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How to save money on flights

Get the best airfare deals and find the cheapest flights with the right tools and some savvy forward planning
Which?Editorial team

When booking a getaway, you'll want as much of your hard earned holiday budget to go on enjoying yourself while you're there. That's why we've rounded up our top tips for saving on flights.

Avoiding school holidays is a given, but did you know the airport you fly from could also determine the price you pay? There are also a number of pricey add-ons you can avoid to cut costs.

Time it right

Airfares are dynamically priced, fluctuating with demand, so it’s impossible to predict when you’ll get the best price. Instead set up price alerts so you’re notified when a fare changes. Simply click the price-alerts button on the results page of your flight search and enter your email address. 


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Be flexible

Many sites will show you a graph of the cheapest days to fly over your chosen month, with Fridays and Sundays typically the most expensive. Sometimes you can save a bundle simply by flying one day earlier. If you don’t have that luxury, consider being flexible in other ways, such as the destination. Skyscanner's ‘everywhere’ search will find the cheapest destinations for your dates. 

Look for alternatives

There’s no rule that says you have to fly in and out with the same airline, or to and from the same airport for that matter. Secondary airports aren’t just blessed with shorter queues - beloved by low-cost airlines, they’re often cheaper too. Just be mindful of extra travel time and costs. For example, Girona and Reus – sometimes referred to as Barcelona North and South - are more than 60 miles from the city.

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Avoid airline extras

For budget flights, either pre-book your checked bags or – better still – take hand luggage only. Remember that some airlines - such as easyJet and Ryanair - charge extra for you to take cabin luggage. Bear that in mind when choosing on price.

Don't pay to sit together

Unless you're flying with Ryanair, paying to sit together is just money down the drain. Check in early and most of the time, you'll be seated together anyway.

Be in the know

Signing up for airline or discount-club mailing lists, like Secret Flying or Jack’s Flight Club, means you’ll have more chance of getting a bargain. Both send out alerts and details on error fares, where flights are mistakenly flogged at rock-bottom prices. If the airline chooses not to honour them, you’ll get your money back.