Master the art of finding incredible flight deals. Learn proven strategies to save hundreds on your next trip.
Finding cheap flights doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. With Kiwi.com's powerful search engine and the right strategies, you can discover amazing flight deals and save hundreds of dollars on your next trip. This comprehensive guide reveals insider tips, proven techniques, and expert strategies to help you become a master at finding the cheapest flights available.
Master these proven techniques and watch your travel savings grow. Each strategy can save you money—combine them for maximum impact.
Being flexible with your travel dates is the single most effective way to save money on flights. Prices can vary dramatically—sometimes by hundreds of dollars—between flying on different days of the week or at different times of the month.
Kiwi.com's flexible date search shows you a calendar view with prices for each day of the month. This visual representation makes it easy to identify the cheapest days to fly at a glance. Generally, mid-week flights (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) are cheaper than weekend flights, and flying during off-peak seasons offers the best deals.
Pro tip: If you have a week-long vacation, search for departures across a range of dates. Leaving on Tuesday instead of Friday might save $200 or more. The "cheapest month" feature lets you compare average prices across different months to identify the best time to travel to your destination.
Kiwi.com's revolutionary Virtual Interlining technology is a game-changer for finding cheap flights. This feature combines flights from airlines that don't traditionally work together, creating unique route combinations you won't find on other booking sites.
For example, you might fly with a budget airline for the first leg of your journey and switch to a different carrier for the connection. These mixed-carrier itineraries can save 30-50% compared to booking with a single airline or traditional codeshare partners.
Important: When using Virtual Interlining, consider adding Kiwi.com Guarantee for protection against missed connections. While self-transfer itineraries offer great savings, the Guarantee ensures you're covered if delays cause you to miss your connecting flight.
Major cities often have multiple airports, and flying into or out of a secondary airport can lead to significant savings. Kiwi.com automatically searches alternative airports within your region, but you can manually select specific airports to compare prices.
For example, if you're visiting New York, compare prices for JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR). In London, check Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), and Luton (LTN). Budget airlines often use secondary airports, offering much lower fares. The savings can easily offset any additional ground transportation costs.
Consider nearby cities too. Flying into Oakland instead of San Francisco, or Providence instead of Boston, might save hundreds of dollars while only adding an hour or two of ground travel.
Timing your booking correctly can save substantial money. For international flights, the sweet spot is typically 2-3 months in advance. Domestic flights usually offer the best prices 3-6 weeks before departure. However, this varies by destination and season.
Studies show that booking on Tuesday or Wednesday often yields better prices than weekend bookings. Airlines frequently release sales and adjust prices on Tuesday, making it an ideal day to search. Set up price alerts on Kiwi.com to be notified immediately when prices drop for your desired route.
Don't wait too long, though. While last-minute deals exist, they're unpredictable. Prices typically increase significantly in the final 2-3 weeks before departure as airlines capitalize on passengers who must travel on specific dates.
If you're flexible about your destination, Kiwi.com's 'Anywhere' search feature is perfect for discovering amazing deals. Simply enter your departure location and select 'Anywhere' as your destination to see the cheapest flights to destinations worldwide.
This feature is ideal for spontaneous travelers, gap year adventures, or anyone looking for an affordable getaway without a specific destination in mind. You might discover incredible destinations you hadn't considered, all at prices that fit your budget.
Refine your 'Anywhere' search by filtering for specific regions, continents, or countries. Want a cheap beach vacation? Filter for tropical destinations. Seeking a European city break? Narrow it to Europe and see which cities offer the best deals from your location.
If you're planning to visit multiple destinations, use Kiwi.com's Nomad feature instead of booking separate round trips. Nomad finds the most cost-effective route connecting all your desired cities, often saving significant money compared to booking each leg individually.
For example, a trip to Europe visiting Rome, Paris, and Barcelona might be cheaper as a multi-city itinerary (New York → Rome → Paris → Barcelona → New York) rather than separate round trips. Nomad optimizes the routing and finds the best combination of airlines and connection times.
This feature is particularly valuable for open-jaw itineraries where you fly into one city and out of another. It eliminates the need for expensive backtracking and maximizes your time at each destination.
Kiwi.com searches over 800 airlines, including major carriers, regional airlines, and budget carriers. Don't dismiss budget airlines—they can offer excellent value, especially for short to medium-haul flights where service amenities matter less.
However, understand what's included in budget airline fares. They often charge extra for checked baggage, seat selection, meals, and even carry-on bags. Use Kiwi.com's filters to view the total price including necessary add-ons, ensuring fair comparisons between budget and traditional carriers.
Sometimes mixing airlines provides the best value—perhaps a budget carrier for the outbound flight and a full-service airline for the return when you have more luggage. Kiwi.com's Virtual Interlining makes this easy and cost-effective.
Don't have time to constantly check prices? Set up price alerts for your desired routes. Kiwi.com will monitor fares and send you email notifications when prices drop, ensuring you never miss a great deal.
Price alerts are particularly useful when you're planning a trip several months in advance or waiting for prices to drop on a specific route. You can set alerts for exact dates or flexible date ranges, and Kiwi.com tracks both direct flights and connections.
Create multiple alerts for the same route with different date combinations to maximize your chances of catching a deal. When you receive a price drop notification, act quickly—the best deals often don't last long.
Flight prices fluctuate based on demand, with peak travel periods commanding premium prices. Avoid holidays, school vacation periods, and major events when possible. Shoulder seasons—the periods just before and after peak tourist seasons—offer the best combination of good weather and low prices.
For example, visiting Europe in April-May or September-October provides pleasant weather without summer crowds and prices. Caribbean destinations are cheapest in late spring and early fall (avoiding hurricane season's peak). Even flying a day before or after a major holiday can save significantly.
Consider red-eye flights and early morning departures—these less convenient times often cost less. If you can handle the odd hours, you'll save money while others pay premium prices for convenient flight times.
Sometimes booking components of your trip separately yields better prices than a traditional round-trip ticket. For instance, booking two one-way tickets might be cheaper than a round trip, especially when mixing different airlines or travel classes.
Kiwi.com's search engine automatically compares these options and presents the cheapest combination. This is particularly useful for international multi-city trips where you can optimize each segment independently.
However, booking separately means each ticket stands alone—if one flight is delayed, you're not automatically protected on other segments. This is where Kiwi.com Guarantee becomes valuable, providing connection protection even for separately booked flights.
Book 3-6 weeks in advance for domestic US travel. Prices typically rise sharply in the final two weeks before departure. Tuesday and Wednesday flights are usually cheapest, while Sunday evening flights command premium prices. Avoid booking during major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer vacation periods.
The sweet spot for transatlantic bookings is 2-3 months in advance, though sales can appear as far as 11 months ahead. Summer (June-August) and Christmas are most expensive. Book shoulder season travel (April-May, September-October) for savings up to 50%. Tuesday-Thursday departures typically cost less than weekend flights.
Book 3-4 months in advance for Asia-Pacific travel. Avoid Chinese New Year, Golden Week (Japan), and other regional holidays when prices spike. Shoulder seasons vary by destination—research local weather and tourist patterns. Consider open-jaw itineraries visiting multiple countries for better value.
Book 2-3 months ahead. Peak season (December-April) commands highest prices, while summer and early fall offer deals—but watch hurricane season (June-November). Shoulder season (late April-May, late November) provides good weather at better prices. Direct flights fill quickly, so book early or consider connections.
Book 2-4 months in advance. Avoid peak European summer when many travelers visit. Consider shoulder seasons for better prices and weather. Gulf airlines often offer competitive prices and excellent service—don't overlook Middle Eastern hubs for connections to Africa and Asia.
The most obvious but often overlooked tip—always sort results by "cheapest first." Kiwi.com's default sorting might show "best" results balancing price and convenience, but sorting by price reveals the absolute cheapest options, even if they have longer layovers.
Direct flights are convenient but expensive. Allowing one or two stops can dramatically reduce costs. Use the stops filter to compare price differences. Sometimes adding just one connection saves 40-50% while only adding a few hours to total travel time.
Longer connections mean cheaper tickets. If time isn't critical, adjust the maximum duration filter to include itineraries with longer layovers. A 4-hour layover might be worth the wait if it saves $300. Use long layovers to explore connecting cities.
Traveling light? Filter for personal item or carry-on only fares. Budget airlines offer rock-bottom prices if you don't check bags. Compare the total cost with checked baggage included to ensure you're seeing true prices for your needs.
Red-eye flights (midnight-6am) and early morning departures often cost less. If you can handle the inconvenience, filter to show only these flight times. The savings can be substantial, especially on competitive routes.
Don't filter out budget airlines automatically. While they charge for extras, base fares can be incredibly low. Compare total costs including baggage and seat selection. Mix-and-match different airlines using Virtual Interlining for optimal pricing.
While advance booking is generally wise, booking too far in advance (6+ months for domestic, 8+ months for international) means you might miss better deals that appear closer to departure. Conversely, last-minute booking (less than 2-3 weeks out) typically costs more as airlines capitalize on urgent travelers.
Limiting your search to one airport when alternatives exist nearby costs money. The price difference between nearby airports can exceed $200-300. Consider total travel time and ground transportation costs, but don't assume the closest airport is always cheapest.
The cheapest flight isn't always the best deal. A $100 cheaper flight that arrives at midnight might cost $50-100 in airport transportation or hotel costs you wouldn't otherwise incur. Factor in baggage fees, seat selection, meals, and ground transportation when comparing options.
Many travelers stick to traditional single-airline or partner bookings, missing significant savings from Virtual Interlining. While self-transfer connections require more attention, the savings often justify the extra effort—especially with Kiwi.com Guarantee protecting your connection.
Manually checking prices daily is tedious and inefficient. Price alerts notify you immediately when fares drop, ensuring you never miss a deal. Set them up for your desired routes and let Kiwi.com do the monitoring work for you.
Insisting on specific dates when you have flexibility costs money. Being willing to depart a day or two earlier or later, or extending your trip by a day to get better return flight prices, can save hundreds. Use flexible date search to see all options before committing.
When booking cheap flights with connections—especially Virtual Interlining combinations—consider adding Kiwi.com Guarantee for comprehensive protection. This optional coverage protects against missed connections, provides alternative flights if needed, and offers 24/7 support.
While it adds to your ticket cost, Guarantee provides peace of mind for complex itineraries and ensures that saving money on flights doesn't result in expensive problems if delays occur. The investment is especially worthwhile for important trips or tight connections.
Start Finding Cheap FlightsPut these strategies into action and start finding amazing flight deals today. Your next adventure awaits at prices you'll love.