If you really want to find the best low cost flights, you have to know the tricks of the trade.
Skyscanner reveal seven savviest secrets that have been tried and tested by expert budget travellers, and will help you to find the best low cost flight every time.
Secret 1: Book six weeks in advance
Finding a great flight deal used to be all about booking at the last minute, as airlines were desperate to get rid of their empty seats. Today there are so many budget airlines and business travellers willing to pay big bucks at the last minute that it’s no longer the case. In fact, the Airlines Reporting Corporation has found that flights generally drop to a below average price six weeks before departure.
More: Last minute flights: the Skyscanner guide to finding a late deal
Secret 2: Sign up for email alerts from your favourite airlines
Although last minute flight deals are hard to find, they do exist if you know where to look. Take the leg work out of finding cheap flights by visiting a few of your favourite airlines and signing up for their newsletters. Your inbox will soon be filling up with news of flash sales, new routes with special introductory rates, and most importantly, low fares on last minute flights. Keep your eyes peeled on Tuesday afternoon. By this point most airlines will know if their weekend flights are fully booked. If they still have a lot of empty seats, this is when they will slash the prices and tell their subscribers.
More: How to get the best air fares with Skyscanner Price Alerts
Secret 3: Go everywhere
If you’re in the mood for exploring destinations you may not have thought about before, this is the best way to pick up bargain basement flights.
Using the ‘Everywhere’ search function on Skyscanner you can find out where it’s cheapest to travel to; as well as when it’s cheapest to go there.
Simply type in the airport you want to depart from, and in the destination box type in ‘Everywhere’. If you’re really flexible, you can select ‘whole year’ from the departure date box as well.
More: Skyscanner tips and tools: the Everywhere search
Secret 4: Choose your credit card wisely
If you have a good credit score, another way to cut flight costs is to apply for an airline credit card which rewards you with Avios points (air miles) which can be redeemed against set flight routes. These cards are great for cutting the cost of expensive long haul flights. Usually these credit cards are an extension of frequent flyer programmes, and the more you spend the more points you earn. The best way to build up your Avios miles (without building up debt) is to use it for day- to-day purchases (grocery shopping, filling up the car, going out for dinner) and sticking to your usual monthly budget. Remember to pay off the credit card in full every month so you won’t have to pay interest: you can do this by direct debit, if you’re a bit forgetful.
If you’re not keen on getting a credit card, you can transfer your Clubcard and Nectar points into Avios too.
Secret 5: Shop for flights on Tuesday afternoon
There is a theory that Tuesday is the best day to go looking for cheap airfares. Not only do most airlines release their last minute weekend deals on Tuesdays, statistics have shown that fares tend to plummet on Tuesday afternoons. This is because airlines tend to start their sales on a Monday evening, and as competitors scrabble to compete, by 3pm on Tuesday fares are at their lowest.
Secret 6: Buy a one way ticket to your destination (and back)
Not always, but sometimes, buying return flights with one airline can be more expensive than purchasing two one way tickets from different airlines. For example, flying from Edinburgh to Paris with Ryanair on a cheap one way flight and then booking a cheap one way flight home with Easyjet. This method gives you more flexibility, too, as you can come back when you want or even fly home from a different (cheaper) airport.
Secret 7: Try the 24-hour rule
Some airlines will offer you a free refund if you cancel within 24 hours, so watch the price of the flight you’ve just booked using Skyscanner price alerts. If the cost of the flight drops substantially, cancel your original flight and book the new one. This will save you a bit of money, but be wary as some airlines don’t offer this and some may charge a cancellation fee if you’re out of the 24 hour window.
