all of the above methods require a bit of time. However, think about how much you will enjoy your next holiday knowing how much money you saved!