Airfare is usually the most expensive part of any international trip’s budget; however, that doesn’t mean that travel is unattainable. If you want to learn how to find hot flight deals, read along. I have plenty of tips and tricks that’ll help you save a lot of money, and who doesn’t like to cut down their travel costs anyway, especially if you’re a solo traveler like myself?

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General Tips That Can Help You Land Hot Flight Deals

#1 Book early

The earlier you book, the cheaper the ticket prices are. So, if you already know in advance that you have travel plans, better lock the dates and you’ll save a lot of money. Just make sure to read the ticket’s terms and conditions in case you have to make any changes, and of course, get insured. Generally, prices are steady up until 21 days before departure. That being said, the best time to book is 2-3 months before your trip – that’s the sweet spot.

#2 Be flexible with your dates

Flights don’t necessarily have the same prices every day – some days will be cheaper, and some seasons will be way less expensive. The shoulder season, or low season, of a destination, are good times to look into. Holidays, on the other hand, can be super expensive for travel due to higher demand. And it’s not just airfare that’s lower during these times, accommodations are usually cheaper too.

#3 Be flexible with your destination

It’s okay to want to cross somewhere off your bucket list, but if you don’t have the budget, it’s also okay to visit later. Meanwhile, you’ll stumble upon cheaper travel opportunities elsewhere – you just need to be open to the idea of going somewhere else instead. 

#4 Look at different flight aggregators and airlines 

Flight aggregators are great for comparison, but if you want to up your game and snatch hot flight deals, you need to spend more time researching. That means looking at more than one website and comparing your preferred flights on both flight aggregators and the airline’s website. 

There is no one best booking website though, so you need to put some time and effort into your research while booking because each platform has its perks. Here are the top flight aggregators that I’ve used in my many years of solo travel.

Skyscanner (my personal favorite)

CheapOAir 

Kiwi

WayAway

Other aggregators that I sometimes use:

• Google Flights
• Momondo
• Expedia
• Priceline

#5 Be open to low-cost airlines 

Low-cost airlines or carriers are airlines that focus on minimizing operating costs by eliminating some privileges of traditional airlines to be able to offer lower fares. So, if you’re willing to travel with just a backpack or carry-on and sacrifice premium quality of service, you can consider airlines like Wizz Air, EasyJet, Kayak, and RyanAir. 

#6 Look at other airports

You can fly out of and into other airports than the nearest ones to you, you know? Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly out of or into another airport that’s further away or even in another city. 

#7 Don’t fall for travel myths

​​If you’re still following travel myths and desperately trying to book flights on a Tuesday just because some rando said it’s cheaper, good luck. Here are a few travel myths I’m busting for you:

• Myth #1: Searching for flights in incognito mode tricks booking websites that are tracking your search behavior and change prices accordingly.
• Myth #2: There is one best website to book flights. 
• Myth #3: It’s cheaper to book on a Tuesday.
• Myth #4: Booking is expensive on a Sunday.

Advanced Tricks for Finding Hot Flight Deals

#8 Skyscanner’s “explore everywhere” feature

When looking up flights via Skyscanner, you can set the arrival destination to “explore everywhere”. This’ll generate a list of potential flights to different countries with sample prices. When you select the countries within your budget, you’ll be able to see specific prices depending on the city and dates you settle for. You can specify the travel dates or select the whole month to see all options. 

#9 WayAway Plus Membership – 5% Cashback

What if I tell you that you can claim up to 5% cash back on your booked flights? It’s possible with WayAway Plus, which is WayAway’s annual membership that, obviously, allows you to save up to 5% on flights, in addition to other perks. Those include up to 10% on hotel bookings, as well as other travel services such as car rentals, tours, and more.

#10 Join flight deals mailing lists 

Believe it or not but there are email newsletters dedicated to sending out hot flight deals straight to your inbox. The most popular two would be Jack’s Flight Club and Going, formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights. Another great newsletter would be my very own Tuesday Tips & Trips, where I send out not just flight deals but travel tips, hostel picks, travel promo codes, and more.  

#11 Set a price alert

This feature is great for frequent travelers. When browsing flight options on Skyscanner, click the “Get Price Alerts” button above the search results. You’ll be notified via email whenever there are changes in prices, or even better, when there are hot flight deals.

Air Travel FAQs Answered

Where can I get the best deals on flights?

As I previously mentioned, there is no one best booking website. You need to put some time and effort into your research. However, my personal favorites are Skyscanner (which comes in the first place), CheapOAir, Kiwi, WayAway, and Google Flights.

What is the cheapest month of the year to buy flights?

As I said before, claiming that a specific day or month is cheaper to make the purchase is probably a myth. The general rule of thumb, as previously mentioned, is that prices are steady up until 21 days prior to your flight. In fact, the prime booking window would be from 115 days to 21 days in advance. 

Which dates are flights cheapest?

Holidays are the most expensive time to travel anywhere, and of course, the peak season of any destination is also pricey. So, your best bet is to either travel in low season, if you’re willing to compromise good weather, or during shoulder season. If you’re not familiar with the term, shoulder season is the time between peak season and off-peak season, which is usually spring or fall. 

How to get huge discounts on flights?

If you’re still asking this question that you haven’t been reading, but rather skimming. Well, the secret to stumbling upon super saver flights is in my previous tips!

What to do if I want to cancel my flight?

If the flight ticket is refundable, then you should either contact your airline or do it through their website. Most airlines offer a 24-hour cancelation policy for a full refund. It’s also essential to read the terms before you purchase a ticket.

What to do if my flight gets delayed or canceled?

If a flight gets delayed or canceled by an airline, you’re entitled to a full refund or an alternative booking. And if that happens after you arrive at the airport, the airline must also offer you customer care perks such as complimentary food and drink or even a hotel booking if the alternative flight requires you to stay the night. I also don’t need to remind you how important travel insurance would be in this case.

On the other hand, you could also be entitled to compensation in some other cases. The EU law protects air passengers who experience such travel mishaps. The EU261, also known as EC261, law applies to all flights operated by EU carriers or departing from airports within the EU area.

TLDR: If your flight was delayed, canceled, or you were denied boarding by an airline in the last 6 years, you could be eligible for compensation from €250 to €600. That is determined by the airport’s wait time and your flight’s travel distance. 

The thing is that most people aren’t aware of this law or their rights. But now YOU know! So, if this happens to you, what to do? You have 2 options (after you sort out your flight situation of course):

1. Contact the airline and file for compensation. The downside is that process can be time-consuming and the paperwork can be daunting.
2. Hire a claims management company like Compensair. These companies take care of all the paperwork, negotiations with the airlines, and legal proceedings. The downside of this is that it could be a little pricey; however, they only charge a percentage of the compensation ONLY IF you get one. 

Check out if you’re eligible for compensation below

Checked Luggage Tips 

Mishandling luggage is actually a very common travel mishap, but there are a few ways that can help you protect your checked luggage.

#1 Buy travel insurance

Invest in good travel insurance because you better be safe than sorry. Luggage gets misplaced and lost all the time, and it can happen to you right when you least expect it. It happened to me personally twice! 

I highly recommend the Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing as it’s very affordable and it also covers plenty of other stuff, such as flight cancelations and delays, and medical emergencies, including COVID-19. Get insured now!

#2 Invest in AirTags

Speaking of travel investments that are totally worth it, believe me when I tell you that you NEED AirTags! 

In case you don’t know what an AirTag is, it’s a small button-shaped tracking device by Apple. You can use it to track any items from keys to vehicles. The best way a traveler can put this to use is to track their suitcases and checked luggage via the Find My app on their iPhone.

This step-by-step video will show you how to set it up on your phone.

#3 Bring a suitcase with a distinctive color

Choose a suitcase with a distinctive color that you can easily spot on the luggage belt from a distance.

#4 Make your suitcase distinctive if it isn’t

If your suitcase’s color isn’t distinctive (e.g. black or brown), tie a big colorful ribbon or bow on its handle. You can also put a colorful crossed luggage strap on it.

#5 Add a name tag to your suitcase

Add a name tag to your suitcase with your name, number, and email. This way, if your luggage gets swapped or misplaced, whoever finds it could easily trace it back to you.

#6 Make sure your luggage is locked

An extra layer of security would be adding a padlock on your suitcase. This will also come in handy if you’re staying in a hostel and want to lock up your valuables.

#7 If you’re traveling with a backpack, wrap it

Plastic wrapping your luggage is usually recommended as an extra layer of protection as baggage isn’t usually handled well at airports. I had my 7-year-old favorite suitcase broken because of that on my last trip. However, I personally don’t wrap my luggage for sustainable travel purposes – I only do so if I’m traveling with a backpack as this is the only way to protect it from tearing. 

Airport Tips

#1 Arrive early

When departing from an airport, you’ll go through multiple security checks and immigration, you might need to check in your luggage – the process can take time. However, no matter what the time estimate for that process is, travel mishaps happen, and the most common of all is that airports can be super busy at times. And many airports can be pretty chaotic when crowded, that’s why it’s important to arrive early. Most airlines advise you’d arrive at least 3 hours before your flight if it’s an international one, and if it’s domestic, it’s best to arrive at least 2 hours in advance. 

#2 Have all your travel documents ready

Make sure to have all your travel documents on you; flight tickets, accommodation reservations, visa (if needed), and of course, your passport. It’s always safer to have a soft copy of each on your phone, as well as printed copies just in case anything goes wrong.

#3 Carry a pen

You might need to fill out a form going through immigration in some countries. So, it’s best to have your own pen on you instead of looking for one to borrow. 

#4 Wear the right clothing

It’s important to wear comfy clothing on travel day, and the most important of all is your choice of footwear. It’s not just that you need to wear comfy, breathable shoes for long queues and walking, but you should also wear shoes that are easy to take off. When going through security checks, you’ll most probably have to take off your shoes, so you want to be wearing something that’s less of a hassle and more on the practical end. That means, it’s best to avoid boots or footwear with complicated shoelaces. 

#5 Lose the accessories

Just like your footwear, you will be asked to take off any jewelry; such as rings or watches, as well as belts. So, the best option is to simply not wear any jewelry – you’re not going on a date! And try to wear pants that you wouldn’t need a belt for.

Start researching and snatch those hot flight deals now! What are you waiting for?

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You might also like:

• Staying in a Hostel: How to Pick and Book
• Nomad Insurance: 6 Reasons Why Travel Insurance Is Essential

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