Flight Hacks 101: How to Score the Cheapest Airfare Every Time

Google Flights
A favorite among travelers, Google Flights offers a user-friendly interface with features like flexible date grids, price tracking, and an interactive map to explore destinations within your budget.

✅ Pros:

• Fast and easy to use

• Great price-tracking and calendar view

• See trends and historical prices

• Interactive map helps explore destinations

 

❌ Cons:

• Doesn’t always include budget airlines (e.g. Southwest)

• No alerts for error fares or flash deals

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Skyscanner
Ideal for flexible travelers, Skyscanner's "Everywhere" search and "Whole Month" view help identify the cheapest destinations and travel dates.

✅ Pros:

• Flexible search options (“Everywhere” & “Cheapest Month”)

• Searches a wide range of airlines and OTAs

• Easy to compare across multiple dates

 

❌ Cons:

• May link to third-party sites with less-than-ideal customer service

• Can be overwhelming with options if you’re not sure what you want

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Momondo
Momondo searches across numerous airlines and travel sites, providing a comprehensive view of available fares. Its "Mix & Match" feature combines tickets from different suppliers to find the best deals.

✅ Pros:

• Shows price trends, fare insights, and ticket "quality scores"

• Includes budget airlines

• Often finds cheaper combinations using mix-and-match flights

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❌ Cons:

• Interface isn’t quite as slick as Google Flights

• Like Skyscanner, it redirects to external booking sites

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Skiplagged
Skiplagged uncovers "hidden-city" ticketing opportunities, where booking a flight with a layover at your intended destination can be cheaper than a direct flight. Note: This tactic is controversial and may violate airline policies.

✅ Pros:

• Uncovers “hidden city” fares that traditional sites miss

• Can save hundreds on certain routes

• Unique approach for savvy travelers

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❌ Cons:

• Can violate airline terms (risk of account suspension)

• No checked luggage (it won’t go to the “hidden” destination)

• Not suitable for round-trip or family travel

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Hopper
Hopper predicts future flight prices and advises whether to book now or wait. Its mobile app also allows users to set alerts for specific routes.

✅ Pros:

• Predicts the best time to buy with high accuracy

• Sends push notifications when prices drop

• Easy mobile experience

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❌ Cons:

• Charges small commission fees for bookings

• Less effective for multi-city or flexible trips

• Some users report customer service issues

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Scott’s Cheap Flights (now Going.com)
This subscription service sends curated flight deals directly to your inbox, focusing on significant discounts and error fares.

✅ Pros:

• Curated flight deals with big savings (40–90% off retail prices)

• Premium service includes mistake fares and peak season deals

• No spam—just solid alerts for great deals

 

❌ Cons:

• Requires paid subscription for full access

• Limited control over destinations—it’s more about opportunistic deals

• Not a live search engine

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Secret Flying
Secret Flying specializes in publishing error fares and heavily discounted flights, often resulting from airline pricing mistakes.

✅ Pros:

• Finds incredible deals and error fares worldwide

• Free to use

• Especially strong for international trips

 

❌ Cons:

• No customization or alerts—you have to catch deals as they’re posted

• Deals may expire quickly

• Sometimes requires multi-step booking

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The Flight Deal
This platform shares daily flight deals, particularly for U.S. travelers, highlighting low fares and providing booking instructions.

✅ Pros:

• Detailed, well-explained posts with fare breakdowns

• Focused on U.S. travelers, especially good for long-haul flights

• Posts often include tips for mileage runs

 

❌ Cons:

• Limited destination scope compared to other deal sites

• No personalized alerts—you’ll need to check manually

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Airfarewatchdog
Airfarewatchdog employs fare analysts to find and verify flight deals, offering alerts for specific routes and departure cities.

✅ Pros:

• Combines human-verified and algorithm-found deals

• Offers alerts by route, airline, or departure city

• Good for domestic and budget airline finds

 

❌ Cons:

• Deals are sometimes outdated

• Interface is dated

• Mixed user reviews on alert accuracy

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Escape
Escape allows users to input their budget and travel dates to discover destinations they can afford, making spontaneous travel more accessible.

✅ Pros:

• Great for spontaneous travelers

• Input your budget and dates to see where you can go

• Mobile-friendly and visual

 

❌ Cons:

• App-based (not ideal for desktop users)

• Not comprehensive for all flight options

• May not find the lowest fares like other tools

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💡 Insider Tips for Booking Cheap Flights

• Be Flexible with Dates and Destinations: Flying mid-week or during off-peak seasons often results in lower fares.

• Set Fare Alerts: Use tools like Google Flights and Hopper to monitor price changes and receive notifications.

• Book in Advance: For domestic flights, booking 1-3 months ahead is ideal; for international trips, aim for 2-8 months in advance.

• Consider Nearby Airports: Flying into or out of alternative airports can lead to significant savings.

• Use Points and Miles: Leverage credit card rewards and airline loyalty programs to reduce costs.

• Clear Cookies or Use Incognito Mode: While debated, some believe this prevents price increases based on search history.

• Check Budget Airlines Directly: Some low-cost carriers don't appear on major search engines; visit their websites for exclusive deals.

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There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. If you're a planner, Google Flights and Skyscanner are brilliant. If you're flexible and love a good deal, sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights, Secret Flying, and The Flight Deal. For travelers on a budget who don’t mind being a little sneaky, Skiplagged offers a clever edge.

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👉 Tip: Combine these tools—use Google Flights for planning, then check Skiplagged or Skyscanner before booking.