How to Find Cheap Flights ~ Cheap Airline Tickets

When travelling, getting to a place is often one of the biggest expenses. Learn how to minimise this by reading these tips and tricks of how to find the cheapest flights.

When reading this and searching for flights, please keep in mind that the cheapest flights are usually not flexible. If there is a possibility you will need your dates changed, be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions before booking to make sure it is possible to do so, and it is a reasonable price.

If you are a student (or in many cases, under 26 or a teacher) you may be able to find a cheap deal through a travel agent that specializes in budget airfares for students.

Two major companies available in several countries are:

STA Travel and Student Flights

I recommend going in after researching prices a bit so that you know whether the price they quote you is a good deal or not. Don't assume something is a good deal just because they say it is. Like with all workplaces, there is a mixture of competent and less competent employees. If you're not happy with the service you receive from one person working here, you can always come back and get served by another person. Your second experience could be very different. Mine was.

Research to see if there are any other ones available for your country.

There are countless websites that compile flight information so you can search multiple airlines through the same site.

Hipmunk

Kayak

Skyscanner

Expedia

Adioso

If you find a good flight with one of these companies or a similar website, try booking directly with the airline instead of through another company- this may result in a lower fare because you won't need to pay a commission.

Flightfox is a great idea. You create a "competition" by typing in the details of your trip and specifying how much you are willing to pay to the person who finds you the lowest fare, and members of the site then compete to find you the best deal.

It's satisfaction guaranteed- if you can find a cheaper flight, you get your money back.

The minimum you can offer as a reward is $24, but if you want you can offer more to try to attract more experts to your deal.

Go to Flightfox through this link for a 25% discount!

Many airlines and travel agents promise to beat a competitor's price, if the dates and destinations are the same. This is worth investigating with the companies you may potentially be purchasing from, especially if you would prefer to travel with one company over another.

Most places will require you to provide proof of the better deal, so print out the relevant information.

Most airlines typically get more expensive during school holidays. So if you can fly at a different time, do so.

It may also be worth keeping in mind what the peak season is at your destination... peak season means bigger crowds and more expensive accommodation.

Flights tend to get more expensive the closer they come to departure. If you're more than six weeks away from your trip, monitor the prices to see if they're going up or down, and so that once you see a good deal you'll know it's a good deal.

Some flight websites may raise the prices of their flights for you if you go to their website a lot, because they see you as likely to be very interested in their flight and thus willing to pay more. To ensure this is not happening to you, clear your browser cookies before booking your flight.