Visit Google and search “cheap flights” and you will be inundated by websites claiming to offer the best deals available. The problem is that more often than not, their idea of cheap is very different to our idea of cheap; genuine cheap flights are few and far between! So without further ado, here are my unwritten rules to finding a cheap flight – I hope they come in use.
Rule 1 – Use good quality tools!
Quality over quantity is a well-known saying for good reason and is a mantra that should be applied to your cheap flight search. There are many hundreds of websites offering flights but the likelihood is that deep down, you wouldn’t trust most of them with your booking.
Skyscanner.net is a great comparison website to begin your search with –they get their prices directly from the airlines and include all fees in the prices they display where others websites do not. Kayak.co.uk is another good choice, particularly for longer flights, but they don’t tend to include budget carriers such as the airline everyone loves to hate, Ryanair. They do however compare a number of different websites in one go. Other useful websites include Expedia.co.uk and Momomdo.co.uk.
By signing up to a handful of these websites’ newsletters, you can be informed of flight sales as soon as they happen, so this is well worth your time in the initial stages. You can always unsubscribe at a later date.
Most of us are wise to it now, but do be sure to check for the total cost, not just the headline price. Consider the cost of baggage for both your outbound and return flights and consider if you really need to pay extra or if you can fly with just hand luggage. (You may even prefer to use a Rufus Roo or Jak Togo space saving jacket!)
Luggage allowance can vary widely depending on which airline you are flying with and the length of your flight. Check out our airline guide for more ideas on choosing the flight that’s best for you.
Rule 2 – Think outside the box!
Once you’ve found the cheapest flight on a comparison site, double check that the flight isn’t cheaper on the airlines’ own website. Check foreign versions of the airlines’ website too, for example with American Airlines, they operate AA.com and AA.co.uk. You might be able to take advantage of favourable exchange rates and book your flights in a different currency.
It is often worthwhile to check which airlines serve the airport you are flying to as well, as smaller carriers may not make it into comparison sites and you may not even know they exist.
We’ve touched on this in the past in a post about APD, but don’t always take the airlines route as gospel. Consider a dose of DIY and investigate if it would be cheaper to alternate your route and book the different legs separately.
If you are a frequent flier, it can be well worth collecting and using frequent flier miles. As you will no doubt be aware, a number of airlines such as Virgin and British Airways operate frequent flyer programmes.
Rule 3 – Timing is everything!
We all know that flights will be more expensive during peak times but we are unlikely to want to change when we want to go on holiday. That doesn’t mean you can’t be a little flexible with your dates – most websites allow you to add flexibility of 2 or 3 days to your flight search and this can often make for huge savings, particularly if you also fly at an unpopular time such as first thing in the morning or at meal times.
It’s an ambiguous and often argued point but the earlier you book, the more likely you are to find a better deal. It’s not always the case but why run the risk, leave it until two weeks until you are due to fly, only to find that there are a handful of high demand seats left at sky high prices. If you are still unsure, Kayak comes in handy once again with its price alerts, letting you know whether your flight is likely to increase or decrease in price.
Comparison is absolutely essential but prices can fluctuate drastically in a matter of hours and especially days, so the longer you spend comparing, the higher the possibility of the total cost increasing. Therefore, as in Rule 2, select good quality tools and keep the comparison to a handful of good quality sites to reduce the time it takes you to compare and eventually book.
Rule 4 – The deal is done!
Lastly, remember that once you’ve bitten the bullet and booked your flights, don’t continue to check prices. You won’t do yourself any favours.
So there you go, the unwritten rules to finding a cheap flight. I hope they aid you in your search for cheap flights for your next holiday.
Excellent tips Allan and Gerry, thanks for sharing, they will definitely come in handy for other readers!
Check carefully what charges are imposed by your chosen airline according to which card you are using to make the payment. Sometimes Visa Electron is without charge whilst Visa Debit incurs a fee. Almost always there’s a fee for using a credit card. These “rules” are constantly subject to change so be sure to do your research and use the right card.
You should check not just the outward journey but the return also. When flying from Edinburgh to Alicante we have a choice of three budget airlines, one will have the cheapest price for the outward journey but it may not be the cheapest or the most convenient time for the return.
GREAT ADVICE IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE UK.
HOWEVER AS WE LIVE HERE IN IRELAND WE HAVE ONLY TWO AIRLINES TO CHOOSE FROM AND THEY CHARGE WHAT THEY LIKE WITH LITTLE OR NO OFFERS.
You’ll have to let us know how you get on 🙂
Looks good .Have to put it to the test!
Very helpful rules! I will surely keep this information. This time, finding cheap flights wont be that hard. Thank you so much!