Looking for tips on how to find cheap flights? Read on...
Flight prices can fluctuate wildly, and with travel costs increasing worldwide, finding affordable fares has become more important than ever. Living at the bottom of Africa means that flights to most destinations are even more expensive.
Over the years, while travelling to over 50 countries, I’ve picked up a few strategies to help stretch my travel budget. Here are my top tried-and-tested tips to find cheap flights.
Flexibility is one of the biggest ways to save money on flights. Even shifting your trip by one or two days can make a noticeable difference.
When using flight search engines, browse the “flexible dates” or “whole month” view to compare fares easily.
Even if you’re travelling for a fixed event, look at fares one or two days before and after your ideal dates. A cheaper fare the day before or after your intended travel date could save you enough to pay for an extra night of accommodation.
Different booking platforms pull data from different sources, so it’s worth comparing.
Some of my favourites include:
Always cross-check your final price on the airline’s own website. It’s often the same or cheaper, and making changes later is usually easier.
Qatar Airways
Airfares change constantly. Setting up price alerts means you’ll be notified the moment prices drop. This works especially well when:
Sometimes discounts appear for just a few hours, so alerts ensure you don’t miss out.
Also subscribe to major airlines' newsletters to get notified when they have sales.
While there’s no universal "best day" to book flights anymore, some trends still hold true.
Many airlines release promotions mid-week, so checking prices on Tuesdays and Wednesdays can be worthwhile.
Choosing a secondary airport can dramatically reduce your costs. Many major cities have multiple airports, and some are significantly cheaper.
For example:
Even if the airport is slightly further out, the savings may justify the longer transfer.
Returns aren’t always the cheapest option. Sometimes:
Tools like Skyscanner’s or Google Flights’ “everywhere” search multi-city feature help you explore creative routes.
Low-cost airlines usually advertise low base fares and add charges for extras. If you can travel with hand luggage only, you can avoid:
These small extras add up quickly and often make the total price significantly higher.
See more packing tips.
Even if you don’t fly often, loyalty programmes are worth joining. Many offer:
If you use a credit card that earns miles, you can reduce the cost of expensive tickets or even fly for free.
There’s debate over whether websites increase prices based on repeated searches. While unproven, searching in incognito mode or clearing cookies doesn’t hurt — and sometimes it does reveal slightly lower fares.
To use incognito mode, open a private browsing window (Ctrl+Shift+N or Command+Shift+N), Your search history or cookies will not be saved.
Do you have any other tips on how to find cheap flights? Comment below.
This is a guest post.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 53 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
Really useful guide on finding cheap flights! I especially liked the tips about being flexible with travel dates, checking alternate airports, and setting fare alerts. Thanks for sharing this practical advice!