How to find cheap flights: flexible dates, fare alerts and budget airline fees

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There is no secret trick that makes flights cheap, whatever headlines promise. What works is a handful of habits: being flexible where you can, watching prices over time, and understanding what is actually included in the fare you see.

Flexibility is the biggest lever

Dates: use the calendar or month view in a flight search engine to see prices across a whole month. Shifting by a day or two often makes a real difference, and midweek departures are frequently cheaper than Fridays and Sundays, though not always.
Airports: search nearby airports at both ends. A different airport or a train to a bigger hub can open up more routes and more competition.
Destination: if you just want a break, use the "explore" or "everywhere" search on the main flight search sites to see what is cheap from your airport.
Season: school holidays, major festivals and peak summer are expensive everywhere. Shoulder seasons offer better value.

Set fare alerts

Most search engines let you track a route and email you when the price changes. Set alerts early, watch for a few weeks to learn what a normal price looks like, and buy when it drops to the lower end of that range. Knowing the usual price is what lets you recognise a genuinely good fare.

When to book

There is no single magic booking day, and claims about the perfect number of days before departure are often based on averages that may not apply to your route. In general terms:

Long-haul and peak-season trips reward booking well in advance; the cheapest fares in each flight sell out first.
Short-haul off-peak trips are more forgiving, and occasional sales come up.
Last-minute fares are usually high on full routes, though deals sometimes appear on routes with spare seats.

If a fare looks good and fits your plans, booking it is usually wiser than waiting and hoping.

Search smart

Compare on a couple of search engines, then check the price on the airline's own site. Booking direct often makes changes and refunds easier.
Check one-way combinations: two one-way tickets on different airlines can beat a return, but you then have no protection if the first flight is late and you miss the second.
Open-jaw tickets (into one city, out of another) can save both money and a day of backtracking.
Private browsing does not reliably change prices; that belief is widespread but not something you should rely on.

Budget airlines: read the fine print

The headline fare on a low-cost carrier is usually just a seat. Add up the extras before comparing:

Cabin bags: often only a small under-seat bag is included; a larger cabin bag costs extra.
Checked bags: much cheaper when added at booking than at the airport.
Seat selection, priority boarding, food and drink.
Check-in: some charge for airport check-in or a printed boarding pass.
Card or payment fees on some airlines.
Airport location: a distant secondary airport can mean an expensive transfer.

A full-service airline with a bag included sometimes works out cheaper than the "cheap" option once everything is added.

Hidden-city ticketing: know the risks

Hidden-city ticketing means booking a flight with a connection, getting off at the connecting city, and not flying the last leg, because the longer itinerary is cheaper. It is real, but it carries real risks:

It breaks most airlines' conditions of carriage. Airlines can cancel the rest of your booking, including the return, and may take action against frequent flyer accounts.
You cannot check a bag, as it goes to the final destination.
If the airline reroutes you during disruption, you may not pass through the city you wanted.
It only works on one-way tickets.

Most travellers decide it is not worth the risk.

Other ways to save

Points and miles from credit cards or loyalty schemes, used carefully, can cover flights.
Error fares occasionally appear; airlines do not always honour them, so do not book non-refundable hotels until the ticket is confirmed.
Total trip cost matters more than the fare: a cheaper flight at 6am that needs a taxi and a hotel night may not be cheaper at all.

What is the best flight deal you have found, or which route are you hunting for? Share your tips and questions in the comments.