Top Tips to Find Cheap Flights – Updated 2025 Travel Guide

Traveling is one of the most enriching experiences in life, but expensive airfare can often stand in the way of our wanderlust. The good news? With the right strategies, finding affordable flight tickets is entirely possible. Here’s your up-to-date guide to scoring cheap flights in 2025:

1- Flexible With Your Travel Dates

Flight prices vary significantly depending on the day and time. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as well as early morning or late-night flights, tend to be cheaper. Use the “flexible dates” feature on search engines to compare a wider range of prices.

2. Clear Cookies or Use Incognito Mode

Your search history can actually impact prices—airlines and booking platforms may raise prices based on repeated searches. Avoid this by using incognito mode or clearing your browser cookies before each search.

3. Consider Alternative Airports

Flying into or out of smaller, secondary airports often comes with lower ticket prices. For example, flying from Sabiha Gökçen instead of Istanbul Airport can save your money.

4. Look for Connecting Flights

While direct flights are more convenient, layovers can cut costs significantly, especially on long-haul routes. Sometimes booking two separate flights can also be cheaper than a single direct one.

5. Set Fare Alerts

Websites like Google Flights, Kayak, or Skyscanner let you set alerts for your desired route. This way, you’re notified when prices drop and can book at the right moment.

6. Sign Up for Airline Newsletters

Many airlines offer exclusive deals to newsletter subscribers. Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and SunExpress often run flash sales available only to email members. Also, follow them on social media for surprise discounts.

7. Mix and Match One-Way Tickets

Instead of booking round-trip tickets from one airline, try booking one-way tickets with different carriers. This mix-and-match approach can sometimes be up to 30% cheaper.

8. Use a VPN to Check International Prices

Prices can differ depending on your location. Use a VPN to simulate being in another country—sometimes this trick reveals lower fares not visible in your region.

9. Book Early, Especially for Peak Seasons

Generally, booking 2–3 months in advance offers the best prices. If you’re planning to travel during holidays or peak seasons, it’s wise to book even earlier.

10. Use Student and Youth Discounts

Many airlines offer discounts for students and travelers under 26. Don’t forget to bring your student ID or register through travel platforms like StudentUniverse or ISIC.

Bonus Tips

• Consider Travel Packages: Sometimes bundled deals with flights and accommodations are cheaper than booking separately.

• Use Flight Comparison Sites: Skyscanner, Momondo, and Hopper are great for comparing prices across multiple airlines and platforms.

• Avoid Weekends for Departure: Flying mid-week is almost always more affordable than weekend travel.