Save Money When Booking Flights

Every traveler wants to save money when booking flights, and there are tons of tips to help you do so; the articles offering advice now are almost as numerous as the flight options themselves.

Here are some of the more time-tested tips:

1. Book early: A good rule of thumb is to book about six weeks before your departure date. Any closer than that and you’re likely to see prices rise.
2. Use comparison sites: Third-party sites like Kayak and Skyscanner help you compare options aggregated from multiple searches, saving you a few bucks in the process.
3. Use flexible dates and times: If you’re able, try searching a few days on either end of your trip to optimize for the cheapest dates to travel. Even better, be willing to catch an early flight or even a red eye to bring prices down.
4. Be willing to stop over: Direct flights tend to be more expensive.
5. Search nearby airports: Sometimes smaller, regional airports can be less expensive to fly into or out of than the larger hubs.
6. Track flights: Price comparison and watching tools are a great way to keep an eye on prices.