Where can I find cheap flights on the Internet? Are there any travel hacks for this?

Where can I find cheap flights on the Internet? Are there any travel hacks for this?

Finding the cheapest flights is now almost like a competition. Booking flights has become easy. But finding the best flight for you, preferably the cheapest, is a real challenge.

"From Germany to Hawaii for 300 Euro? How did you manage that?" Are there any travel hacks?

Well, I also asked myself this question at the beginning when friends or colleagues spontaneously made a "bargain" when booking flights. Because the most expensive thing about traveling is often the flight tickets.

That's why I'm sharing my experience and tips here so that you can find cheap flights too. I've learned a few tricks and tips over the years that, surprisingly, not everyone knows yet.

Incidentally, I prefer direct flights and would rather pay 100 Euros more for a flight where I don't have to change planes. But this has only developed over the last few years because in times of climate change I try to reduce my ecological footprint as much as possible.

Note: If your flight is canceled, and you have a delay of more than 3 hours, passenger rights apply to flights from or to the EU. Here, I give you tips on how to get compensation for flight delays.

Booking cheap flights explained briefly

• Using various portals such as Momondo, KAYAK and Google Flights as well as the booking portal booking.com increases your chances of finding cheap flight offers. I advise you to use several search engines at the same time to compare the best prices.
• Flexibility in terms of travel dates and times can lead to considerable savings. In particular, flights on less busy days and at less popular times are often cheaper.
• Booking flights early, but not too early, is crucial. The ideal booking period for international flights is between 144 and 154 days in advance, for domestic flights at least 30 days in advance. Early booking pays off.
• Many airlines post special bargains on social media or in their newsletter. Follow them to get offers.
• Flexibility also pays off if you follow bargain portals. There you can often find ‘error fares’ and very good flight offers.
• Collect miles and redeem them for upgrades and award flights. My favorite: AMEX Platinum
• Supply and demand are affected by the price. During the peak season (around Christmas and New Year), you will rarely find direct flights to Cape Town.

Which day of the week is the cheapest to book flights?

Is there really a specific day of the week when flights are cheapest? Opinions differ here: many travellers see Tuesday as the best day to book flights. Others say that flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest. Yet other studies have shown that flight tickets are particularly cheap on Fridays.

In addition, flights very early in the morning or late in the evening are usually cheaper. By choosing these less popular times and days, you can save considerably on your travel budget.

Use various flight search engines

The first step in finding cheap flights is to use various flight search engines or booking portals. This will give you an overview of which airline you could fly with. Only then do I check directly with the airline.

Platforms such as Momondo, KAYAK and Google Flights are indispensable tools for any budget traveller. Each of these search engines has its own strengths and offers features that can help you find the best deals.

1. Google Flights

The best search engine for an initial overview is Google Flights. Google Flights makes it possible, for example, to enter several departure airports and open-jaw flights and to check alternative destination airports. This flexibility is particularly useful if you are not yet set on a specific travel date. You can also sort the search results by price, journey duration and value for money. Filter options such as the number of stopovers or flight duration help you to find the ideal flight.

What I like: Simple and clear. There are also notes on CO₂ emissions and additional information such as ‘Often delayed by more than 30 minutes’ in my current case . Many people overlook the fact that you can specify the number of pieces of luggage.

Disadvantage: Nevertheless, I have noticed that not all airlines are always listed.

2. KAYAK or Momondo (same company)

Momondo and KAYAK offer +-3 day flexibility for flight dates, allowing you to search entire months at a time to find the cheapest days to fly. This feature is especially valuable if you're flexible with your travel dates and are willing to move your flight a few days to save money, and Skyscanner allows you to do the same by clicking one day forward in the advert.

A big bonus: You can directly enter whether and how many pieces of luggage you want to check in (hand luggage and checked baggage). That's why my favourite flight search portal has recently become KAYAK or Momondo (same company). Previously, it was Skyscanner for years alongside Google Flights or the official airline websites.

A personal tip: Always use several search engines at the same time. Prices often vary between the platforms and by comparing them you can ensure that you get the best deal. On one of our recent trips, we found a flight from Frankfurt to New York for under 300 EUR by using several search engines - a real bargain!

In summary, by utilising the strengths of different flight search engines and making the best use of the available filter options, you significantly increase your chances of finding cheap flights. Don't limit yourself to just one search engine - the variety of options can bring you significant savings

3. Another alternative: Skyscanner (unfortunately not that good anymore)

At Skyscanner you can display the prices for entire months. As with the search portals mentioned above, you can also exclude certain airlines directly in the flight search.

It's a shame that you still can 't specify here if you want to book checked baggage. This means that the prices here are always cheaper and, for me, not real or transparent. Many people are shocked when they see the final price.

Sei flexibel bei deinen Reisedaten

Flexibility with travel dates is one of the keys to finding cheap flights. Flights are often significantly more expensive in high season than in low season. If you can be flexible with your travelling time, avoid the peak travel season andchoose less busy times instead, such as the low season or days like New Year's Eve, Christmas or a Friday the 13th (no joke).

Another tip is to shift the travel period by just one day. Often, even a small adjustment to your travel dates can lead to significant savings. I recommend avoiding weekend flights and generally travelling in the low season. This can be particularly helpful if you are planning longer trips. I know it's not possible for families with school-age children. I don't have children.

A personal example: On a trip to Portugal, we originally planned to fly on Friday. By rescheduling to Wednesday, we were able to save over €100 per person. These small adjustments can make a big difference and are easy to implement.

Book in advance, but not too early

Booking your flights in good time is crucial to secure favourable prices. According to statistics, the ideal booking period for international flights is between 144 and 154 days in advance. For domestic flights, it is advisable to book at least 30 days in advance. These periods are ideal for getting the best prices without running the risk of paying too much.

In the high season, domestic flights are cheapest about four to six months in advance. For international flights,you shouldbook at least two months in advance to avoid rising prices. Plan your trip several months in advance and set up a price alert to be informed of price reductions. These alerts can help you find the best time to book.

I don't believe any statistics. As soon as I know I'm flying somewhere, I regularly check the prices. With traditional airlines (Lufthansa, Delta, British Airways) it's important to book early as demand is often high. With budget airlines, prices tend to rise the longer you wait. There are rarely bargains at short notice.

My experience:

• We were planning a holiday in South Africa
• We set a price alert six months before the planned departure
• After about two months, we received a notification of a significant price drop
• We were able to book our flights for significantly less than the original price.

Check alternative airports nearby

An often overlooked tip is to use alternative airports near your departure or destination. Flights to or from smaller airports can be cheaper. For example, it may be worth flying from Stuttgart instead of Frankfurt.

Most flight search engines allow you to add nearby airports to your search. This expands your options and helps you find potentially cheaper flights. By using this feature, you can make significant savings without straying too far from your original destination.

Another advantage of using alternative airports can be cheaper car hire offers. This can be particularly useful if you are planning to hire a car at your destination. A small diversions to an alternative airport can therefore be doubly worthwhile.

An example from an experience: on a trip to Italy, we chose Pisa airport instead of Florence and not only saved on flight costs, but also got a cheaper car hire deal. This strategy is easy to implement and can help you to optimise your travel budget.

For USA round trips , I also recommend that you check: Starting in Los Angeles instead of San Francisco for the West Coast (or vice versa). In the south, start in Nashville or Memphis instead of New Orleans (and vice versa).

Use stopovers and open-jaw flights

Stopover and open-jaw flights are excellent ways to not only save money but also see more of the world. These flight options allow you to visit multiple destinations on one trip, which is often cheaper than direct flights. Open jaw flights avoid the need to purchase an additional flight or long coach journeys back to your destination, giving you more flexibility when planning your trip.

Open jaw flights can be up to 50% cheaper than two separate one-way flights. This option is particularly useful when travelling in large countries or when travelling through several countries. With open jaw flights, you don't have to return to the starting point at the end of the journey, which is more convenient and often cheaper. They are therefore a good alternative to low-cost flights for such journeys.

These flight options are ideal for road trips or round trips, as they offer more flexibility and allow you to discover different destinations in one country more intensively. One type of open-jaw flight is the double open-jaw flight, where both the departure and destination airports are different to allow even greater variety when travelling.

A personal tip: On a trip to New York, we used an open-jaw flight that took us from Frankfurt to Philadelphia. We explored the city (highly recommended) and then took the train to New York. Again, we stayed one night in New Jerseyto fly home from Newark. So we explored two more places and saved money. This trip was not only cheaper than direct flights to New York, but also allowed us to see more of the USA.

Compare airlines directly

Booking directly with airlines can often offer additional benefits. As a customer, you will often find special online offers on airline websites (Miles and More, for example) that are not listed in flight search engines. These exclusive discounts and promotions can offer significant savings.

Direct bookings definitely offer better customer service in case of problems or flight cancellations. I can tell you my woes with Lufthansa (postponed flight to Iceland by 1 day, cancelled flight from Bilbao to home, more than 4 h delay to Oslo. All happened in the last two years).

Another advantage is that you can sometimes find a cheaper price on the airline's website than on flight search engines. Booking flights directly with the airline can sometimes offer additional amenities that are not available with third-party providers.

Advantages of direct booking:

• Better customer service in case of problems or changes
• Possibly cheaper prices than with flight search engines
• Additional amenities that are not available with third-party providers
• You can redeem miles and upgrades more easily this way

Example booking with airline: I booked my direct flight to Japan directly with Lufthansa, although I flew with ANA. The reason for this was that Lufthansa showed the cheaper price and I was able to pay part of it with miles (Miles and More Gold credit card).

To summarise, comparing prices on both flight search engines and airline websites can help you find the best deals and take advantage of additional benefits. I really like to book direct. Especially after the incidents mentioned above. I would have had more problems booking through Opodo.

Take advantage of error fares

Error fares are a great way to get extremely cheap flight tickets. These airfare errors are often caused by human or technical mistakes, such as forgetting to enter a 0 or mismatching fares. However, it is important to book quickly as these errors are usually rectified quickly.

You can find error fares on bargain blogs or by searching the internet. An important tip is not to call the airline after booking so as not to arouse suspicion. Wait until the eTicket is secure before making any other bookings, such as accommodation or visas. Here are some useful tips and tricks to get the most out of your search.

Error fares for economy class tickets are more likely to be honoured than those for business or first class. In the event of cancellation, the money is usually refunded. Flexibility pays off here, as these offers need to be booked quickly.

Tips for ‘ErrorFares’ when booking flights with bargains:

• Holiday Pirates
• Secret Flying
• Travel Dealz

Delete cache and cookies

An often overlooked but important tip is to clear your browser cache and cookies before searching for flights. Repeated searches can cause prices to rise as the offer page recognises that you have already searched for flights.

Even if all providers claim that this trick does not work. It's not always true.

By deleting old cookies, you ensure that you are shown the best prices and that there are no price increases due to repeated searches. This is a simple but effective way to make sure you always see the best deals.

A tip: Clear your browser cache and cookies regularly, especially when searching for flights. This can prevent prices from rising due to your previous searches and help you find the cheapest deals.

Another trick is to use a VPN to change your location.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Newsletters from airlines and travel websites are an excellent source of exclusive offers and information. By signing up to these newsletters, you'll receive regular updates about premium travel experiences, additional offers or competitions. This can help you find flight bargains that might otherwise be easily overlooked.

Another advantage is that you will often be informed early about upcoming sales and special promotions. This gives you the opportunity to be one of the first to book and secure the best deals. A tip: Create a separate email address for newsletter sign-ups to keep your main mailbox clean and still not miss any important offers.

An example from our experience: By signing up to an airline's newsletter, we found out about an exclusive offer for return flights including hand luggage for under €100 to a favourite destination. This information helped us to secure a fantastic offer.

Or as I type these lines, an e-mail flutters into our inbox:

Use bonus programmes and miles

Bonus programmes and frequent flyer miles are an excellent way to save money in the long term. Many credit cardsoffer points or miles programmes that can be transferred to frequent flyer programmes such as Miles and More. These accumulated miles can then be used to pay for flights or get upgrades.

It is worth paying all bills with a credit card that earns miles. In some cases, this can lead to significant savings and allow you to get free flights.

For me, there is no better credit card than the American Express Platinum. However, there are alternatives. What counts is: where and with which airline do you often fly? Star Alliance? If so, Miles and More is the best offer if you live in Germany. Do you often fly from Berlin? Then check out AMEX, where you can easily transfer miles to Etihad, Qatar Airways (the best airline for me), Turkish Airlines and other airlines.

However, you should note that miles often expire within a certain time and certain fees apply even for ‘free flights’. It is important to know the terms and conditions of the frequent flyer programmes in order to make the most of the miles you earn.

Summary and conclusion

To summarise, there are many strategies for finding cheap flights and saving on your travel budget. From using different flight search engines, being flexible with travel dates, to taking advantage of error fares and bonus programmes - any of these methods can help you secure the best deals.

Ultimately, it takes some planning and flexibility, but the rewards are well worth it. Use these tips to plan your next trip and save money in the process. With these strategies, you'll be well-equipped to explore the world without breaking your budget. Good luck, patience and happy travelling!

PS: I've been looking for offers for a direct flight to Cape Town for 7 months. These flights have never been available for less than 1000 euros after Christmas and before New Year's Eve. Tendency: rising. As I've already spent New Year's Eve in my favourite city several times, I know that I'll have to start saving for the next trip after this one.

These are of course only tips and guidelines. There is no guarantee for cheap flight bookings. But they can help you find a good deal.

What tips do you have for booking flights? Which flight search engines do you use?

I hope you enjoyed this guide and that it helped answer your questions. If you have any tricks, ideas or questions, we look forward to your comments here on the travel blog.

If you don't have any questions: We still look forward to your feedback and that you share this post with friends!