How To Find Cheap Flights | Tips, Tricks, & Safety Measures. Expert Tips for Finding Cheap Flights. Wanderlust on a Budget. Flight Hacks 101: Secrets to Finding Wallet-Friendly Airfare. Thrifty Traveler’s Toolkit.
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Are you dreaming of jetting off to exotic destinations without breaking the bank? Well, you’re in luck! Finding cheap flights is easier than you think, but it does require a bit of savvy and caution.
It’s beneficial to spend time finding cheap flight options compared to booking immediately because it can lead to significant savings, allowing you to allocate your travel budget more efficiently.
Additionally, by exploring various options and deals, you may discover more convenient flight times, better airline amenities, and even opportunities for upgrades, enhancing the overall quality of your travel experience.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best websites for scoring affordable airfare, how to monitor and manage your flight searches, and crucial safety measures to ensure you’re not falling prey to scams or fraudsters.
Start with Reliable Flight Search Engines
When it comes to finding cheap flights, there are a few tried-and-true websites you can rely on:
- Google Flights: Offers a comprehensive search tool with flexible date options and price tracking.
- Skyscanner: Compares prices from various airlines and travel agencies, making it easy to find the best deals.
- Kayak: Aggregates results from multiple sources and provides useful tools like price alerts and fare forecasts.
HERE ARE 3 SEARCH ENGINES THAT I HAVE TRIED AND TESTED THROUGH THE YEARS:
- Booking.Com: User-friendly platform with a wide range of flight options from various airlines (and hotels!), along with competitive prices to suit different budgets. Additionally, its comprehensive search tools and customer support make the booking process seamless and convenient for travelers.
- Alternative Airlines: This might not be the cheapest source of flight prices, however, they offer payment installments like Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay Later, and a lot more.
- CheapOAir: Consistently offers discounted fares and exclusive deals, allowing travelers to find affordable options for their journeys. With its intuitive search interface and 24/7 customer support, CheapOair.com ensures a hassle-free booking experience for all travelers.
In addition, I have booked directly with WestJet and Air Canada. These two are my go-to airlines.
IMPORTANT: While the internet offers a wealth of resources for planning your adventures, it’s essential to remain vigilant and discerning when interacting with unfamiliar websites. Before finalizing any bookings or purchases, take the time to thoroughly research the validity and trustworthiness of the website you’re using.
If something seems off or too good to be true, trust your instincts and proceed with caution or not proceed at all. Exercise skepticism when encountering unusually low prices or unfamiliar websites.
NOTE: No one is shielded from negative experiences. You will experience some challenges along the way. That’s just the way airlines and third-party websites work.
Watch Out and Monitor Prices (How To Find Cheap Flights)
To snag the best deals, it’s essential to keep an eye on flight prices and be flexible with your travel dates:
- Set Up Price Alerts: Many flight search engines like Google Flights allow you to set up alerts for specific routes. Take advantage of this feature to get notified when prices drop.
- Be Flexible: If your travel dates are flexible, use tools like Google Flights’ “Flexible Dates” option to compare prices across different days.
Book Strategically
Once you’ve found a promising flight deal, it’s time to book smart:
- Book in Advance: Generally, booking your flight several weeks or months in advance can lead to lower prices.
- Consider Alternative Airports: Flying into or out of nearby airports can sometimes result in significant savings.
- Use Incognito Mode: Some airlines may track your search history and increase prices accordingly. To avoid this, browse in incognito or private mode.
- Mobile versus Desktop. Compare the prices when browsing on your mobile versus your desktop and see which pricing makes more sense to you. Remember that your cookies and history might be different and the prices might be different because of that.
- Skip Other Options. If you are traveling for less than a week, you might not need to book an extra suitcase which will save you money. At the same time, if your flight is in 4 hours or less, you might not even need to choose your seat (unless you want to!). If you are traveling with fewer valuables (which you should!) you might not need to purchase baggage insurance as well. Do you need flight protection? These options can easily add up and you’ll find your final price is not so much more than when you started.
Beware of Scams and Fraud (How To Find Cheap Flights)
Unfortunately, the internet is rife with scams and fraudulent websites posing as legitimate travel agencies. Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Stick to Reputable Sites: Only book flights through well-known and reputable websites or directly through the airline’s official website.
- Check for SSL Encryption: Ensure that the website you’re using has SSL encryption (look for “https://” in the URL) to protect your personal information.
- Research the Company: Before booking, do some research on the company to ensure it’s legitimate. Look for customer reviews and check if they’re registered with relevant travel authorities.
- Read Threads On The Internet. Browse for reviews and blogs sharing their experiences about the site you are looking to book from. You will ALWAYS find mixed reviews. As mentioned earlier, there will always be negative experiences, however, you can check how the airline or third-party site dealt with those problems. If there were only news or if they have been reported to the Business Bureau for theft and fraud, then that’s definitely a red flag.
- Questionable Details. If a website is asking you for your social insurance number or Driver’s Licence, you should be suspicious. Even a website asking for credit card information before the final booking page is a red flag. Be cautious about giving out this unnecessary information as they are usually phishing baits.
- Check For Secure Payment Options. Ensure that the website offers secure payment methods and is equipped with SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial information.
Verify Your Booking
After making a flight reservation, take steps to verify its authenticity:
- Double-Check Details: Review your booking confirmation for accuracy, including flight dates, times, and passenger information.
- Contact the Airline: If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of your booking, contact the airline directly to confirm it. Calling the airline directly will help you confirm that you are indeed on the list of passengers.
When Booking Cheap Flights
With these tips and precautions in mind, you’re well-equipped to find cheap flights without falling victim to scams or fraud. Remember to use reputable flight search engines, monitor prices diligently, and book through secure channels to ensure a smooth and safe travel experience. Happy travels!
