How to Find Cheap Flights

 

Here's IndieTravelGear.com's low-down on finding the cheapest flights available out there.

 

While we're used to seeing massive discounts on last minute holiday deals, when it comes to booking flights it usually works the other way around: the earlier you book, the cheaper the price. A certain number of seats are available at special cheap fares, but once these are filled (and the flight is therefore deemed economically viable) the remaining fares start to increase.

 

By booking flights online you will often get better deals than you would offline at a travel agent. You can book flights direct through an airline's own website, or you can book through various travel websites such as Expedia.co.uk and Opodo.co.uk.

 

Obviously the more flexible you can be over dates the more choice of fares there will be, and the better your chance of securing a cheaper fare. Also, flights to America are usually less expensive if a Saturday night is included in your trip, while flights to Europe are generally cheaper if you fly mid-week and avoid weekends.

 

Most airlines launch flight sales from time to time, sometimes offering significant discounts on the standard fare. This is ideal if you can be flexible on travel dates and / or your holiday destination. Some low cost airlines such as bmibaby promote frequent sales on flights across Europe throughout the year - from their January sale through to their Spring, Summer and Winter sales, they never seem to be far away from a new promotion. Some of these offer amazing fares on flights to some really fantastic destinations, and while you may not spend your flights in the lap of luxury on one of the budget airlines it's worth it if it means you can enjoy an extra little break at a bargain price.

The best way of being amongst the first hear about flight sales before the seats are all booked up is to: 

 

There are a number of flight comparison websites out there that can save you time if you want to compare prices from various airlines in one go - without having to visit each of their individual websites yourself to run a search (which can be incredibly time-consuming). You simply put your flight requirements into the comparison site and it goes off and searches for you – returning a list in price order.

 

The main drawback of depending solely on websites such as these is that they do not trawl every single airline out there. Still, alongside some of your own research they can offer a big help.

 

Also, while the cheapest fare may look like a great deal on first glance, there may be a reason why it's so cheap – for example it may not be direct, and the connections may not be conveniently timed so you may have to hang around at an airport en route for some hours.

 

When you're searching for flights, it's also worth bearing in mind that a slightly more expensive flight from a more convenient (e.g. regional) airport may be worth the extra rather than a cheap flight from an airport much further from your home (e.g. Heathrow). Not only will you save on other land travel costs by flying from closer to home, but you'll also save time and energy! Also remember to keep your travel pack safe when flying!