How to Find Cheap Flights in 2024: Proven Tips from a Frequent Traveler
With spring in full swing, it's prime time to plan summer adventures. Before reserving hotels, excursions, or attractions, I always secure my flights first. As a frugal traveler who logged 23 flights last year, scoring the best airfares is my top priority.
In this guide, I'll share my personal, battle-tested strategies for finding cheap flights in 2024. The travel industry has evolved since my last tips post in 2015, and I've picked up new hacks along the way.
Here's exactly how I hunt for the lowest fares on every trip.
Use Flight Search Engines to Uncover Cheap Flights
I never begin on an airline's site. Instead, I compare top flight search engines for the best deals.
For my upcoming Europe trip landing in Paris, I checked Justfly and Expedia:
Key insight: JustFly includes budget carriers and lesser-known airlines like French Bee, a low-cost long-haul option from Paris.
Expedia often skips these, showing pricier options for the same route, as seen above.
Expert Tip: Booking via aggregators? Double-check details:
- Flight date
- Ticket name (spelling matters!)
- Date of birth
- Final price matches the initial quote
Aggregators offer rock-bottom non-refundable fares. Direct airline bookings allow refundable options at a premium—often double the cost. Changes or cancellations are pricey, so enter info perfectly.
Set Up Fare Alerts for Deal Notifications
For every trip, I immediately set airfare alerts. My Europe plans are months out, so no rush to book—unless a steal appears. But don't delay forever; I've missed deals waiting for better ones that never materialized. Sites like JustFly prompt you easily:
Expert Tip: Use multiple engines for alerts to track more providers and catch every opportunity.
Flex Your Travel Dates for Big Savings
Fly one or two days earlier/later to slash costs. Use price calendars on search engines:
Shifting from August 20 to 17 saves over $100. Experiment with dates, especially on pricey routes, if your schedule allows.
Book at the Optimal Time
When to pull the trigger? No ironclad rule, but book at latest one month ahead; 6-8 weeks is ideal. Alerts catch flash sales earlier. Use these North America-based guidelines:
- North America: 1 month
- Central America: 1 month
- South America: 1 month
- Caribbean: 1 month
- Europe: 6-8 weeks
- Middle East: 6-8 weeks
- Asia: 6-8 weeks
- Africa: 2-3 months
- Australia: 2-3 months
*Guidelines for North America departures
Consider Flexible Destinations
Not tied to one city? Search by country/region. Skyscanner excels here—Hanoi beats Ho Chi Minh by $150+:
Expert Tip: Greater flexibility = bigger savings.
For Southeast Asia, Google Flights' map shows Chiang Mai or Vientiane cheaper than Vietnam:
View full-month pricing for max flexibility. That's how I snagged cheap Australia flights—Sydney was the winner:
Embrace Connecting Flights
Fly to a hub, then connect cheaply. Europe's low-cost carriers shine. Example: New York to Jordan direct is $603; one-stop $397:
NYC-Budapest ($249 via JustFly) + Budapest-Amman ($43 via Skyscanner) = $292 total:
Check whichbudget.com for regional budget airlines.
Compare Thoroughly Across Engines
With 20+ engines, no single winner. Some excel domestically, others internationally or regionally.
Shop multiple sites, set alerts, test options (direct vs. multi-leg). A $300 savings with 12 extra hours might not suit everyone—weigh time vs. cost.
