Finding Cheap Flights: The 12 Best Tricks

2. The Incognito Mode Myth

For years people believed that airlines raise prices when you search for the same flight repeatedly – and that incognito mode prevents this. This is no longer the case. Modern airfares are calculated through real-time dynamic pricing based on demand, booking class and competition – not on your browser cookies.

Incognito mode does no harm, but do not expect miracles. What really helps: monitor prices over several days and compare different search engines. Sometimes one meta search engine shows cheaper options than another because the airline APIs return different results.

3. Google Flights as Your Starting Point

Google Flights is the best tool for an initial overview. Its strengths: an extremely fast search, calendar and map views for flexible searches, and the 'Track prices' button that notifies you by email about price changes.

• Calendar view: Shows the cheapest price for each day of the month
• Map view: 'Where can I fly for my budget?' – perfect for flexible travellers
• Price tracking: Google Flights tells you whether the price is likely to rise or fall
• Filters: Airline, stopovers, departure time, luggage – all configurable

However, do not always book directly via Google Flights. Compare the price you found with Skyscanner and the airline website directly – sometimes special offers are available there.

4. Using Skyscanner and Other Meta Search Engines Effectively

Skyscanner searches hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) simultaneously. The killer features: the 'Whole Month' and 'Cheapest Month' functions show you at a glance when it is cheapest. You can enter 'Everywhere' as the destination airport – ideal when you simply want to get away.

Other recommended meta search engines are Momondo (often strong for connecting flights) and Kayak (good filters and price forecast). For pure budget airline routes within Europe, Azair is also worth checking as it specifically searches low-cost carriers.

Tip: After comparing, book directly on the airline's website whenever possible. If problems arise you will have a direct line to the airline rather than a third-party provider.

5. Spotting Error Fares and Deals

So-called error fares arise from technical mistakes in price entry – for instance when a long-haul flight suddenly shows up 80 per cent cheaper. These error fares often last only a few hours but are honoured by the airlines in most cases.

To avoid missing such deals, subscribe to specialised channels:

• Secret Flying – International error fares
• Jack's Flight Club – Curated flight deals for European travellers
• Flydeals Telegram groups – Real-time notifications

If you find an error fare: book immediately, do not deliberate. Book the flight separately (no hotel), use a credit card (easier to reverse) and wait 2 to 3 weeks before booking further travel costs. In rare cases the airline may cancel the ticket.

6. Using Stopovers Cleverly

Direct flights are convenient but often significantly more expensive than flights with a connection. The trick: sometimes a flight with a stopover at a hub airport (Istanbul, Dubai, Doha) is 200 to 500 euros cheaper than the direct flight – for just 2 to 4 extra hours of travel time.

Even better: turn the stopover into an experience. Many airlines offer free stopover programmes. Turkish Airlines allows a stay of 1 to 3 days in Istanbul, Singapore Airlines in Singapore and Icelandair in Reykjavik – at no extra cost on the flight ticket.

The advanced trick: use tools like Kiwi.com or 'throwaway ticketing'. Sometimes a flight from Frankfurt to Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur is cheaper than the direct flight to Kuala Lumpur. In that case you book the flight to Bangkok and simply get off in Kuala Lumpur. Note: this only works without checked luggage and only on the final leg.

7. Open-Jaw Flights: Different Departure and Return Cities

An open-jaw flight means flying into one city and returning from another – for example flying into Barcelona and returning from Lisbon. You not only save the trip back to your starting point but often money too, as the individual legs can be cheaper.

• Road trips – fly into San Francisco, return from Los Angeles
• Multi-stop tours – South-East Asia: fly into Bangkok, return from Ho Chi Minh City
• City combinations – Rome and Paris in one trip, without doubling back

Google Flights, Skyscanner and Kayak all support open-jaw flight searches. Always compare with two one-way bookings, as sometimes that is even cheaper.

8. Making the Most of Miles and Frequent Flyer Programmes

Even infrequent flyers can collect miles – without booking a single flight. The key is credit cards with mileage programmes and everyday purchases that generate miles.

How it works: you earn miles on credit card payments (0.5 to 1 mile per euro), hotel stays, car rentals and through airline shopping portals. Once you have accumulated enough, you book a reward flight – business-class flights to Asia or the Americas become available for a fraction of the regular price.

Tip: Sign up with at least one airline alliance (Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam). Even if you only fly economy, enough miles accumulate over the years for a free flight.

9. Knowing the Best Time to Book

The question 'When is the best time to book?' occupies every savvy traveller. Studies by Hopper and CheapAir have analysed millions of airfares. The results:

• Within Europe: Book 1 to 2 months before departure
• Long-haul: Book 2 to 4 months before departure
• Holiday periods: Book 3 to 5 months before departure (summer, Christmas)
• Last-minute: Only genuinely cheaper for package holidays; for flights almost always more expensive

The basic rule: do not book too early (prices sit at standard level) and not too late (they rise dramatically). The 'sweet spot' window for most routes is 6 to 8 weeks before departure for short-haul and 8 to 12 weeks for long-haul.

10. Budget Airlines: Avoiding the Pitfalls

Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet – the ticket prices are tempting, but hidden extras can quickly eat up the advantage. A 29-euro flight becomes a 90-euro flight once you add seat selection, cabin bag upgrade and priority boarding.

How to use budget airlines properly:

• Travel with a small personal item only – this is free on almost all airlines (40x20x25 cm)
• Check in online – Ryanair charges up to 55 euros at the counter
• Skip seat selection – unnecessary for solo travellers
• Do not buy food on board – eat at the gate beforehand, bring snacks
• Check the airport – 'Paris Beauvais' is 85 km from the city centre; the transfer costs extra

Always compare the total price including extras with a legacy carrier. Lufthansa or KLM with luggage included is often only 20 to 30 euros more than Ryanair with a trolley bag fee.

11. Carry-On Only: Travel Lighter, Fly Cheaper

Travelling with carry-on luggage only saves not just baggage fees (30 to 70 euros per leg) but also time: no queuing at the check-in counter, no waiting at the baggage carousel and zero risk of lost luggage.

The art of packing light:

• Capsule wardrobe: 3 to 4 tops, 2 trousers, 1 jacket – all mix-and-match
• Roll instead of fold: Saves space and reduces creasing
• Packing cubes: Compress clothing and create order
• Travel sizes: Shampoo, shower gel and sun cream in 100 ml bottles
• Multi-functional clothing: Merino shirts still smell fresh after 3 days

For short trips of up to 7 days a 40-litre backpack is perfectly sufficient. For longer trips to warm regions too – lightweight clothing takes up barely any space.

12. Comparing Departure Airports: Secondary Airports and Neighbouring Countries

If you live near a national border you have a hidden advantage: flights from neighbouring-country airports can be significantly cheaper. From Stuttgart, flying from Basel or Zurich can save hundreds of euros. From Aachen, Eindhoven or Brussels is often the better choice than Cologne/Bonn.

Even within Germany the comparison pays off: a flight from Memmingen, Weeze or Hahn is often far cheaper than from Frankfurt or Munich. Getting there by FlixBus or train costs just a fraction of the saving.

Use the 'Include nearby airports' option when searching or query several airports explicitly. Google Flights even shows via its map view which airport near you offers the cheapest fare.

Tip: Always calculate total costs: airfare + travel to the airport + parking fees. An 80-euro cheaper flight from Eindhoven is not worth it if getting there costs 60 euros and parking another 40.