19 Best Flight Booking Hacks to Save Money on Airfare

Learn secret insider tips and tricks from strategic timing to utilizing technology and taking advantage of promotions and loyalty programs. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or an international adventure, these flight booking hacks are guaranteed to get you a cheaper flight.

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Flight booking hacks you need to know to unlock the best deals

The best flight booking hacks will save you money by getting the cheapest possible airfare price. I am constantly searching for cheap flights, setting alerts for specific flight itineraries, and booking flights with various airlines. I haven’t found one single site, perfect time to book, or other magic bullet that works every time but there are numerous flight booking hacks that I’d like to share that can save you money.

Flight Booking Hacks #1: Compare flight prices across multiple flight booking platforms

Compare prices across multiple flight booking platforms to get a low cost flight. There are numerous free websites with search engines that compare multiple airlines including budget airlines, different flight combinations, and sometimes amalgamate results from several search engines to find the cheapest flight.

Cheapoair is a great website to check for low cost flights offered by over 500 airlines. There are numerous helpful filters to find results for specific airlines, direct flights only, specific times of day, maximum layover, and even alternate dates if your travel dates are flexible. Set up a fare alert and you will automatically receive an email with flight deals that meet your search criteria. Google Flights offers similar functionality with the ability to set up a flight alert, but its platform does not offer as many filters as some other sites.

FlightHub has a great “Deals of the Day” list on their homepage from your preferred airport which is a great inspiration to book a trip. Once you’ve set an alert for a specific trip you will get emails whenever cheap flights are available to your destination.

Skyscanner is my go to site to sign up for price alerts for specific itineraries. There are multiple filters on their search engine and one thing that is unique is their “explore everywhere” search feature. If you want to book a holiday within a specific budget you can search for flights that go anywhere in the world from your starting location. The search results will show all of your options and you can narrow it down to those that meet your needs and budget.

Momando is one of my favourite sites to find cheap flights. One of the things I like most about this site are the wide variety of suggested itineraries that that combine different airlines on a single trip. This can result in significant savings compared to booking one single airline all the way to your destination. They also have a feature similar to Skyscanner where you can get suggestions on flights to anywhere from your departure airport. You can specify your budget, max flying time, the month you want to travel, and the type of trip you are looking for such as beachy, romantic, foodie. Momando will suggest the best options that meet all of your criteria.

Kayak is another top flight comparison site that offers the same functionality as other sites plus some additional helpful features. Kayak’s search engines scans prices gathered from hundreds of travel sites including other flight booking sites and the airline websites. The search results page includes multiple filter options and there may be special mobile rates and app only deals that allow you to get a cheap flight.

Always check the price of the fare on the airline website itself in addition to third-party flight booking platforms. I actually prefer to book my flights directly with the airline, even if it costs a bit more, in case there is a last-minute delay or change to your flight.

If you have not booked directly through the airline, they generally won’t help you to fix the issue and will direct you back to the third-party booking company to assist. Customer service varies widely depending on the booking company and it can be a huge hassle to have to go through a third party to make changes or if you need to make a change quickly.

Flight Booking Hacks #2: Setup fare alerts

Set fare alerts on all of your favourite flight booking platforms so you get notified when fares drop or there are special promotions for your desired destination. All of the major flight booking platforms have an option to sign up for fare alerts. If you monitor price fluctuations over time you can make informed decisions about whether the price offered is a deal or not.

My favourite price prediction site is Hopper which has a special algorithm using trillions of prices to predict future prices for your trip. If Hopper doesn’t tell you to “Book now” then you can “Watch the trip” to be notified when there is a great deal or when prices are expected to rise. Other popular sites to set up fare alerts include FlightHub, Cheapoair, Kayak, Skyscanner, Momando, Expedia or Google Flights.

Flight Booking Hacks #3: Be flexible

Timing is everything so if you are flexible with your travel dates, times, or destinations you can get cheaper flights.

If your travel dates or destinations are flexible use a site like Kayak or Hopper to forecast the best time to book cheap flights. Hopper provides an easy to view calendar that identifies the lower demand, less expensive travel times at a glance. Hopper will tell you if you should book now or keep watching and wait to book because prices are forecasted to drop.

A new feature in Kayak is the “Best Time to Travel” tool which uses your starting location, destination and length of trip to determine when you should travel and when to book for the best price.

For example, if I want to fly from Calgary to Cancun for a week it will tell me the average price by month, how popular or busy the location is by month, and the weather I can expect. Kayak uses ChatGPT AI makes a recommendation on the best month to travel overall based on these criteria.

Kayak also offers a “direct” search which allows you to enter your departure airline and it will list every direct non-stop flight from your starting location including the airlines, the flight time to the destination, and the days of the week each airline flies to the destination.

So, for example, if I am in Calgary and I want to go somewhere that has a flight of 4 hours or less I can easily search for a list or map visual. The results will show airlines and locations that match my search criteria on the days I want to travel.

If you have the time consider alternative routes to get to your destination including those with a long layover, possibly even several days. You may get a better price and be able visit a second location in an interesting destination. I booked a flight to Thailand with a 15-hour layover in Taiwan. We knew someone in the area and spent the day celebrating Chinese New Year with locals and visiting a couple of top sites.

Flight Booking Hacks #4: Book your flight first

Most people have a specific destination in mind first, they book accommodation, and then find flights that match. Reverse the order and book your flight first. This may not always be possible but if it is try searching with no specific destination using Skyscanner or Momando’s search everywhere features. This allows you to search all locations and find flights anywhere in the world at the cheapest price or that fits your budget.

Another option is to subscribe to your favourite website or airline to get alerts when there are cheap flights and then book it as soon as you see it. Once you’ve found a great price on your flight book your accommodation and everything else later.

Flight Booking Hacks #5: Don’t wait and take advantage of 24-hour cancellation policies

The best time to book a flight is as soon as you see a great price. Although some people suggest booking on a specific day or time of the week there is no proven day or time that always guarantees the best price. Don’t wait and think about it as flights frequently change price even throughout a single day. Sometimes “mistake” fares are accidentally posted and if you act quickly you can get a significantly reduced airfare.

Most airlines have a policy that allows you to change or cancel your ticket within 24 hours even if it is non-refundable. Be sure to track the flight prices for the next 24 hours and if the price drops call the airline to rebook or cancel as you can often do so without a penalty. I did this recently while booking a flight to Belize and saved hundreds of dollars by cancelling and rebooking the exact same flight the next day.

Flight Booking Hacks #6: Subscribe to airline e-newsletters and Facebook travel groups

Sign up for airline e-newsletters and follow them on social media to stay updated on promotions, sales, and discounts. Some airlines announce certain promotions and discounts only to those that subscribe.

There are a number of Facebook travel groups or websites online for virtually any destination or that specialize in cheap flight searches. These are great for free travel information and for alerting you to flight deals.

I subscribe for free to YYC Deals which offers alerts when there is a really great deal on airfare from my home city, Calgary. There is also helpful information and general advice related to flights and travel. Similar groups exist in many other Canadian cities, so Google search your closest airport:

Flight Booking Hacks #7: Fly mid-week or during off-peak seasons

Most people tend to book flights that depart and return on a weekend, usually on Fridays and Sundays. Flight prices tend to be at a peak during these days which are in high demand. Search for similar flights that depart midweek, such as on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or even a Saturday and compare the price to a Friday or Sunday flight. Often you can get a similar flight at a lower price if you fly on a different day. Consider booking a 10- or 12-day vacation instead of a typical 7 or 14 days for mid-week flights.

The busiest times to travel and fly include summer holidays, school breaks, or holiday periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Prices surge during these periods in most locations so avoid them if at all possible. If you have the option of booking during a shoulder or low season you will get better prices on your flights. If you must book during a high period book your ticket well in advance. One of our favourite times to travel to a warm beachy location is in mid-January as fewer people travel immediately after Christmas and we have benefitted from a cheaper flight fare.

Flight Booking Hacks #8: Avoid last-minute bookings

Everyone wants to know the guaranteed “best” time to book your flight ahead of your travel. Generally, if you are booking at the last minute or anywhere from 30-45 days before your travels you will likely pay a premium for your flights. Last-minute deals are possible, but flights are often full, and you are taking a risk if you must make a last-minute booking to a specific destination. Your preferred flight time may already be fully booked, or only higher priced tickets may be available.

The best time to book seems to vary by departure location and destination with domestic flights at the best price three to four months ahead and international flights requiring significantly more lead time for the best prices (about 4-9 months in advance). I recently booked a trip to Africa and was advised by a local to book as far in advance as possible, ideally 9-12 months in advance, as prices rise closer to the travel date. For locations like Europe 5-8 months in advance is a recommended.

My best advice is to use a flight predictor like Hopper to watch your flight as far as possible in advance. You will receive alerts when deals come up or recommendations to wait if prices are high. Kayak’s “Best Time to Travel” tool is also a great resource to plan ahead and identify the typical lower-demand periods to book a flight for your specific destination.

Flight Booking Hacks #9: Enroll in frequent flyer programs

Most airlines have some type of frequent flyer program that you can enroll in for free and earn points. Since there is normally no cost and no commitment there is really little downside to signing up. Recently I enrolled in a new airline frequent flyer program in the US and although I don’t regularly fly that airline I still benefitted from priority boarding just because I was a frequent flyer member.

If you do regularly fly through a specific airline, booking platform, or network, you can earn miles or credits that you can redeem in future to get cheap flights or receive other perks as part of the loyalty program.

Flight Booking Hacks #10: Take advantage of airline credit card flight rewards

There are numerous airline credit cards that offer flight travel rewards and perks that result in significant discounts for flights. Shop around and compare features, costs and benefits of your airline credit card. There are lots of different options and many will require an annual fee.

Currently, I use WestJet’s World Elite RBC Mastercard ($119 CDN annual fee) which partners with WestJet. I receive an annual discounted companion pass, get free baggage included on my flights, and have the potential to earn free lounge passes, seat selection, travel and auto rental insurance coverage, and other perks depending on how much I fly. I earn WestJet dollars for every dollar I spend, and these can be redeemed for WestJet flights or partner flights and WestJet vacations.

Another popular Canadian travel credit card is TD’s Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139 CDN annual fee) which partners with Air Canada and its Aeroplan loyalty program. You earn Aeroplan points for everything you spend on the card and can redeem points for flights with Air Canada or other Aeroplan-affiliated partners. Benefits include free baggage on flights, travel and auto rental insurance coverage, up to a $100 rebate on a Nexus application, and discounts with Budget and Avis. Points never expire and every seat is available for redemption with no seat restrictions or carrier surcharges.

Check out these reviews on the best travel cards for Canada (The best travel credit cards in Canada for October 2023 – MoneySense) and the best cards for the US (18 Best Travel Credit Cards Of October 2023 – Forbes Advisor).

Flight Booking Hacks #11: Ask about airline discounts

Airlines may offer unadvertised discounts or perks to specific groups or in certain situations. For example, some airlines offer discounts or free baggage for active military or veterans, seniors, or those travelling due to a death in the family. Often these are not listed on the airline website but if you call and ask you may qualify so be sure to check. Discounts may be in the 5-10% off range and perks could include luggage, lounge or pet travel that is free or offered at a reduced fee.

The following airlines have been reported to offer discounts or perks:

Airline	Military Discount	Senior Discount
Air Canada	Yes	Yes
Air France	Yes
Alaska Airlines	Yes
Allegiant	Yes
American Airlines	Yes	Yes
Breeze Airways	Yes
British Airways	Yes	Yes, with AARP membership
Delta	Yes
Frontier Airlines	Yes
Hawaiian Airlines	Yes
JetBlue	Yes
Lufthansa	Yes
Southwest Airlines	Yes
United	Yes	Yes, in certain markets

Occasionally Expedia CheapTickets may also offer military discounts. Seniors and youth may find specific discounted fares offered by certain airlines on Cheapoair subject to airline qualifications. Military, bereavement and visually impaired travelers are eligible for discounts off Cheapoair post-booking service fees as outlined in their compassion exception policy.

It is worth a call to check if you qualify. Be sure to compare the price with the discount to other sales prices. You may get cheaper flight tickets than you will with these discounts if there is a specific promotion.

Flight Booking Hacks #12: Avoid booking with just one airline out of habit or loyalty

It’s important to compare prices across different airlines to find cheap flights. Loyalty programs are great, but you might be able to get a better schedule, flight time or even cheaper flights through another airline.

I regularly check flight search engines to find different flight combinations and options and to compare airlines and prices. However, since the Covid pandemic I am more conscious of the varying service levels of flight booking platforms and more often than not I will book directly through an airline instead even if the price is a bit higher.

If something goes wrong or your flight is unexpectedly cancelled or there is a last-minute delay it is generally easier to get money back or credit and to get support from an airline directly rather than taking time to go through a third-party. Support may be quicker through an airline and the airline will usually not offer assistance if you do not book directly through them.

Flight Booking Hacks #13: Fly into secondary airports or nearby cities

Search engines, like Skyscanner will offer you the option to click on a checkbox to search nearby airports in close proximity to your destination. Others like Cheapoair or Momando give you the option to check a box for each airport you would consider flying into. It is worth checking if flying into other airports near a major hub airport will save you money on airfare. Be sure to calculate the cost of transportation from the secondary airport to your destination to ensure the savings outweigh any additional travel costs.

Flight Booking Hacks #14: Avoid hidden fees

Additional transportation costs are one hidden fee but there are also others to consider when you are flying. Sometimes a great deal is offered through a budget carrier on the flight itself but by the time you add on extras like seat selection, baggage fees, meals, or other service fees it may not be such a bargain after all.

If you don’t require a lot of “extra services”, are able to pack light and adhere to airline baggage restrictions this may still be a great option but be sure to add up all the fees, so you are comparing the full cost of a bargain flight to your regular flight on a full service carrier.

Flight Booking Hacks #15: Get a package deal

All inclusive packages or flight and hotel packages might result in lower prices than booking a flight and hotel separately. Companies are able to secure better prices by contracting to purchase blocks of hotel rooms and airline tickets and those savings may be reflected in the package deal. Packages are not always available or practical at every destination, but it is worth checking and comparing to the price of booking each component individually.

Flight Booking Hacks #16: Get a one-way ticket and consider using different airlines

Typically, when searching for a flight most of us will default to a round trip airfare. This is not always the best option, and you may be able to get a better price if you book through two or more airlines.

For example, you might book one airline on the way to your destination and a different one on the return. Alternatively, you might require a stopover on the way to your final destination and decide to book one airline carrier to the stopover airport and a different airline carrier from the stopover airport to your final destination. Some people even transfer from one airport to another nearby airport at the stopover city to get a reduced airfare.

The downside to combining different airlines and airports is that if the first flight is delayed or cancelled there is usually no obligation for the second carrier to find you another flight or offer a credit or refund. If you book two different airlines and especially if you decide to book more than one airport it is critical that you leave yourself enough time between flights.

It takes time to pick up checked luggage, go through customs, and pass through security again to catch your flight with the second carrier. This is a decision that you will need to evaluate about whether the money saved is worth the extra travel time.

You don’t need to create a spreadsheet and complete a full analysis of all possible flight combinations because fortunately there are flight search engines that will do that for you. Momando is my favourite site to find unique combinations of flights and airports that I may not have considered. Skyscanner or Cheapoair are also good alternatives that will provide you with these types of flight options.

Flight Booking Hacks #17: Opt for connecting flights instead of direct ones

Almost all of us want a direct flight that will get us to and from our destination as quickly as possible. As a result, direct flights are in high demand, and you may pay a premium for convenience. Most of us also have a specific dollar value of savings that would make it worth it to us to add a layover to our flight. I would recommend considering connecting flights as well as direct flights to decide if the extra time is worth the savings.

Another option to consider is to look for long layovers between connecting flights where you have a chance to explore the stopover city for the day or even stay for a few days before you catch your connecting flight to a final destination. I booked a trip to Africa that included two 8.5-hour flights plus a layover in Amsterdam in between. Instead of a really long flight day I will get off in Amsterdam, visit the city for a few days, and then catch a flight home at the same time as my original flight but on a different day. There was no extra airfare cost for me to do this compared to taking all flights in one day.

Flight Booking Hacks #18: Use discount codes or promotions

Almost all of us have access to airfare promotions or discounts through online communities, forums, or travel blogs dedicated to finding cheap flight deals.

Facebook is a great resource for travel information, and I typically join a travel group for the location I am planning to travel to before I travel. You can ask other travellers for advice and join groups like Next D eparture, or a site focused on travel from a specific airport like YYC deals.

Airline newsletters, social media pages and official websites regularly advertise sales and promotions that are usually available for a short period of time. If you subscribe you will learn about these as soon as they come up. A popular time for airlines to offer discounts is over the holidays, especially around Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Search for a “Sales” or “Deals” section on your airline webpage to see what is currently available.

Skyscanner has dedicated pages for promo codes for nearly every single airline and online travel agency. These pages are regularly updated with any current promo codes being offered, along with general sales and flight deals.

One of my favourite discount sites is Perkopolis which was included with my annual professional association membership. They have discounts for all sorts of travel services including flights or airport lounges just by logging in and getting a code. Groupon is another free site that you can subscribe to that offers promo codes and coupons for flights directly with airlines or through a third-party like Cheapo a ir.

If you haven’t already looked, check if you have access to discounts on flights through your professional association, union, credit cards, or other memberships like AMA or AARP.

Flight Booking Hacks #19: Disguise your location

I’ve already written about why using Virtual Privacy Networks (VPN’s) is important for travellers who want to increase security while accessing applications through public wifi. I current use ExpressVPN and one of the benefits is that I can disguise my location when booking a flight. ExpressVPN allows me to make it appear that I am booking a flight in the country I will be flying in instead of from the country I am actually physically located in.

For example, let’s say I wanted to book a domestic flight in Argentina, but I am currently in Canada. I could set my country location in ExpressVPN as Argentina so that the website I am booking on thinks I am actually in Argentina. Many savvy travellers have found that the price for a flight is different than the price you would pay when booking from your home country. You could save money if you try this simple trick.

Also, compare the price of the fare in local currency versus your own currency. A friend and I were looking at domestic flights within Argentina. My settings were US dollars and hers were Argentinean pesos and I realized that the price was over $100 lower to book in Argentinean pesos instead of USD. I had wrongly assumed that the conversion rate would result in a roughly equal fare, but it did not. By booking in local currency, I was able to get a much cheaper flight even with the foreign transaction fees on my airline credit card.

Avoid this flight booking hack

One flight booking hack that I would recommend you avoid is skip lagging or hidden city ticketing. This hack involves finding cheaper flights by getting off at an airline’s stopping point while en route to the actual destination. You get off your first flight but do not board your second flight. Airlines hate this and have become wise to this trick.

This approach is risky because your flight could be cancelled by the carrier, and you could be prohibited from flying with the airline if you get caught. You can’t bring any checked luggage because it will be automatically transferred to the final destination not the city you are actually going to. And finally, if your flight plan changes due to inclement weather or other reasons you may be stuck with a flight to the wrong destination.

Cheap Flight Hacks – Things to Remember

In conclusion, these cheap flight hacks are a valuable resource for any traveler looking to unlock the best deals on airfare. By comparing fares across multiple flight booking platforms, setting up fare alerts, and being flexible with travel dates and destinations, you can significantly reduce your airfare costs. Signing up for frequent flyer programs and utilizing credit card flight rewards can provide you with even more savings and perks.

Taking advantage of airline discounts, flying into secondary airports, and considering connecting flights are additional strategies that can help you find budget-friendly options. Always be mindful of hidden fees, such as baggage costs, and explore package deals for potential savings on both flights and accommodations.

While these cheap flight hacks can be incredibly beneficial, it’s important to avoid risky practices like skip lagging or hidden city ticketing, as they can lead to complications and potential issues with airlines.

By incorporating these tips and tricks into your travel planning, you’ll be well-equipped to find the best deals and make the most of your adventures, ensuring that you save money while enjoying your journey to the fullest. Safe travels and happy exploring!

My Favourite Travel Websites

I often get asked about where I book my travel. I’m always looking for deals that are a good value and these are the travel websites that I go back to again and again to book my own vacations.