Ultimate Guide to Booking Flights & Travel Hacks to Save BIG on Your Next Trip!
Wondering when the best time to book a flight is? These tips for booking will help you save BIG when you travel!
Know the best time to book a flight and how with our flight hacks and tricks. You’ll never overpay for a flight again after using these!
Know the best time to book a flight with our helpful tips to save time and money when flying:
1. Ignore the myth about searching incognito and sign up for price alerts instead.
For years, airlines have been accused of hiking rates based on your previous search history. However, according to Thrifty Travelers, that’s not the case, and searching for flights using incognito tabs is doing nothing for you. What’s more, they even claim buying tickets on Tuesdays isn’t necessarily saving you money either.
Instead, when researching travel deals, start checking for flights early. This will require planning or some flexibility if you’re simply just looking for a great deal to pop up. Signing up for alerts will allow you to score a flight deal effortlessly. Google Flights is a free and easy way to get alerted about flight deals across many different airlines.
2. Don’t plan your trip first; be flexible and buy cheap flights first if you can.
Most people pick where they want to vacation, book their accommodations, and then find a flight. However, planning your trips this way could end up being the single most costly travel mistake you could make. I recently learned this after planning my entire honeymoon first and then trying to book round-trip tickets to Greece based on specific dates.
If you have the flexibility the single best travel tip you could learn is to book cheap flights first and then book everything else. Thrifty Travelers blog calls this The Flight First Rule. Making this tip second nature could end up saving you hundreds of dollars.
3. Consider booking flights at a different airport or one that flies more frequently to your destination rather than the closest one to your house.
It may have never occurred to you, but driving slightly farther to an airport could save you hundreds of dollars on your ticket. Although it may be a little more of a drive, it could also save you travel time.
Take my search to Athens above, for example. The BWI airport is closer to my home and typically where I always fly out of, but what I found out when booking a trip to Greece is that they never fly directly to Athens. This means the flights tend to be pricier and not as convenient as other airports. When compared to Newark, New Jersey, which is just 1.5 hours farther for me to drive, I could save over $400 on one roundtrip ticket. They even have direct flights costing nearly $60 less and would save me a minimum of 4 hours of flight time. Note that prices always vary, but this trick has always seemed to work for me regardless of the day or time of year you travel.
*If traveling to a new airport, be sure to check the toll rates along your route.
If you can’t drive to an airport with more affordable airfare, look into booking a “positioning flight”.
What’s a positioning flight you ask?! A positioning flight is a flight taken to get to a specific airport where you can start a more important flight, making it cheaper and/or more convenient.
For example, if you find a great deal on an international flight that leaves from another city, you might take a positioning flight from your airport to get to that city first. These flights are usually short, inexpensive, and are just a way to get you in place for your main trip and save some cash.
4. Fly on the least busiest days of the week to save on flights.
It’s not when you book the flight, it’s what day you’re actually flying that could save you money. According to Thrifty Travelers, the cheapest days of the week to fly are typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Like many of the best ways to save on flights, this may not always be the case but should be one of the things you always check before booking a trip on a more peak travel day.
5. Be mindful of holidays when booking flights.
While Wednesdays are normally cheap flight days, the day before Thanksgiving falls on a Wednesday every year and is a high-demand day for travelers. This is just one example of keeping holidays in mind when booking flights. Your trip may have nothing to do with a holiday, but airlines almost always raise prices during these days.
6. Don’t book flights last minute or it could cost you big bucks.
It’s recommended to always book your flights at least 30-45 days in advance. This is because anything later than that is likely to be jacked up in price. Airlines realize that people booking last-minute flights are typically desperate and are likely to pay whatever they need to get to their destination. Booking earlier rather than later could save you hundreds.
This also means if you’re going to start hunting for flight deals, you’ll want to start about a year in advance. Although you may not end up booking a year in advance, you’ll be able to closely watch flights over the next few months and be ready when you see a dip.
7. Always use Google Flights to compare the best prices.
Google Flights is great for finding cheap flights because it’s easy to use, tracks prices with alerts, and shows flexible date options. It also compares prices across the board for many different airlines which booking directly with one airline won’t do. This allows you to compare prices quickly and also know if they’re a good price for the time you’re planning to book. They also don’t charge extra booking fees and they have a new Price Guarantee feature which is offered for certain flights.
8. Learn how to book tickets with points and potentially get them free.
After booking my honeymoon for two to Greece on an Emirates nonstop flight using 64,680 points and just $64.60 in taxes and fees I can’t praise booking with points enough. And I could have even used half the amount of points if I didn’t choose “preferred seating”. Honestly, the ability to use points deserves a post all on its own! Once you get the hang of booking with points, you’ll never want to pay cash for a flight again. 🙌🏼
The most basic way to use points for flights is to fly often and with the same carrier so you can earn their rewards and redeem them for future flights. However, you can also rack up some serious points without flying when you use credit cards that offer rewards!
You certainly don’t want to go into debt just to use points so I don’t encourage anyone to get a credit card unless they’re financially responsible. That said, if you can be strategic about how you’re making your purchases and you’re good about making on-time payments, you can rack up quite a bit of points to use for future flights. You can also use these points for much more such as booking hotels, rentals, using towards credit card payments, and more!
I personally pay for all my bills, groceries, and other expenses on my credit card to rack up points and then make weekly payments to pay off my card. Even better, some of the sign-up bonuses when you’re approved for a card could potentially get you a free flight alone!
Here are my top 2 choices for the current best credit card rewards:
- Best Overall Card: Capital One Venture – Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- Best Business Card: Chase Ink Business Preferred– Earn 120,000 bonus points when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Hip Tip: Be mindful when booking international flights that your credit card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Sometimes these are counterintuitive.
9. Consider travel insurance that will cover all your trip expenses not just your flight.
Travel insurance can give you peace of mind during your travels if anything were to happen. When booking a flight, you’ll almost always be prompted to purchase insurance for your flight. However, all airlines use different insurances and the coverage will vary so if you opt to book directly with a flight then be sure to read the fine print.
Deciding whether you want trip insurance or not is up to you. However, if you know without a doubt you want to purchase it for an expensive trip, you may want to compare policies and prices to an outside travel insurance company first. Companies like Travelex or SquareMouth have policies that could potentially cover hotel costs, unexpected medical costs, and more than booking directly with your flight won’t offer. Read more about the best travel insurance to use right now.
10. Get a BOGO flight and see two cities for the price of one.
If you’ve never heard of a stopover flight, this is your opportunity to potentially see two bucket list cities for the price of one! This is an especially genius hack when flying internationally, too! The cost of a stopover flight can vary widely based on several factors, including the airline, the route, the duration of the stopover, and the time of year. However, in many cases, airlines offer stopovers at little to no extra cost compared to a direct flight because they want to encourage travelers to explore their hub cities.
A stopover flight is when your trip has a long break in another city before you reach your final destination. Instead of just changing planes quickly, you get off the plane and can spend up to a week exploring that city. It’s a way to visit two places in one trip and maximize your time and overall flight.
Some popular airlines that offer stopover programs include:
- Icelandair: Offers stopovers in Iceland.
- Turkish Airlines: Offers stopovers in Istanbul.
- Singapore Airlines: Offers stopovers in Singapore.
- Emirates: Offers stopovers in Dubai.
- Qatar Airways: Offers stopovers in Doha.
- Etihad Airways: Offers stopovers in Abu Dhabi.
- Finnair: Offers stopovers in Helsinki.
- Air Canada: Offers stopovers in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
- TAP Air Portugal: Offers stopovers in Lisbon and Porto.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: Offers stopovers in Amsterdam.
11. Save even more when booking your flight by opting to carry on your luggage.
Airline baggage fees can vary widely depending on the airline, destination, and even the type of ticket you purchased. Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to well over $100 for a checked bag so carrying your luggage and a personal item may be your best option to save money. Keep in mind that luxury airlines, business, or first-class tickets often include additional free baggage allowances, so it’s always best to check with your airline to see if this is a way you can save some cash before booking.
Hip Tip: These are the best travel backpack options that potentially pack more than your actual carry-on!
Here are some key tips to keep in mind when booking your accommodations (after your flights, of course). 😉
1. Be strategic with how you book your hotels after you book flights.
When it comes to your hotel the same rules apply: book in advance (at least 50+ days ahead), on weekdays, and… in multiple reservations.
Here’s a tip you may not have already known…
It could be more cost-effective to split your hotel reservation into multiple nights. Before checking out, play around with your booking. You can take your one three-night stay and turn it into three one-night stays, and it could save you as it did for Carly from 52 Cities!
(Note that there may be a small fee for switching rooms and/or keys, or you can call ahead and possibly request staying in the same room).
On the other hand, if you don’t mind taking the risk, some travel experts say that booking hotel rooms one to three days prior to your stay can save you big time (but, of course, runs the risk of not having any vacancies and leaving you stranded when you arrive). If you do choose the last-minute route, consider resources like Hotel Tonight, an app that operates specifically to find last-minute hotel deals.
But the BEST tip for saving when you book a hotel under any circumstance is, of course, to find one with free cancellation policies. This will allow you to book a hotel room for the cheapest possible rate way ahead of time. You can then cancel it for free if you find a better deal. It’s a safer bet than relying on last-minute room availability.
Hip Tip: Prefer Airbnb? You can sometimes score HUGE savings if you book reservations for at least a week. The difference is sometimes so noticeable that it may be worth it to book a longer stay even if you don’t use all of the days.
2. Consider Costco for awesome travel deals and when booking with groups.
You may think of Costco as a place to score great deals on all kinds of products (and you’re not wrong!), but did you know that Costco also has some incredible deals on travel without the hassle of having to book everything separately?
While some folks love booking everything themselves (read the next tip for info on that 😉), it can get a little overwhelming if you’re traveling with a large group. That’s where CostcoTravel.com comes in with travel packages, including flights, hotels, transportation, activities, and more.
➡️ Don’t have a Costco membership yet? Now’s the perfect time to get one!
Get yourself signed up for a Costco membership so you can start taking advantage of all of the store perks, along with the travel savings! Plus, Executive Members can score an annual 2% reward on Costco Travel purchases.
My Hip sidekick, Bryn, uses Costco travel services and loves them! Here’s what she has to say about her experience:
“I have used Costco Travel twice in the last year, and I’m obsessed with it! First, my hubby and I traveled to Maui in early 2021 and got an AMAZING deal to stay at the Ritz Carlton! We would normally never splurge on a hotel like this. However, the Costco package ended up costing us the SAME amount that we would pay if we stayed in a standard Maui hotel. Plus, the Costco package came with a rental car, daily $100 resort credit, daily breakfast for two, waived mandatory daily resort fee, AND complimentary daily valet parking. It was awesome!!
Then, in March 2021, we booked a Costco Package to go to Scottsdale, Arizona! This package included a car rental, a daily breakfast for two, and the waived mandatory daily resort fee. This all added up to huge savings for our family.
I cannot say enough good things about my experiences!” – Bryn
3. Your best bet for cruise travel deals is to be flexible.
Most cruise lines start releasing their itineraries 18 months in advance and try to get those cabins filled ASAP. Once they hit 90 days before launch, they start slashing prices to fill up the remaining rooms. The options will be slim, and you’ll have to be flexible with your plans. However, it’s a great way to score a last-minute cruise deal!
Priceline has great prices on flights. Recently booked 1 way from Cedar Rapids to Portland for around $150 on United and last minute like 2 days in advance. Priceline definitely worth checking for every trip.
Thanks for sharing, siena95! That sounds like a great deal to get to such a beautiful place! I hope you enjoyed your visit to Portland. 🙂
Ha, I live in Portland. We own Rental properties in Iowa.
Regarding your airline tip #3, your comparison airport (EWR) is Newark, NJ, not Newark DE. This is likely 2+ hours further drive each way and significantly more in tolls.
Hey Nancy! Thank you so much for catching the mistake on the state – it has been updated. 🙂That’s also a great point about the tolls so I was sure to put a note in the post for people to check that before booking flights. I was relieved to learn I’ll only pay $12 with my EZ Pass. Phew! I had never considered Newark, but choosing to book my flights there and drive about 30 minutes farther saved me so much money and time despite the $12 in tolls I’ll pay so it’s definitely a great option for people to consider when looking for more affordable flights. I hope you’re able to utilize some of the other tips in our post. Safe travels!
So, is it 30 minutes further or 90? In your post, you said 90 minutes but now you’re saying 30?
If your “home airport” is BWI, something is fishy here. It is about three hours to drive between BWI and EWR.
Air France offers a stopover is Paris.
Thanks, Mita! Good to know about that option with Air France too! ✈️
For the cruise tip, unfortunately since the pandemic this is no longer true for most cruise lines. Maybe MSC still does this. Also if I may suggest awardtool dot com for checking the cheapest award pricing with any points eco system. You can sort results by the credit card you carry or rewards program. Awesome post! Happy to see the travel tips here.
Glad you enjoyed this post, Nicole. ❤️ Good to know about the possible changes with last minute cruise line savings, and the resource for award pricing. We’ll keep an eye out for any further updates on this! 🤗
Thank you for the article and research!
This summer, the Incognito search saved us about $1000 flying from Portland, OR to Amsterdam.
Also, I would not ever refer anyone to use Turkish airlines! Well, they treat you nice in the air and offer an overnight hotel (though you have to pay out of pocket for Turkish visa), the often delay or cancel flights and it is impossible to reach out to their service desk. We (me and my young daughter) landed in Chicago late, missed our connection and had to find a hotel for the night. Turkish airlines failed to respond to me, no apologies, no refunds, no nothing! And my travel agent warned about their “service”. Wish I’ve listened.
You’re very welcome, Iryna! So awesome to hear that Incognito search helped you save on your flight! But I’m so sorry to hear about your experience with Turkish Airlines. That does sound frustrating, especially with the added stress of traveling with your young daughter. Thank you for sharing this information. Hoping your next trip goes much smoother! ✈️❤️