How to Get the Cheapest Price on FLIGHTS! (Tips You NEED to Know!)

Oct 16, 2021 | How To Save Money, Travel

Are you dreaming of your next vacation? Don't book your tickets until you read this post. We'll show you how to save money on flights!

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We love to travel (who doesn't, right??), but flights usually hold us back from going to all the places on our bucket list. If you've ever had to skip a trip because you couldn't swing the flights, then this post might be your all-time fave!

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Lucky for you, over time, we have gathered SO many frugal-friendly hacks, tips, and tricks, and we're about to spill the deets! Ready to find out how to get the lowest price on flights? We've got tips that could save you a small fortune. Here we go!


HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON FLIGHTS: 12 GAME-CHANGING TIPS

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Warning: the tips we're about to share just might Blow. Your. Mind. You'll kick yourself for not trying these sooner! Seriously. They work! First up, let's talk about the importance of planning strategically.

AVOID FLYING ON FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS

Fly on a Wednesday when you can. Why? Studies have shown it's the cheapest day to fly! If you can't fly on a Wednesday, then Tuesdays and Saturdays are the next best days. Avoid Fridays and Sundays – those are the most expensive days to fly.


SET YOUR BROWSER TO INCOGNITO MODE

When searching for your flights, do it in private or incognito mode. The internet is a nosey place, filled with ways companies can track your every move. For example, in the good old standby of “supply and demand,” if they know you're looking to visit Hawaii in the spring, ticket prices will go up. Sad, but true!


THE BIGGEST SECRET TO SAVING MONEY ON FLIGHTS? TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

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Have you ever wondered when to book those tickets for your next trip? Wonder no more! Here are two fun facts:

  • The best time to shop for and buy airline tickets is on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm EST. Most sales that go live on Tuesdays are gone by Thursday, so if you buy airline tickets over the weekend, you're probably paying too much.
  • 54 days ahead is the magic number. The folks at CheapAir did an extensive study for one year, analyzing millions of purchased flights. It turns out passengers got the best price on their flight when booked 54 days before their trip! Crazy, right? If you can't do 54 days, they say to book within the 112 – 121 days window.

SAVE MONEY ON FLIGHTS BY PURCHASING TICKETS INDIVIDUALLY

If more than one person is flying in your party, buy each ticket separately. Airlines must sell everyone in your party the same price on tickets, so if you split them up, you could find cheaper fares. Average out the cost throughout your party, if needed.


BE FLEXIBLE

Sometimes being frugal means being flexible. Need proof? Check out these tips:

  • Be flexible with dates. Check at least one day before or after your preferred arrival/departure date, and you could save major bucks!
  • Try to travel at the “not so popular” times of the year. February, September/October, and the beginning of December are great times of year to get killer deals.
  • Check multiple airlines. The one you usually fly on may not have the best deal. You can even use a site like Priceline.com to compare all airlines for you, or you can bid for a price.
  • Be willing to fly “indirect.” Sometimes, making an extra stop at a connecting airport can save you OODLES on your ticket prices! Be open to stopping on your way to and from your final destination; your wallet will thank you!

SIGN UP FOR MARKETING EMAILS (OR TEXTS)

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Sign up for airlines' email lists. You'll be notified of special sales. Every airline is different, but getting notified every time a promotion goes live could save you a TON! Oh, and skip the “middle man” when you can. We know, we know. We love Expedia, Orbitz, and the like — we love seeing all the different prices on one page, but there is a chance those prices are not the most current, up-to-date prices. Visit the airline's website, and see if you can get a better price by buying direct.


BE NONCOMMITAL IF YOU CAN

Always keep your eyes peeled for a better deal! This tip requires planning and self-discipline. When you purchase your tickets online, typically, if you are booking at least a week in advance, and depending on your airline, you can get a refund on the tickets for a certain period of time prior to your trip. If prices are up and down, and you see a low point, BUY THEM! If you can purchase through a website where they can be refunded, KEEP LOOKING! You never know when the prices may drop once more, so be on your a-game!


DON'T LET REWARDS GO TO WASTE!

Be sure to sign up for the rewards programs on every airline you fly on and don't let them expire if you travel frequently! Southwest is always a great airline to fly on because prices are usually cheaper, plus they have a really good rewards program.


We hope these tips will help you save on your next family adventure! Enjoy saving some cash and spending it on an extra churro at Disneyland! 😉

How do YOU save money on flights and travel? Leave your tips in the comments below and share them with us all!

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Looking for a few more travel tips?

Happy Travels!

19 Comments

  1. Carol

    Holy moly! My sister lives in Ohio so I’m always looking for flights.normally they are around $400. I just went and searched, using Jordan’s tips, and the ticket was less than $300!! That’s amazing to me. Jordan, thank you so much for all the info in this post.

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      YAY! I’m so excited it worked!

      Reply
  2. Dani from Danielle and Co.

    The flights really are what always scares me off from traveling! Especially with kids… the cost just adds up so fast. I’ve noticed on the East Coat (where I’m currently living) choosing which airport your layover is at makes a huge difference; for instance, I always choose the Detroit layover when traveling from New York, since it seems much cheaper than the flight with a Philadelphia layover. No idea why though!

    http://danielleandco.com/blog/2016/design-around-bold-sheets

    Reply
  3. Katie

    Do you know if these tips work when paying for a ticket with fruquent flyer miles? Does the cost of miles fluctuate?

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      I’m not sure! Look at the prices online before redeeming your miles to see how they compare!

      Reply
    • Amber Gray

      I just went through this, and my ticket did not change price at all from one week to the next.

      Reply
  4. Rebecca

    I have also noticed you get different prices if you search on your phone verses your computer. I recently was looking for flights for my mom and I found better deals when searching on my computer vs phone on the same exact flights!

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Whoa good to know! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  5. Danielle

    Thanks for these tips! In a recent search for a flight to Disneyland I couldn’t find any useful info on this! So glad you made this post! I ended up using the app Skyscanner. You put in all the details and it alerts you each time the price of the flight goes up or down. After watching the flight for a month or so, we ended up getting it at the all time low of $117 round trip on JetBlue! LIFESAVER!

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      WOW that’s amazing! Nice work!

      Reply
  6. Michelle moore

    I do my final purchase on a PC at the public library as often as possible. The prices go down if you change IP addresses and are not on a Mac device. I took a trip to Bali in 2013 and made my final ticket purchase for 300 less/ person just by making this switch.

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      NO WAY! That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  7. Sarah

    I know I’m a little late on this post, but how do you purchase tickets individually for the same price? When I check the price I get nervous that the price would change on me when I purchase the next ticket.

    Reply
  8. Krista

    The larger the airport, generally the cheaper the tickets. For example, flying into Montgomery AL is well over $500. Flying into Atlanta GA and getting a rental car to drive to the MGM airport, saved us over $250.

    Reply
  9. Heather B

    It’s crazy to me how much you can save by buying tickets separately! It’s not something I used to even know to think about!

    Reply
  10. Ashley Phelps

    We just moved across country and will be flying very frequently excited to try these out!

    Reply
  11. Chelsey Hackleman

    These are awesome tips. Flights are so expensive but worth it when you find a deal!

    Reply
  12. Meghan

    I’m (hopefully) flying from SYR to STL in early October, and then back a few weeks later, and I have a total cost of $206 for the total trip. ($103 each way). That’s with Southwest Airlines

    Reply

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