7 Key Tools and Tips to Find the Cheapest Airfare

For the majority of travel, airfare is going to be the biggest cost. Whether you are flying domestically or internationally, you can substantially cut your travel costs when you know how to access the cheapest flight tickets available.

Every single day, there are hundreds if not thousands of great deals to be had on flights all over the world. You just need to know where to go to identify and purchase them!

Thankfully, there are plenty of online tools and apps you can use to access cheap travel around the world. But which services will provide you with the best cheap flight deals?

In our article below we will break down all the essential tools you need to make sure you get the best possible price on your next airline ticket purchase. So, let’s begin!

Top 7 Key Tools to Find the Cheapest Airfare

The tools we highlight below will give you all the information you need to book affordable airline tickets for your next trip. From online databases and apps to email subscription lists, these are the tools you need to score cheap travel in the future.

1. Google Flights – Search for All the Best Deals Available on One Website.

You don’t have to waste time and energy comparing flights and costs across several websites. Instead, you simply need to head to Google Flights! This flight search engine will search for your ideal travel date and location amongst over 300 different airlines and OTAs (online travel agencies.)

You can also use an interactive map on the Google website to identify locations and the best fares available which will get you there. Once you are presented with your list of flights, you can filter these according to the airline, number of stops, and cabin class.

This is a great place to start when researching the cheapest flight ticket, and you can use it to book one-way, round-trip, and multiple-city tickets.

However, before you confirm it is always best to check what’s available directly from airlines and other search engines. Some carriers such as Southwestern don’t allow their flights to show on Google Flights, so it may be worth checking with their site first to confirm you can’t get a better deal elsewhere.

2. Faredrop.com – Access Cheap Flight Deals through email, app, or website.

Faredrop.com gives subscribers access to cheap travel deals which are up to 80% cheaper than ordinary prices. The website search service searches through millions of available flights on the internet every day to identify and present you with the best deals available for your next trip.

You can sign up for the email list to be updated with the latest great deals, or else log in to the website or smartphone app. And if you sign up, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars on your travel over the year.

There are different membership levels, which will give you access to different types of information. The basic domestic deals membership is free to join, but you will have to pay a subscription to access this cheap flight deals service for international, international economy, and business class tickets. However, based on a potential saving of hundreds, these subscriptions are more than worth it!

3. Going.com - (Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) will email you with Cheap Airfare Deals

Scott’s Cheap Flights may have recently rebranded as Going.com, but the excellent email subscription service remains committed to helping you find the cheapest flight deals. Since 2013, the service has been providing subscribers with excellent intel and alerts when cheap flight deals hit the online market.

The service currently has more than 2 million subscribers and aims to send them only the best deals that offer the most value and money-saving opportunities. The Going.com team uses detailed and high-powered methods to search through the hundreds of discounted deals available online and will present you with this information for a subscription fee.

You will only be presented with low-cost flights that are low cost, from a reliable air carrier, with good routing and minimal stops along the way. Teachers, veterans, military personnel, students, and healthcare professionals can claim a 25% discount on the premium membership subscription service.

4. SkyScanner – This Website Helps You Find Cheap Travel to Anywhere Across the Globe

You can use the SkyScanner booking website to search for and purchase some of the cheapest flight tickets available for your location. You’ll also be able to use the site to source affordable hotels and transportation when you arrive.

The travel service operates as an Online Travel Agent, and based on your preferred dates and location, they will search through hundreds of booking agencies and airlines to find flights. These flights will be ranked according to either the cheapest, the fastest, or the best, depending on your search preferences.

This is a quick and painless way to quickly be presented with several flight options which you can then look into further before booking. You won’t have to worry about keeping over a dozen tabs open on your web page as you click back and forth assessing available prices with different airlines and agencies.

5. Book directly with Airline Websites - Access Exclusive Deals

Although the website search engines and OTAs we have detailed above are a great way to get a cheap travel deal, you should always check whether the cheap ticket you have discovered could be even cheaper when you book directly with the airline.

Air carriers sometimes offer discounts and perks for customers who book directly, especially if you already belong to their rewards program. As well as cheaper prices you may be able to access priority boarding, credits for in-flight purchases, or even some extra miles towards your next trip! If you also hold one of the airline partner branded credit cards and use it to make your booking you may earn elevated rewards points or cash back as well.

Some airlines offer the lowest price guarantee for their flights, so always check and compare with both direct bookings and online flight airlines before confirming a purchase with either.

6. Optimize Credit Card Usage - Cheap Travel Discounts and Airport Perks

Travel rewards credit cards will help you earn discounts, perks, and free travel with your everyday spending. You can build up your credit card points to redeem against flights, hotel stays, and car rentals and enjoy some substantial discounts when you book your vacation or business trip.

Some travel credit cards also help you to cut costs by giving your statement credits for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, and complimentary airport lounge access! Depending on the card you use, you may also be able to access insurance for car rentals or trip delays. All of which can help to further lower your overall travel costs.

You can earn reward points when you spend on almost anything, but you will earn higher points in some spending categories such as travel. As long as you make sure to keep up to date with your card interest payments, this is a great way to access cheap travel or maybe even a completely free flight!

You can earn reward points through:

• Your everyday spending
• Your current travel and hotel spending.
• Online shopping using the card rewards portal.
• Spending on restaurants and takeout.
• Spending with partner retailers and services.
• Access big welcome bonuses when you meet spending requirements.

Some of the best travel credit cards to consider include the American Express Gold Card, the Capital One Venture Rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, and the Platinum Card from American Express.

7. Be Flexible About Your Dates or Location

The less flexible you are about your travel, the more you narrow your options. Cheap flight deals are rarely going to abound in busy travel periods such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and peak Summer Vacation times. Airlines know that demand for tickets is going to be high, so they price their fares accordingly.

If you are a bit more flexible about when you can travel, then you can access the cheapest flight ticket prices for your trip. If you can be flexible either about where you are heading, or when you want to go, then you will have more scope to shop around and base your travel around the best deal you find.

Flying off-season will help you to access cheaper flights. And you never know which incredible new location you may discover if you decide to pick cheap flight deals available within certain date parameters!

Takeaway - 7 Key Tools and Tips to Find the Cheapest Airfare

If you want to find cheap flight deals, then the tools and tips above should help you cut costs on your next travel booking. It is probably better to combine a couple of options to make sure you are getting the best deals available and compare and contrast before confirming a purchase.