I've been on many budget trips myself, so I hope these tips help you as much as they've helped me:
Websites and Apps: Websites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak are great for comparing fares across different airlines. Apps like Hopper also predict the best time to buy, which can be super handy. I've found that some lesser-known platforms like Momondo can occasionally find hidden deals, especially for international flights.
Booking Directly vs. Third-party: Booking directly with airlines can sometimes yield good deals, especially if they have sales or promo codes. Plus, it simplifies things if there are changes or cancellations. However, third-party sites sometimes have exclusive deals with airlines or offer bundled discounts (like hotel and flight together), which can save you money.
Time of Booking: While there's no hard and fast rule that an early morning or late-night booking will guarantee a cheaper flight, sometimes airlines release fare updates overnight, and I've scored deals by checking at odd hours.
Advance Booking vs. Last Minute: Generally, booking 1-3 months in advance is a sweet spot for domestic flights, and 3-6 months for international ones. However, last-minute deals can be a gamble and are usually better if you're flexible with dates and destinations. I've noticed that last-minute deals are more common for certain routes, especially from major hubs.
Cheaper Days: Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often cheaper for booking flights because airlines tend to release weekly fare deals on Monday evenings. Flying on these days is also generally cheaper.
Flexible Dates and Destinations: Absolutely! If you set your search to flexible dates and look at broader regions rather than specific cities, you’ll often find significantly lower fares. Being open to connections rather than direct flights can also bring costs down a lot.
Fare Alerts: Setting up fare alerts on platforms like Skyscanner and Google Flights is a game-changer. They notify you as soon as prices drop for destinations you're interested in. This way, you don't have to constantly check back manually.
As for other tips, consider using a VPN to check flight prices from different geographic locations. Sometimes fares vary by region due to different pricing strategies by airlines. Also, look into any credit card reward points or airline miles you've accumulated; they can often subsidize or even cover your flight costs.
Happy travels and I hope you find some amazing deals!