Wondering how to find the cheapest flights to anywhere? You’re in luck!
Don’t believe the myth that travel is only for the wealthy. With discount airlines, travel hacks, and smart booking strategies, incredible flight deals are within your reach.
Using these proven techniques, you’ll unlock access to affordable airfare that can take you anywhere your wanderlust desires.
How to Find the Cheapest Flights to Anywhere
Ready to become a flight deal master? These game-changing strategies will transform how you book travel forever.
1. Flexibility is the Ultimate Key
The number one rule of finding cheap flights is flexibility (okay, maybe luck, too).
If you’re flexible with your dates, destination, and departure airport, you’re in fantastic shape to get a phenomenal deal.
– Airport Flexibility
When searching for flights, look at prices out of other nearby airports.
Sometimes airports an hour’s drive apart have $200+ differences in price to the same destination.
This flexibility applies to your destination airport too—look at prices into airports other than the most popular in your destination.
It may end up being only a bus ride away from where you want to go.
– Date Flexibility
Date flexibility can yield huge savings. Consider:
- Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (typically the cheapest days)
- Early morning or late-night flights, which often cost less than mid-day departures
- Traveling during shoulder seasons (just before or after peak season)
- Avoiding holidays and major events at your destination
Most flight search engines now offer calendar views or price graphs that make it easy to spot the cheapest days to fly.
– Destination Flexibility
With a “let the deal come to you” approach, you can discover incredible bargains:
- Use Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” search to find the cheapest destinations from your airport
- Try Google Flights’ “Explore” feature to browse affordable destinations on a map
- Be open to flying to nearby cities or countries if the price is right
- Consider your trip purpose (beach vacation, cultural experience, etc.) rather than fixating on a specific location
If your dream destination is beyond your budget right now, find an alternative that offers similar experiences at a lower price.
2. Master the Best Flight Search Tools
Using the right tools is critical for finding cheap flights. Here are the essential platforms every savvy traveler should use:
Flight Comparison Engines
- Google Flights: Easy to use with calendar views, price tracking, and an “Explore” map feature. Great for flexible searches.
- Skyscanner: Offers “Everywhere” search and monthly price charts. Excellent for finding the absolute cheapest destinations.
- Momondo: Often finds the cheapest fares (95% of the time in studies) by searching over 1,000 sources. Shows historical pricing data including the cheapest days and times to fly.
- Hopper: App that predicts future fare prices with 95% accuracy, telling you whether to book now or wait.
– Deal Alert Subscriptions
- Going: Sends incredible flight deals directly to your inbox. Free tier available with premium options for more deals.
- Matt’s Flights: Similar service that alerts subscribers to error fares and discounts.
- Skiplagged: Website that exposing loopholes in airfare pricing to save you money.
– Airline-Specific Resources
- Budget airline websites: Always check the official sites of budget carriers, as they sometimes offer better deals directly.
- Airline sales and deals: Check for sales deals on the website and subscribe to airline email lists for exclusive flash sales and promotional codes.
- Fare calendars: Use airline low-fare calendars to find the cheapest dates (Southwest Airlines is a notable example).
3. Timing is Everything
When you book can have as much impact as where you search.
– Optimal Booking Windows
- Book domestic flights 1-3 months in advance
- Book international flights 2-8 months in advance
- For peak season travel, book even earlier (4-10 months ahead)
- Do some research to find the cheapest month to book
- Check for last-minute deals
- Set fare alerts to track price drops if you have specific dates in mind
– The Browser Trick
Airlines and booking sites track your searches and may increase prices when they see repeated interest in a route. To combat this:
- Use incognito or private browsing windows when searching
- Clear cookies and browser history between searches
- Try searching from different devices if prices suddenly increase
- Switch to a different browser if you notice price hikes
– Price Prediction
Use tools like Skyscanner, Hopper or Google Flights price tracking to determine if current prices are good deals:
- Research what a typical fare to your destination costs
- Set up price alerts for your route
- Watch for predictions that prices will drop or rise
- Pounce when prices hit the predicted low point
4. Advanced Search Strategies
Take your flight-hunting skills to the next level with these expert techniques.
– Error Fares and Mistake Pricing
Airlines occasionally make pricing mistakes that can result in extraordinarily cheap fares:
- Follow error fare websites like Error Fare Alerts
- Set up notifications to catch these deals quickly (they often last less than 24 hours)
- Be prepared to book immediately when you see a mistake fare
- Don’t call the airline to ask about the fare—just book it!
– Currency and Location-Based Booking
Prices can vary based on where the ticket is being purchased from:
- Try booking from the airline’s website in the country of origin
- Use a VPN to appear to be booking from different countries
- Purchase tickets in different currencies that might offer better exchange rates
- Use a credit card without foreign transaction fees for these purchases
– Continental/Country Entry Strategy
A powerful method for international travel:
- Fly to the cheapest major hub on a continent first (like London for Europe or Bangkok for Asia)
- Or fly to the cheapest airport in a country and explore from there
- Then take budget airlines to your final destination
- This approach can often save hundreds compared to direct flights
- Works especially well in Europe and Asia with their abundant low-cost carriers
– Wikipedia Route Research
Find lesser-known airlines with this clever technique:
- Search for “[destination] airport wiki” in Google
- Find the “Airlines and Destinations” chart on the Wikipedia page
- Discover smaller airlines that fly your route but might not appear in search engines
- Visit these airlines’ websites directly to check prices
5. The Stopover Advantage
Stopovers (stays of 24+ hours in connecting cities) can add value to your journey:
- Use AirWander to find routes where adding a stopover actually reduces the fare
- Create your own connections by booking separate one-way tickets with a day or more between them
- Some airlines offer free stopover programs (Icelandair, TAP Air Portugal, etc.)
- You effectively get two destinations for the price of one (or less!)
6. Points, Miles, and Payment Strategies
Maximize your spending power with strategic payment methods:
Credit Card Points
- Sign up for travel rewards credit cards with valuable sign-up bonuses
- Use cards that earn transferable points for maximum flexibility
- Pay for flights with points-earning cards to build up your balance
- Look for transfer partner promotions to maximize point values
– Airline Loyalty Programs
- Join frequent flyer programs for airlines you regularly use
- Credit all flights to your account, even short ones
- Look for sweet spots in award charts for maximum value
- Consider airline alliances when choosing which program to credit miles to
– Credit Card Protection Benefits
- Book flights with credit cards offering travel protections
- Many cards provide trip cancellation/delay insurance
- Some offer baggage loss/delay coverage
- Look for cards with no foreign transaction fees for international bookings
7. Packaging and Bundling
Sometimes combining services leads to better deals:
- Check if booking flights and hotels together offers savings
- Look for vacation packages that include flights, accommodations, and even car rentals
- Consider all-inclusive resorts that might have charter flight arrangements
- Use membership programs like Costco Travel for additional discounts
8. Student and Special Fares
Don’t overlook specialized discounts:
- Investigate student travel agencies like Student Universe if you qualify
- Check for youth fares (typically for travelers under 26)
- Look for senior discounts on certain airlines
- Military and government employees often have access to special rates
9. Packing Light for Maximum Savings
Baggage fees can quickly erode any savings on your fare:
- Travel with carry-on luggage only when possible
- When traveling with a companion on budget airlines, consider sharing one checked bag
- Consider wearing your bulkiest items on the plane
10. Lower Your Standards (Just a Bit)
To get truly rock-bottom prices:
- Be willing to take connecting flights instead of direct routes
- Accept less convenient departure times
- Skip seat selection fees by taking whatever seat is assigned
- Forgo in-flight meals and entertainment (when its at an extra cost)
- Be prepared for basic service on ultra-low-cost carriers
Final Thoughts on the Best Way to Get the Cheapest Flights
Finding the cheapest flights to anywhere isn’t about luck—it’s about strategy.
By combining flexibility, powerful search tools, and advanced booking techniques, you’ll unlock incredible deals that seemed impossible before.
For more essential travel tips, check out:
Find more travel hacks and destination guides on our blog to make your next adventure both affordable and unforgettable!
