15 Tips for Getting the Lowest Airfare for Your Next Trip

The lowest airfare usually goes to travelers who book in the right window, compare more than one search site and stay flexible on dates and airports. Google Flights data shows US domestic fares have been cheapest about 39 days before departure, and flights from Monday through Wednesday have cost about 13% less than weekend flights. Below are 15 ways to pay less, plus what you are owed in the US, Canada and the EU if your flight is canceled or delayed.

1. Book in the Right Window

Google’s analysis of four years of Google Flights data found that US domestic fares have been lowest about 39 days before departure, with the low-price range running from 23 to 51 days out. International fares have been lowest 49 days or more before departure. For the holidays, the same data puts the best Thanksgiving prices about 35 days out and the best Christmas prices about 51 days out.

Treat these numbers as a starting point, not a rule. Popular routes and peak dates can fill up sooner, so set a price alert (tip 3) as soon as you know your dates.

2. Compare Fares on Several Search Sites

Fare search sites such as Google Flights, Skyscanner and Kayak compare fares from many airlines in one search. Run the same search on at least two of them, then check the airline’s own site before you pay. If the price is the same, booking direct means you deal with one company when a flight changes.

Price two one-way tickets as well as the round trip. Two one-ways on different airlines sometimes cost less than a round trip on one carrier. For current Kayak offers, see the DealHack Kayak coupon page.

3. Set Fare Alerts

Price alerts do the watching for you. Google Flights can track a route and email you when the price changes, and Airfarewatchdog and Hopper send alerts for routes you save. Track your exact dates and, if they can move, a flexible-date search for the same route.

4. Fly Midweek and Off-Peak

The same Google Flights data found that flights departing Monday through Wednesday have cost about 13% less than weekend flights. Holiday weeks and school breaks are peak periods, so if your dates can move, use the date grid in Google Flights to see which days around your trip are cheapest.

5. Check Nearby Airports

Many cities have more than one airport within driving distance, and fares can differ between them. Google Flights and Kayak let you add nearby airports to the same search. Before you book the cheaper airport, add the cost of parking, a rideshare or a train to get there, plus the extra travel time.

6. Join Free Airline Loyalty Programs

Airline loyalty programs such as Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, American AAdvantage and Air Canada Aeroplan are free to join. Occasional flyers still earn miles on paid tickets, and those miles add up toward an award flight.

If you fly a few times a year, credit your flights to one program, or to one alliance, instead of spreading small balances across several. Airlines in the same alliance let you earn and redeem miles on each other’s flights.

7. Watch for Airline Sales

Airlines run short fare sales and promote them by email and on their own sites. Sign up for emails from the two or three airlines that serve your home airport, and check DealHack’s coupon pages for Southwest, Delta, United, American, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and Frontier before you book. When a sale fare appears, the 24-hour rule (tip 12) lets you lock it in while you confirm your plans, as long as departure is at least a week away.

8. Price Budget Airlines With Fees Included

Low-cost carriers such as Frontier, Allegiant and Breeze often have the lowest base fares in the US, but seat selection, carry-on bags and checked bags usually cost extra. Spirit Airlines stopped flying on May 2, 2026. Basic economy fares on the major airlines also leave out extras, and Southwest now charges $45 for the first checked bag on tickets bought from April 9, 2026, unless you have A-List status or a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card.

Compare the total for your trip, including bags and seats, before deciding which fare is cheapest. Traveling with only the free personal item is the simplest way to keep a budget fare cheap.

9. Consider a Connecting Flight

Nonstop flights save time, but Google’s data found that taking a layover saved about 22% on average. If you buy separate tickets for each leg, which sites like Kiwi.com sell, the second airline usually will not rebook you for free if a late first flight makes you miss it. Leave several hours between flights and plan to collect and recheck your bags.

10. Be Flexible with Dates and Destinations

If the destination can change, Google Flights Explore shows fares from your home airport to cities around the world on one map, for set dates or a flexible month. If the destination is fixed, the date grid and price graph in Google Flights show the cheapest days around your trip.

11. Use Credit Card Points

A travel rewards card can cut the cash cost of flights. Points from programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One miles can be transferred to airline partners or redeemed for travel, and co-branded airline cards often include a free checked bag on that airline. Compare the annual fee with the benefits you will use, and pay the balance in full each month, because interest costs more than the rewards are worth.

12. Use the 24-Hour Cancellation Rule

US Department of Transportation rules require airlines to let you either hold a reservation at the quoted fare without paying or cancel it without penalty for at least 24 hours after booking, as long as you book a week or more before departure. Check which option your airline offers, book when you see a good fare, keep searching for a day, and cancel and rebook if the price drops.

13. Follow Flight Deal Sites

Deal newsletters watch many routes at once for sales and mistake fares. Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) has a free plan plus paid Premium and Elite plans with alerts for price drops and mistake fares, and The Flight Deal and Secret Flying post sales and error fares for free. Airlines sometimes cancel tickets sold at a mistake fare, so wait until your ticket is confirmed before booking hotels.

Booking sites run their own promotions too. DealHack lists current offers for Expedia, Priceline and Hotwire.

14. Try Open-Jaw and Multi-City Routes

An open-jaw ticket flies you into one city and home from another, which saves backtracking on a trip with several stops. Use the multi-city search on Google Flights or Skyscanner to price it against two one-way tickets. For short legs, compare a train or bus with a flight once you add bag fees and the trip to and from the airport.

15. Know Your Refund and Compensation Rights

Knowing what you are owed keeps you from accepting a voucher when cash is due.

• United States: if an airline cancels your flight or significantly changes it, for example arriving 3 or more hours late on a domestic trip or 6 or more hours late on an international one, and you decline the alternative it offers, you are owed an automatic refund of the fare, taxes and fees. It is due within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payments.
• US compensation: there is no federal cash compensation for delays, because the Department of Transportation withdrew its proposed compensation rule in November 2025. If you are bumped involuntarily from an oversold flight, the airline still owes up to 400% of the one-way fare, capped at $2,150.
• Canada: for delays and cancellations within the airline’s control, not required for safety and announced 14 days or less before departure, large airlines such as Air Canada, WestJet and Porter owe $400 for arriving 3 to 6 hours late, $700 for 6 to 9 hours and $1,000 for 9 hours or more. Small airlines owe $125, $250 or $500. File a written claim with the airline within one year.
• European Union: under EU261, flights leaving the EU, and flights into the EU on an EU airline, that reach your destination 3 or more hours late pay €250 to €600 depending on distance, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. A revision adopted in 2026 keeps the 3-hour threshold and is expected to apply from 2027.

Airfare Tips at a Glance

Hack	Description	Best Tools	Tips for Saving
Book in the right window	Domestic fares have been lowest about 39 days out	Google Flights	Aim for 23 to 51 days before a domestic trip
Compare search sites	See many airlines’ fares in one search	Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak	Check the airline’s own site before paying
Set fare alerts	Get an email when your route drops	Google Flights, Hopper, Airfarewatchdog	Track exact and flexible dates
Fly midweek	Monday to Wednesday has been about 13% cheaper than weekends	Google Flights date grid	Avoid holiday weeks and school breaks
Check nearby airports	Fares can differ between airports in one area	Google Flights, Kayak	Add parking and ground transport to the total
Join loyalty programs	Free to join, miles add up to award flights	Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, Aeroplan	Credit flights to one program or alliance
Watch airline sales	Short sales on airline sites and emails	Airline emails, DealHack airline pages	Use the 24-hour rule to lock in a sale fare
Price budget airlines	Low base fares, paid extras	Frontier, Allegiant, Breeze	Add bag and seat fees before comparing
Take a connection	Layovers saved about 22% on average	Google Flights, Kiwi.com	Leave extra time on separate tickets
Be flexible	Let the fare pick the dates or the city	Google Flights Explore	Search a whole month
Use card points	Transfer or redeem points for flights	Chase, American Express, Capital One	Pay in full so interest does not cancel the rewards
Use the 24-hour rule	Cancel or hold free for 24 hours	Airline websites	Book at least 7 days before departure
Follow deal sites	Alerts for sales and mistake fares	Going, The Flight Deal, Secret Flying	Confirm the ticket before booking hotels
Try open-jaw routes	Fly into one city and home from another	Google Flights, Skyscanner multi-city	Compare trains or buses for short legs
Know your rights	Refunds and compensation when flights go wrong	US DOT, Canadian Transportation Agency, EU261	Ask for a refund, not a voucher, when you are owed one

FAQ

How far in advance should I book a flight?

For US domestic trips, Google Flights data shows fares have been lowest about 39 days before departure, with a low-price range of 23 to 51 days. For international trips, prices have been lowest 49 days or more ahead.

What is the cheapest day to fly?

Monday through Wednesday. Google’s data found flights on those days have cost about 13% less than weekend flights.

Which apps help find cheap flights?

Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak and Hopper compare fares and send price alerts. Going, The Flight Deal and Secret Flying send alerts for sales and mistake fares.

How can I avoid bag fees on budget airlines?

Travel with only the free personal item, and add bag and seat fees to every fare before you compare. Some airline credit cards include a free first checked bag, as Southwest’s Rapid Rewards cards do.

Can I get a refund if my flight is canceled?

Yes. Under US Department of Transportation rules, if an airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you do not accept the alternative it offers, you are owed a refund to your original form of payment, including taxes and fees. You do not have to accept a voucher.

Do US airlines have to pay compensation for delays?

Not under federal law. The Department of Transportation withdrew its plan to require cash compensation in November 2025, so meals, hotels or vouchers depend on each airline’s own policy. Canada and the EU do require compensation for some delays (see tip 15).

Can I cancel a flight within 24 hours for free?

In the US, airlines must let you either cancel without penalty or hold the fare without paying for at least 24 hours, as long as you book at least seven days before departure.