Finding cheap flights: when to book and how to search smart

Finding a cheap flight isn't a matter of luck, but of timing and savvy. If you know what to look for, you often pay tens of euros less for exactly the same flight. In this guide we walk through the most important steps.

Finding cheap flights: when is the best time to book?

There's no magic day when tickets are always cheapest, but there are patterns. For European destinations you usually book most cheaply about one to three months ahead. For long-haul trips, four to six months is fine. Last minute is rarely cheap, unless an airline wants to fill seats.

The moment of departure matters too. Flying on weekdays, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, is often cheaper than at the weekend. Early morning and late evening flights are usually lower in price because they're less popular.

Flexible searching pays off

The biggest saving is in flexibility. If you're not tied to one date or one airport, a world of options opens up. Use the search function that lets you view a whole month and compare departures from different airports in your region.

• Search using a price calendar instead of one fixed day.
• Compare nearby airports, sometimes an hour's drive saves a lot of money.
• Be flexible with your destination if you mainly feel like going somewhere.
• Check whether a stopover is cheaper than a direct flight.

Common mistakes that cost money

Many travellers pay too much unnecessarily due to a few pitfalls. The best known is waiting too long in the hope it gets cheaper. Prices fluctuate, but the chance they rise is at least as big.

Another mistake is looking only at the ticket price. With budget airlines, costs for hand luggage, seat selection and check-in are often added on top. Always work out the total price before comparing, otherwise a cheap ticket suddenly looks expensive.

• Clear your cookies or search in a private window, so earlier searches don't push the price up.
• Book directly with the airline if the price is the same, that makes rebooking easier.
• Check the baggage rules before you pay.
• Watch the connection time, planning too tight can mean a missed connection.

Be patient but not passive

Flying cheap takes a bit of patience and a bit of nerve. Follow a route for a few days, get a feel for the normal price and strike when you see a good deal. If you're in doubt, a slightly higher price with free cancellation is sometimes the safest choice.

All those dates, price alerts and booking confirmations are easy to keep clearly in one place with a travel planner like Zuvy, so you never have to search for that one ticket again.