If you're looking to save as much as possible on international flights , you'll see that it's not just about finding the occasional "crazy deal." These days, airlines use sophisticated algorithms that change prices based on demand, dates, airports, and even how far in advance you book. The good news is that if you understand how the system works, you can find ways to circumvent it and pay significantly less for the same seat.
In this guide you will find all the strategies that experienced travelers use to hunt for bargains on international routes: from when to buy, on which days, which airports to look at, how to use search engines, alerts, VPNs, frequent flyer programs, tickets with layovers, less conventional tricks like the hidden city or splitting journeys, and also what myths you should ignore so as not to waste time or money.
Book in advance… but wisely
One of the keys to finding cheap international flights is booking in advance, but simply booking "the earlier the better" isn't enough. Data shows that buying too early or too late can be expensive , and that there's an "optimal booking window" depending on the type of trip and the season.
For international flights during peak season (Christmas, European summer, long weekends), booking 4 to 10 months in advance usually works well . For long-haul routes, studies suggest even longer booking windows: around 18 weeks for the South Pacific, 20 for Central America, 22 for South America, 24 for Asia, and up to 26 for North America.
In the off-season , when demand falls and supply remains constant, things change: many price analyses recommend booking between 2 and 8 months in advance for international flights, while for domestic routes 1 to 3 months may suffice. Generally, avoiding booking in the last week is key, because prices skyrocket in the 5 days prior to departure.
There are also seasonal patterns: January and February are usually the best months to book , while June and July see the highest prices due to the summer season. During autumn (September and October), it's common to find fares up to 25-30% lower than in peak summer for many destinations.
Regarding the day and time of purchase, several studies agree that Sunday is usually the worst time to book, while Tuesday often appears to be the cheapest day. Furthermore, buying at night can be more advantageous: clear differences have been observed between bookings made between 8:00 and 20:00 and those made in the early hours of the morning, with prices reaching their lowest around 2:00 and peaking at midday.
Flexibility with dates, times and seasons
Another great way to save money is to be flexible with your travel dates . Sometimes, shifting your departure or return by one or two days can make a difference of tens—or even hundreds—of euros, especially on long-haul routes.
Traveling on weekdays is usually cheaper than on weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the most economical days, followed by some Saturdays with low demand, while Fridays and Sundays have the highest prices because everyone wants to travel or return then.
Unpopular flight times also help lower the price. Flying in the early morning, very early in the morning, or late at night is less appealing to most passengers, which translates into lower fares . If you don't mind getting up early or arriving at odd hours, you can snag some significant savings without even changing your destination.
Something similar happens with peak holiday periods . Christmas, New Year's, Easter, long weekends, August in Europe, or major events (World Cups, festivals, trade fairs) are synonymous with high prices. If you can travel a few days before or after these peak dates , or outside the central part of the high season, the price can drop significantly.
Many search engines offer price calendars and options like "full month" or "cheapest month," allowing you to see at a glance the days with the best rates . Taking advantage of these tools, instead of just searching for specific dates, makes all the difference between paying the standard price and getting a bargain.
Flight comparison tools, alerts and price prediction
Today, finding the best prices on international flights requires using advanced search engines and comparison tools. Websites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, Momondo, Kayak, Kiwi.com, CheapOair, and FlightHub allow you to view fares from dozens or even hundreds of airlines for multiple dates and airports in seconds.
The advantage of these comparison sites is that they show you which days are cheapest , which airlines are most economical on your route, and whether there are connecting flights that significantly reduce the cost compared to a direct flight. Some, like Skyscanner, allow you to search "from X to anywhere " and sort by price, perfect if you're keen to travel and on a budget but don't mind the specific destination.
Additionally, setting up price alerts on these sites is highly recommended. With these alerts, you'll receive a notification via email or the app when the ticket you're interested in drops below a certain price or changes significantly. This way, you don't have to check every day, just guessing, and you can book as soon as the price falls within your desired range.
Some apps go a step further and offer price predictions based on historical data. This is the case with Hopper and certain browser extensions focused on airfares. These tools analyze thousands of routes and tell you whether it's better to buy now or wait because, according to their models, the price is likely to drop even further.
However, it's worth noting that cheap seats are limited . Often, there are only a few seats available at the lowest fare. If the comparison site shows you a price that suits you and you see warnings like "only 4 seats left at this price," it's wise to book without delaying your decision, because when you return, there might be nothing left in that price range and you'll have to move up to the next, more expensive tier.
Days, times and tricks when buying the ticket
In addition to advance booking and flexibility, certain purchasing patterns continue to have an impact. For example, many companies launch special promotions during the week and adjust them according to the competition, which means that some Tuesday or Wednesday mornings will see attractive discounts that are later replicated by other airlines.
Flash sales and lightning deals that last only a few hours or days are common . To snag them, the most effective way is to subscribe to airline and travel agency newsletters and follow companies on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, where they often post promotional codes, last-minute discounts, or campaigns associated with events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or special travel weeks.
Another practical recommendation is to avoid making purchases at midday , precisely when more people are usually online and algorithms reflect high demand. As already mentioned, some studies indicate that the early morning hours are when average prices are lowest for many flights, although this isn't a hard and fast rule.
Finally, when you buy, carefully review the ticket's change and cancellation policies . Sometimes a slightly more expensive fare with flexible changes can save you a fortune if you later need to modify your dates, compared to a super-restrictive deal where any change is practically like paying for the ticket all over again.
Alternative airports, layovers and creative routes
A very common mistake is limiting your search to the main departure and arrival airports. Often, using an alternative airport, both at your origin and destination, reduces the total cost of the trip, even when adding the extra ground transportation.
In cities with multiple airports, such as New York, London, or Paris , it's worth comparing the cost of flying to a different airport than the most popular one. For example, flying to Newark instead of JFK, or to Luton or Stansted instead of Heathrow, can result in significant savings, especially with low-cost airlines.
Flight comparison websites allow you to select the option to search at airports near your origin and destination, which opens the door to more competitive flights. In Spain, for example, flying from Barcelona is not the same as flying from Girona or Reus; and in other countries, there are secondary airports that function almost as low-cost hubs with aggressive fares.
You can also save a considerable amount by choosing flights with layovers instead of direct ones. Nonstop flights are more comfortable and faster, but on many international routes, the surcharge for flying direct is very high. Accepting one or two layovers can significantly reduce the price, provided you plan your travel time carefully to avoid feeling overwhelmed by connections.
Another interesting option is to book a multi-city or open-jaw ticket , meaning you fly to one city and return from another. This is useful for trips where you plan to explore a country or region (for example, flying to Tokyo and returning from Osaka), avoiding the need to return to your point of origin. When well-combined, these tickets can be cheaper than traditional round-trip flights and also save you time and internal journeys.
Luggage, low cost and how to avoid hidden costs
Another key area for saving money is controlling additional costs , especially if you fly with low-cost airlines. These companies often offer very cheap base fares, but then charge for almost everything: checked baggage, seat selection, priority boarding, and even, in some cases, large carry-on luggage.
To keep costs down, it's best to travel light . If possible, stick to carry-on luggage that strictly adheres to the size and weight limits, so you don't have to pay for checked baggage. Using luggage organizers, compression bags, and carefully planning what you pack will help you avoid last-minute extra charges at the check-in counter.
Before buying, always check the baggage policies of the specific airline, as there are significant differences between them. Sometimes a flight that seems cheaper ends up being more expensive than a "traditional" competitor because you add in a checked bag, seat selection, and other extras you hadn't considered when comparing.
If you're a frequent traveler, you might be interested in taking advantage of credit cards with travel benefits , as some include free checked baggage, priority boarding, or even access to VIP lounges. While they don't reduce the price of the ticket itself, these benefits significantly cut down on additional costs and greatly enhance the travel experience.
And, by the way, beyond the ticket itself, you can also save money by avoiding expensive airport services , such as official luggage lockers. There are external luggage storage alternatives in many cities, with much more competitive prices, allowing you to leave your bag for a few hours without paying the inflated terminal fees.
Miles, points and loyalty card programs
One of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of international flights in the medium and long term is to take full advantage of frequent flyer programs and rewards credit cards. Almost all major airlines offer free loyalty programs (MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, Avios, etc.) where you accumulate miles or points every time you fly.
These points can later be redeemed for discounts or free tickets , cabin upgrades, or extra services. Although at first it may seem like you're accumulating very little, over time, and if you concentrate your flights with the same airline alliance, you can earn rewards that drastically reduce the cost of long-haul trips.
Travel-focused credit cards add another layer: they allow you to accumulate points on almost all your purchases (not just flights) and then redeem them for tickets, hotel stays, or travel cash. Some even include companion tickets, very generous welcome points, or refunds on taxes and surcharges when you redeem flights with miles.
It's advisable to compare the terms and conditions carefully (annual fees, exchange rates, fees for purchases abroad, etc.), but used wisely, these cards can become a key tool for traveling abroad while spending much less out of your own pocket.
Currency, VPN, incognito mode, and “incorrect” fees
Another set of interesting tips relates to how the airline you're booking with "sees" the price . Some companies allow you to change the payment currency on their official website. Sometimes, paying in the airline's local currency, or in the currency of the flight's country of origin, can save you money thanks to the exchange rate, as some markets have prices adjusted to local purchasing power.
To take advantage of this, you need a card with favorable currency exchange rates (without exorbitant fees) and, sometimes, a VPN to simulate connecting from the country in question. Changing your virtual location with services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or similar can cause the system to show you different fares for the same flight depending on the country from which you "buy."
Related to this, many people choose to search for flights in incognito mode or after clearing their cookies, hoping to avoid price increases based on their browsing history. While the actual impact of this is less than many people think, it certainly doesn't hurt and can help ensure you're not seeing inflated prices due to repeated searches from the same device.
Another curious phenomenon is erroneous fares , that is, abnormally low prices published due to technical errors, human mistakes, or currency conversion errors. Platforms specializing in detecting these errors, such as Secret Flying or Airfarewatchdog, allow you to receive alerts when a "crazy fare" appears on a particular route.
If you see a fare that's significantly below market value, the key is to buy it as soon as possible , before the airline adjusts the price. Airlines don't always honor these fares, but they often do, which can get you an international flight for a fraction of the normal price.
Hidden city flights, separate tickets, and unconventional routes
Among the more advanced—and also more delicate—techniques for saving money on international flights are hidden city ticketing . This practice involves booking a flight with a layover where your actual destination is the intermediate city, not the final destination. It's cheaper to "lose" the last leg of the journey than to buy a direct flight to your final destination.
For example: you want to go from Chicago to San Francisco, but you discover it's cheaper to buy a ticket to Las Vegas with a layover in San Francisco than a direct Chicago-San Francisco flight. With Hidden City, you get off in San Francisco and skip the final leg to Las Vegas. Tools like Skiplagged specialize in detecting these kinds of opportunities.
This tactic can save you more than €100 per ticket , but it has risks and limitations: it's only viable if you travel with hand luggage (checked bags will fly to your final destination), it goes against the conditions of many airlines, and if it's part of a round trip itinerary, the company could cancel your remaining flights if it detects that you don't complete a leg.
Another advanced approach is to buy two separate one-way tickets instead of a round trip with the same airline. Sometimes combining different airlines in each direction allows you to take better advantage of partial promotions and get a lower overall price . You can also divide the route into segments (for example, a cheap ticket to a major hub and another from there to your final destination) and create a customized itinerary.
This strategy requires more organization and a longer flight window, because if you buy separate segments and miss a connection due to a delay, airlines are not obligated to rebook you for free. Therefore, it's important to leave a good amount of time between different segments and weigh the risk against the savings.
There are also unconventional alternatives, such as coordinating flights with package deliveries . Some platforms connect travelers willing to carry small, approved packages in their luggage with individuals or companies that need that transport, offering significant discounts on the ticket in return . It's a niche option, but for certain routes, it can make all the difference.
Extra tips: groups, insurance, tourism and lesser-known places
When traveling in a group, there's also room to optimize the price . Many airlines manage seats in fare "packages": when a group of cheap seats sells out, the system moves to the next price tier. This means that when searching for four seats at once, only two might remain at the lowest fare, with the rest automatically moving to the next price tier.
In these cases, it might be more cost-effective to search first for one or two passengers and see if a lower price appears than when searching for the entire group. If so, you can buy two tickets at the cheaper price and then the rest at the next fare up, instead of paying the higher price for everyone. You'll just need to coordinate seats afterward, but the savings can be considerable with this simple change in strategy.
Travel insurance can also indirectly help you save money, especially if your plans are subject to change. A policy that covers cancellations or changes for certain reasons can prevent you from having to pay exorbitant last-minute fees if you need to modify your flight, or losing the entire value of a non-refundable ticket.
It's also worth following the tourism offices and local boards of the countries or regions that interest you. They sometimes launch joint campaigns with airlines to promote the destination, offering special fares in the off-season or discounts associated with local events, fairs, or lesser-known festivals.
Finally, don't rule out exploring lesser-known booking sites . While giants like Expedia and the usual OTAs dominate the market, there are specialized websites and regional platforms that have exclusive agreements with some airlines and offer deals that don't appear on the more popular search engines . However, before paying, be sure to thoroughly check the site's reputation and its terms and conditions regarding tickets, changes, and refunds.
If you combine booking well in advance, some flexibility in dates and airports, the smart use of comparison sites and alerts, taking advantage of mileage programs and travel cards, along with some advanced tricks such as well-chosen flights with layovers or separate tickets when convenient, it is perfectly possible to travel on international flights paying between 25% and 40% less than someone who books without a strategy, enjoying more destinations and more experiences without your credit card burning a hole in your pocket.
