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How to Find Cheap Flights: 5 Tips to Save BIG on Airfare!

1. Don't Believe the Cheap Flight Myths

Anyone looking to score a deal on flights has encountered their fare share of myths. When money is involved, there's no shortage of so-called 'experts' or influencers peddling bad intel. These are some of the most common myths you've likely heard - or maybe even believe - that you should put to rest if you really want to book flights for less.

'Tuesdays are the best day to find cheap flights'

We know you've heard it. Maybe you've even stayed up into the wee hours of the morning in hopes of snagging a bargain.

Don't be embarrassed, you're not alone. From friends and coworkers to supposed studies and even major publications, the myth that airlines sell their best, cheapest fares on Tuesday has cemented as a universal fact.

There's just one problem: It's wrong. Sorry, but there's no magical day when flights will be cheaper.

That old myth about flights being cheapest on a Tuesday is outdated - you can find great deals any day of the week. And big travel days like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday are more about marketing than real savings.

While it's convenient to think you'll nab a cheap flight by searching on a special day, it's just not the case. Flight prices are constantly changing. Airlines load new fares every hour, and they can add or subtract how many flights are available at a certain price at any moment. We're sorry to say that it's unpredictable when the cheapest price on the flights you want may pop up.

What's more, airlines never advertise their best fares. So if you're on the hunt for an insane mistake fare or a deeply discounted flash sale to Europe or the Caribbean, you probably won't get it by seizing on a Black Friday sale or entering an airline promo code.

Instead, jump on the best deals whenever you see them. And there's one surefire way to make sure you see all the best flight deals.

'Do flight prices go up the more you search? Are airlines tracking your searches?'

That old 'flights are cheapest on Tuesdays!' trope is just the tip of the iceberg of old myths surrounding airfare that you need to purge from your memory.

We hear this one again and again and again, so let us put it to rest.

• Do cookies increase flight prices? No - stop clearing your cookies! Airlines are not tracking your searches and increasing the price on you. So long as you're searching with Google Flights or directly with the airline, you're safe. Trust us: We search for flight deals all day, every day. If airlines were tracking our searches, we'd never find a deal.
• You don't need to worry about using an incognito browser either, for the same reasons above. It's just not a thing, but this myth has taken hold.

Bloggers and influencers pass these 'travel hacks' on like they've stumbled on some big secret. Unfortunately, they're flat-out false.

2. Be Flexible & Book Your Flights First

There's a familiar script when planning travel: Pick a spot, plan your dates, book your flights, and go. There's just one problem: That process is costing you money.

Setting your travel dates in advance before booking flights is the single costliest travel-planning mistake you can make - it can easily cost you hundreds of dollars. It's time to break the habit. And you can do it by following what we call The Flight First Rule.

Flip that script on its head and start by searching for flights, letting the price guide you to the cheapest dates possible. If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you can often score huge savings on flights by just slightly changing your tentative travel dates.

For example, Google Flights will alert you when shifting your travel dates by just a day or two can result in huge savings. If you've already booked your hotels, you may not be able to take advantage.

Lesson learned: Book your flights first! Then move on to the rest of your trip.

3. Flying Direct Can Cost More Money than Time

Say it with us again: Flexibility is key. And when you're trying to score big savings, it can go beyond shifting your dates and destinations - being flexible with your route can help you save even more.

We get it: You want to fly nonstop as much as possible. We do too. And while it may seem counter-intuitive, sometimes taking an extra stop on the way to your final destination can pay off with savings so big that it's worth it - especially if you're crossing an ocean.

Here's an example: Let's say a nonstop flight from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) will cost you $950 or more. But by opening your search up to one-stop flights, you find a fare for $430 that makes a pitstop in Reykjavik (KEF) on the way to Paris.

Yes, the savings can be that massive. Of course, it's up to you if you're willing to spend a bit more time traveling in exchange for a deal. But paying less than half the price sounds like a good tradeoff - and it's a great way to find cheaper flights.

A savvy traveler can get creative when it comes to flights and save even more on travel. Here are some of our favorite ways to think outside the box and save hundreds on flights:

• Use Google Flights to search to - and from - multiple different airports in an area. Flights into London-Heathrow (LHR) might be expensive, but look into whether you can save more by flying into London-Gatwick Airport (LGW) instead. You can search to and from multiple cities in Google Flights - here's how.
• Book open jaw or multi-city flights to cover more ground on your trips without backtracking and wasting time (and money).
• Use stopovers to see two cities for the price of one! Several airlines offer free (or very cheap) stopover programs to spend up to seven days in their home city. Take advantage and make your travel budget stretch further.

4. Travel at the Right Time

Getting a good deal on flights can all come down to timing. And in many cases, it's less about when you buy your flights and more about when you actually get on the plane. It's all about capitalizing on the cheapest times to travel.

• Flying on off-peak days like Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays is often much cheaper. Avoid busy travel days like Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays when you can.
• The shoulder season (May through June and August through September) is your best friend. Prices are often much higher during the peak summer, as well as around Christmas and New Year's Eve
• Want to shake up your Thanksgiving plans? Turkey Day is a great time to travel internationally at low prices.
• Don't wait until the last minute to book! It's a common misconception, but last-minute fares are mostly a thing of the past. Always book at least 30-45 days in advance whenever possible. For international flights, plan even farther ahead.

Speaking of when to book your flights…

5. Sign Up for Cheap Flight Notifications for Flash Sale & Mistake Fares

Most people don't have all day, every day to be searching for hidden flight deals, unadvertised flash sales, and mistake fares.n We do. And we've got you covered.

Sign up for Thrifty Traveler and you'll get some of the best flight deals, domestic and international, we find each day.

Or take it to the next level and join our flight deal notification service, Thrifty Traveler Premium and get 90% more flight deals sent straight to you. Premium members get two to three flight deal alerts a day, tailored to their home airports so they only see the flight deals they can book.