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Tips on booking cheap flights.

Looking for the best time to buy airline tickets to get a cheap flight to everywhere? We’ve got you covered anytime, anywhere. Here’s how to find the best deal for flight booking no matter where you want to go in the world.

Which day of the week is the best day to buy cheap airline tickets?

For both U.S. domestic and international travel, Sundays can be cheaper for airline ticket purchases. Fridays tend to be the most expensive day to book a flight. Booking on the right day of the week could save you up to 6% on your airfare, according to historical data*.

When is the best time to buy airline tickets?

Based on 2020 And 2021 global flight data for Economy tickets, prices usually start to increase 56 days before departure for domestic flights. When traveling internationally, prices usually start to increase 21 days before departure*. Keep in mind that this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule; keeping an eye on prices is a good idea when trying to find the best airfare deals. Compare fares across different airlines, and set up a price alert for your preferred route.

Which are the cheapest days to fly?

Analysis of domestic and international airfare prices shows that flying out on Fridays can be cheaper. Many travelers start their trips on Sundays, so your chances of a lower price are better when departing early in the week instead. Starting your trip on a Friday could be almost 11% cheaper than air travel on Sundays, so book flights online wisely*!

Which is the cheapest month to fly?

The cheapest month to fly can vary depending on where you’re going, so finding the best rates largely comes down to avoiding peak travel times for your destination. If you’re looking for cheap international flights , the most expensive month tends to be February, while the cheapest is November with cheap flights in November offering potential savings of up to 34.6% relative to February. Cheap domestic flights work a bit differently, with March being the most expensive and August being the least expensive with cheap flights in August offering savings of up to 35%*.

How can I find the cheapest flights on Expedia?

Compare cheap airline ticket prices at a glance from a large inventory of carriers on Expedia. You can get cheap flights by staying flexible with travel dates, carriers, and nonstop/layover flights to get the best price. Insider tip: Become a member (it’s free!) to earn rewards back on every booking. We make your travel stress-free and source incredible airfare deals so you can sit back, relax, and start your vacation or business trip.

How can I save money on flights?

Mixing and matching airline tickets and fare types could help save money on airfare to your destination. Easily compare prices for carriers, arrival and departure dates, airplane cabin class, and more when you book with Expedia. Booking your plane ticket on a Sunday, and departing on Friday, could possibly save you money* based on historical data. You can also filter for flights based on your budget, such as looking for cheap flights under $200 specifically.

How can I get cheap last-minute flight deals?

The historical data analysis of flight pricing patterns shows that you can still find amazing airfare deals 3 weeks prior to departure* when traveling domestically. International last-minute flights offer great deals 2 weeks prior to departure if you’re flying premium, but economy travelers may want to strive for no less than 4 weeks out*. Try to stay flexible with travel dates, airports, and nonstop/layover flights to find the cheapest flights on Expedia. Whether you’re planning a quick business trip or a spontaneous holiday with friends, you’ll have your choice of last-minute flights, roundtrip, or multicity flights on Expedia. You’ll find everything you need for your travels all in one place — and all at the right price.

How do I book with Expedia?

Booking your flight with Expedia is easy, as all you have to do is implement your travel dates, departure destination, like flights from Atlanta or flights from Hartsfield-Jackson , and arrival destination into the search. Then, all the available flights for those dates and destinations will appear. You can use search filters to narrow down the results as well based on a variety of factors like the airline, number of stops, departure time, and policies like seat choice and refundable bookings. Additionally, travelers may alter their search for round-trip flights, one-way flights, and multicity flights.

What should I look out for when booking flights?

Several factors go into any flight booking, and you’ll need to keep an eye out for them all to ensure that you get the travel time, luggage policy, airline, and class you want. Consider which airport is closest to your ultimate destination (travelers to Los Angeles may prefer flights to LAX over flights to PSP , and make sure that the flight will accommodate all the luggage you plan on bringing. Additionally, consider the different flight classes including economy flights for functionality and premium flights if you want to enjoy a more relaxing experience.

Where’s the cheapest place to travel?

The cheapest place to travel can be in the same country, like Chicago. Flights to Chicago are fairly affordable no matter where you’re coming from in the continental United States. Flights to Las Vegas tend to be pretty affordable as well. While the Vegas airport isn’t a hub for any major airline, it does have plenty of competition to keep prices relatively low.

Where can I fly for cheap?

Staying within a strict budget still allows you to find plenty of cheap flights, even to destinations like Puerto Rico. In fact, flights to Puerto Rico don’t even require U.S. citizens to have a passport. Flights to Alberta and other destinations in Canada can be fairly affordable as well.

Is it cheaper to buy flights last minute?

Flight tickets can be cheaper at the last minute depending on how late you’re actually booking, where you’re going, and the kind of flight you opt for. For domestic flights with Economy tickets, prices usually start to increase 3 weeks before departure, and 4 weeks for international flights, according to historical data*.

Are fully refundable flights available?

Yes, several fully refundable flights are available and will be labeled as such right on your search results page in green text. You may also filter for fully refundable flights specifically to eliminate all flights from your results that don’t qualify. Just make sure to check the specific policy for each flight before booking.

Why should I book my flight with Expedia?

Booking with Expedia makes finding a flight easy, but that’s just the beginning of everything you can take advantage of. We also offer hotels, car rentals, and even activities that you can purchase with package deals available for travelers planning more than one aspect of their trip at a time. Plus, Expedia offers stunning cheap flight deals that can help you save with ease. As a One Key member, you will earn OneKeyCashTM for every eligible booking that you can use to save on future bookings. Plus, OneKeyCash can be earned on top of airline miles.

*Data specialists from both ARC and Expedia Group analyzed ARC’s global flight data to distil actionable information to help people save money on travel. While it’s impossible to guarantee when to find the lowest prices, after examining the variables, we were able to observe trends. Best day of the week to book and best day of the week to depart is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. Best month to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database. Best time to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

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How to find cheap flights to anywhere with Explore

Ever get the sudden urge to pack your stuff and go somewhere? You could be bored at work or even coming off your last trip and BOOM! You suddenly feel the need to know where in the world you can go. Enter KAYAK Explore – your tool for finding cheap flights when you don’t have a particular destination in mind.

In this post

• How to use Explore via desktop
• How to use Explore via app

1. How to use Explore via desktop

This feature lets you browse cheap flight options around the map based on filters like budget, desired dates, or type of trip. Whether you’re looking for a weekend adventure or a multi-week journey, here’s how to find cheap flights to anywhere using our Explore tool .

Step 1: get on the map.

Start at our homepage, then head to the globe icon on the left-hand navigation bar where it says “ Explore ”. You can also make it easy for yourself by copying and pasting kayak.com/explore directly into your browser. Whatever works. Then, enter your preferred starting airport. If you have a KAYAK account , this part might already be filled in based on your account preferences. If you’re not leaving from home, go ahead and plug in the airport or city into the first search field.

Step 2: play with the dates.

Next, you’ll want to skip over to the right and select the “ Any time, Any duration ” search field. This is where you figure out the length and timing of your trip. You can choose from a range of months or you can choose “any time” to see all the possible options. If you have exact dates in mind, switch to the second tab on this window and select your dates. You can also select the number of days you’d like to be away. The more flexibility you have, the more options you’ll reveal.

Step 3: experiment with filters.

Now it’s time to have some fun with Explore by utilizing our search filters . Try all of them or none of them – it’s up to you. Just remember, the more specific you get about your trip, the more focused your results will be. Here are the 4 different filters that you can use to narrow down your flight results:

• Stops: This is where you can narrow down your results based on the number of stops and flight duration. Select direct flights, routes with single layovers, or flights with any number of stops.
• Budget: Trying to save on your next trip? This filter is for you. Slide the budget scale to see flights that are within your determined range.
• Flight duration: Find a destination that’s not too far from home – just select the max length of time you’re willing to be airborne.
• Type of trip: Sometimes we need to go on a certain type of trip. Whether you’re in need of some beach time or are seeking something romantic, you can narrow down your flight results based on one of these themes.

Step 4: search it up.

Time for the magical moment we’ve been waiting for – press “ Apply filters ” and voila! The map will automatically update with your chosen selections. Use the hand cursor or zoom tool to browse the map and find destinations around the country and world.

If you’d prefer to sort your options based on price, scroll down past the map to see what flights we were able to find within the last 48 hours, arranged from least to most expensive.

Step 5: make your selection.

Choose whatever option suits you. By browsing the map, you’ll be able to see prices pinned to different locations . More of a list person? Scroll past the map where you’ll find a list of destinations with trip information including price, travel dates, and location. Changed your mind? Modify your results by adjusting the filters on the left-hand side.

Once you’ve found something of interest, click on the destination. You’ll then be presented with the option to save this destination to your Wishlist, check for flight prices, or see direct flight options from various airlines. Depending on the location, you may also get a quick summary of your destination. The more you scroll down, the more information you could reveal such as flight trends data.

If you’re flexible with your dates , this graph can help you find cheaper flights for the selected destination. You can also adjust the number of days you’re away to see how that affects the price. You may also find information about the top reasons to visit that location, must-see attractions and ways to get around.

Ready to take the next step? Select “ Check flight prices ” on the right-hand side. You’ll then be directed to any fares we’ve found that match your search. From there, you can seal the deal and make your trip official , or set a Price Alert . That’s how it’s done, folks.

2. How to use Explore via the app

Step 1: get to the app store.

If you don’t already have our app, hop over to the app store and download it because… well, duh. Once you’ve created a KAYAK account or have signed in, go to the icon on the bottom left where it says “Explore”. There, we’ll autofill your home airport. If you’re starting from somewhere else, no sweat – feel free to change the starting location for your search .

Step 2: use those filters.

At the very top of the window underneath your starting location, you’ll see 4 search filters . These filters function much like the ones that appear when you’re using Explore on your desktop. Here’s how you can use them to help you narrow down your flight results:

• Budget: Trying to save on your next trip? This filter is for you. Slide the budget scale to see flights that are within your ideal spending range.
• Dates: If you have specific travel days in mind for your trip, you can enter them here. Otherwise, you can slide this scale to include the range of dates you’re willing to consider for your next trip. The more flexibility you have, the more results you’ll reveal.
• Distance: Decide on the kind of flight you’d like to take based on direct routes, routes with one stop, or routes with any number of stops. This is also where you can determine the length of your flight – just select the max number of hours you’re willing to be airborne.
• Themes: Sometimes you’re craving a certain type of trip. Whether you’re in need of some beach time, family time, or something a little more adventurous, this filter can help you find flights to destinations that are aligned with your preferred type of trip.

Step 3: check out the map.

Once you’ve played around with the filters, it’s time to make your way around the map. Zoom in and out to see prices pinned to different locations and browse destinations across the US and world.

If you’d prefer to sort your options based on price, select the button at the bottom of the screen that says “ List view ”. There you will see what flights we were able to find within the last 48 hours, arranged by country. Want to see more results? Hit “ Map view ”, zoom out, then switch back to the list. The more zoomed out you are, the more options you’ll have. Be sure to move around the map, too – this is how you’ll find options for other regions.

Step 4: shop around.

When you’ve found something of interest on the map, select the pinned price and swipe up. First, you’ll be presented with information about the destination, such as where the destination is located, proposed travel dates, and an option to add the destination to your Wishlist by tapping the heart icon in the right corner .

Further down, you’ll see the cheapest flight prices we could find for this particular destination in the last 48 hours. If you hit “ See flights ” this will launch into a search to see all your options for the cheapest travel dates we suggested. You’ll also see a bell icon in the right corner of the destination image – this is to create a Price Alert , in case you’re not ready to commit to booking just yet.

Keep scrolling and you’ll find a bar graph with details about average flight prices by month. Switch over to the right tab – here’s where you can find weather information for this destination, including average monthly temperatures and precipitation. Curious how these stats compare to the rest of the year? Swipe left to get more data about average flight costs and weather throughout the year.

Not 100% sold on when to take your trip? Scroll down even more and you’ll be able to toggle the days of the week you’d like to travel and the length of your trip . Here, you can also adjust the number of days you’re away to see how that affects the price. You can also see how traveling on certain days of the week can make your flights more or less expensive. Be sure to leverage the “ Nonstop only ” box if you’re not willing to make any stops along the way.

Now that you’ve reached the bottom of the page, you have a couple of choices. One: you can select “see more dates” to see what other cheap options are out there for this destination. Two: you can select “ Find more flights ” to kick off a flight search to this destination. Three: you can swipe through the “ Popular stays ” section to get inspo for where to stay at this destination. Or four: you can launch into a search for more possible stays at this destination. Want to go back to the map? Swipe down to get back to where you left off.

Step 5: make it official.

Found “the one” – ie your next vacation destination? Tap the destination picture or “ See flights ” to start scrolling through all your possible cheap flight options found on our site. From there, you can seal the deal and make your trip official, or set a Price Alert . Consider your wanderlust cured… for now.

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Best ways to earn:

Best ways to redeem:.

TD Rewards Points are the primary currency touted by the largest bank in Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank. TD Rewards are a proprietary currency, belonging solely to TD and tied exclusively to TD credit cards .

TD Rewards is a fixed-value points currency, meaning that points can be redeemed in a number of ways at a fixed value. TD Rewards Points are particularly useful to offset the cost of incidental travel purchases, such as independent hotels, short-term rentals, and vacations, to further minimize your out-of-pocket travel expenses.

Earning Points via Signup Bonuses

The only way to earn TD Rewards is from the bank itself, via its suite of personal TD Rewards-earning credit cards.

• The TD Rewards Visa* Card is the no-fee card, which typically comes with a small signup bonus.
• The TD Platinum Travel Visa* Card is the entry-level product among the TD Rewards cards. The card frequently puts on first-year annual fee rebate promotions along with a modest welcome bonus, which typically ranges between 15,000–50,000 TD Rewards Points.
• The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card is the flagship TD Rewards product from TD. The card frequently offers first-year annual fee rebates, along with a sizeable welcome bonus of 20,000–135,000 TD Rewards Points.

Earning Points via Daily Spending

Beyond signup offers, you can earn TD Rewards Points through daily spending on the above credit cards. The earning rates are as follows:

• 4 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible Expedia® for TD purchases†
• 3 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible groceries and dining purchases†
• 2 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible recurring bill payments set up on your account†
• 1 TD Rewards Point† per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†
• 6 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible Expedia® for TD†
• 4.5 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible groceries and dining†
• 3 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible recurring bill payments set up on your account†
• 1.5 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†
• 8 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible travel booked through Expedia® for TD†
• 6 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible groceries and restaurant purchases†
• 4 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on eligible recurring bill payments set up on your account†
• 2 TD Rewards Points† per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†

Purely from an earning perspective, the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card stands out as the strongest card.

This is especially true for anyone who books a significant component of their trips on Expedia, as you can earn an effective 4% return on your purchases.

Redeeming TD Rewards Points

The TD Rewards program offers various redemption possibilities, with different levels of value attached to each one.

Expedia® for TD

The best redemption value for TD Rewards comes by redeeming them on the dedicated redemption portal Expedia® for TD. By redeeming points this way, you’ll get 0.5 cents per point (cpp), which is the best way to use TD Rewards Points.

Expedia® for TD is essentially the same platform as the regular Expedia, except you log in with your TD credentials so you can redeem points.

Simply sign in to your TD Rewards account, click “Expedia for TD” under the “Redeem” tab, and then click through to the Expedia for TD portal.

As with regular Expedia purchases, you can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel purchases. Importantly, Expedia also offers cruises, tours, and Disney tickets, among other things.

As these travel expenses are typically quite difficult to book with points, using TD Rewards Points at a fixed value of 0.5 cents per point is an excellent redemption opportunity, and could end up saving you a significant amount of cash out-of-pocket.

The minimum redemption is 200 points ($1), and you can choose to redeem your points in $50 increments. You’re able to make purchases in any combination of points and cash.

Once you’ve chosen your desired purchase on Expedia for TD, look for “Use your TD Points” on the checkout page. Just select the number of points you’d like to redeem at 0.5cpp, and then proceed with your purchase.

The credit posts in three to five days after the purchase, so be patient and keep an eye on your account.

If you’re using your TD Rewards Points on Expedia® For TD to redeem for hotels, or car rentals, the usual warnings of using an online travel agency apply.

You won’t earn any hotel status benefits or accrue elite qualifying nights at hotels. For car rentals, you won’t earn things like Hertz points or free rentals through National Free Days.

This doesn’t apply to airfare, though, as you’ll still accrue the same amount of elite qualifying miles, segments, and dollars. As long as you have your frequent flyer number attached to your booking or add it in at the check-in counter, your travel should count towards elite status qualification.

One major thing to note about using Expedia to book airfare is that any and all changes and cancellations must be pursued through the third-party booking agency, and can’t be done through the airline.

Book Any Way

The second-best way to redeem TD points is for non-Expedia travel, where you can redeem at a respectable 0.4 cents per point. The minimum redemption is 250 points ($1).

This ratio is maintained for the first $1,200 of a single travel purchase, and will be 0.5 cents per point (200 points = $1) thereafter.

Booking non-Expedia travel using TD points is called “Book Any Way Travel” and can be booked by using the TD Rewards website or by calling 1-800-983-8472.

Calling has a few distinct advantages, such as the ability to redeem your points for non-conventional travel items, such as gas, attractions, various hotel expenses, RV rentals, and even Airbnbs.

To redeem TD Rewards points through “Book Any Way Travel”, select “Book Any Way Travel” from the “Redeem” tab on the TD Rewards website.

On the next screen, fill in the information about the transaction against which you’d like to redeem points. Note that you can only redeem TD Rewards points for “Book Any Way Travel”  after the purchase has posted on your account.

You’ll need to note down the transaction date, its description, and the amount before proceeding. You can submit multiple transactions at once.

Higher Education

Using TD Rewards Points towards higher education is also a decent option, at a redemption value of 0.4 cents per point (250 points = $1). You’re able to use your TD Rewards Points to pay for tuition and/or student loans, in increments of $250 (62,500 points).

First, check if your institution participates on the TD website , and then you can buy HigherEdPoints Education Credits with your TD Rewards Points.

If you want to use your TD Rewards Points towards shopping expenses, you can redeem your points towards gift cards at a flat value of 0.25 cents per point (400 points = $1).

This is objectively a lower-value redemption than travel; however, as long as you’re redeeming points for higher value than your costs (which is usually the annual fee), you’re keeping cash in your pocket.

Gift Cards & Merchandise

There are sometimes discounts which offer gift cards for 25% off, so you can redeem at 0.33 cents per point. If you plan on redeeming TD Rewards for gift cards, it’s best to wait for one of these promotions prior to doing so.

The same value of 0.25 cents per point is offered for merchandise purchases, which are listed on the TD Rewards website . As with gift cards, there are sometimes sales where you can redeem for up to 0.3–0.4 cents per point.

As always, check if the item you’re redeeming for is on sale for a lower price on another platform to calculate your redemption value.

There’s also the option of redeeming TD Rewards Points at 0.33 cents per point through a partnership with Amazon.ca.

First, you’ll have to enroll by linking your TD Rewards-earning credit card with your Amazon account. Once you’ve done this, you can apply TD Rewards Points.

At the check-out page on Amazon, change the payment method to your linked TD Rewards credit card, where you’ll see the balance of points available. You can cover the rest of the purchase with your credit card.

Statement Credit

Finally, the last way to use your TD Rewards Points is to redeem for statement credit directly, also at a rate of 0.25 cents per point.

It sounds like the same rate as gift cards and merchandise, but keep in mind that those have occasional sales, while statement credits always remain at 0.25 cents per point.

This makes it the lowest-value way of redeeming your TD Rewards Points, and if you plan to use your points towards a statement credit, you’re better off with a cash back card .

Without a doubt, using Expedia® For TD at a rate of 0.5 cents per point (200 points = $1) is the best value redemption for TD Rewards Points.

For most travellers, this should suffice just fine, as Expedia offers tours, Disney park tickets, and a plethora of other travel possibilities aside from the usual flights, hotels, and car rentals.

TD Rewards Points are a great way to save money on miscellaneous travel expenses, and the regular high signup bonuses and respectable earning rates make it quite easy to rack up the points.

† Terms and conditions apply. Refer to the TD website for the most current information.

Hi, is it possible to sell my TD points to someone in exchange for cash? I am getting older and I doubt I will ever use it for travel. I have a lot of points. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi Judy. I don’t think TD points are transferable to other people, however you CAN redeem them for a cash (statement credit). You will get 0.25 cents per point, so for example if you have 100,000 TD points, that should be a credit of $250 . You may also be able to redeem them for non-travel rewards that will give you more value for your points. If you do decide on the statement credit, this can be done from TD Easyweb when viewing your TD Visa details. You might have to sign up or sign-in to ‘TD Rewards’ for the other options. Hope this helps!

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How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible to Anywhere

We've all experienced the tiresome, repeated searching when trying to book the cheapest possible flights to any given destination. With endless search engines and continually fluctuating prices, the approach to frugal flight booking is overwhelming. Here's some key tips that will save you time, frustration and most importantly money when booking your next flight.

Don't miss our other guides on How to Find Airline Mistake Fares ,  How to Get Free Extended Layovers to Hack One Trip Into Two , and Round the World Tickets: The Ultimate Guide !

1. Keep your searches top secret

You're not crazy for thinking that a flight price has changed after searching it a few times in your web browser. Based on the cookies in your browser, flight prices  do  increase when a particular route is repeatedly searched, as the site wants to scare you into booking the flight quickly before prices get even higher. Always search for flights in incognito or private browsing mode to see the lowest prices .

In Google Chrome or Safari, incognito is enabled by hitting Command (or “Control” if using PC), Shift, “N”. For Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer, hit Command (or “Control” if using a PC), Shift, “P”. This will open a new browser window where your information is not tracked, thus not inflating prices as you search. Note: if you're using an older version of OS X, open Safari then click “Safari” in the menu bar, and select “Private Browsing”.

Your cookies are reset each time you re-open an incognito window. So if you want to start with a clean slate for each flight search (so your previous searches aren't “remembered”, potentially inflating costs),  close all your incognito windows, open a new one, and then perform your flight search .

2. Use the best flight search engines

All search engines have inflated flight costs as part of taking a cut from the airlines. Some search engines (e.g. Expedia) consistently inflate much higher than others (listed below). It pays to familiarise yourself with sites that offer the best prices.

Use These to Book

• Skyscanner   ( our #1 choice)
• Exclusive to Thrifty Nomads readers: Use coupon TNOMADS20 for 20% off your first year of a premium membership with Going
• Skiplagged (a hidden city ticketing search engine – see tip #10 )
• Airfarewatchdog (lists top sale & error fares from your city – see tip #6 )
• Kiwi.com ( combines all airlines to create routes that are cheaper than booking with just 1 airline – see tip #9 . They also have a deals page .)
• NEW: Exclusive coupon  for Thrifty Nomads readers:  Up to $50 off  with promo code THRIFTY50
• Momondo  (a broad search engine that sometimes shows cheaper fares than Skyscanner)
• JetRadar  (includes budget airlines , which many search engines don't)
• Google Flights (good tool to quickly compare flight dates – but not always the best prices)

Most budget airlines will now appear in the broad search engines we are recommending (but NOT Southwest). If you want to be 100% sure though, you can do an additional search for regional budget airlines (we've listed as many we know of further below).

Finally, no single search engine is consistently perfect (though we typically find the cheapest price on Skyscanner or Momondo ). As such, you may need to try a combination of search engines to ensure you're not missing any results. There doesn't seem to be one that gets the cheapest flight 100% of the time.

3. Identify the cheapest day to fly out

While many theories exist around booking specifically on a Tuesday to save money, the reality is there is no consistent truth to exactly which days are cheapest to fly . Most of the time it is cheaper to leave on a weekday, though this isn't always the case. Your best strategy is to get a quick visual of prices for a whole month  to see what days are cheapest for your specific route. Here's how:

Step 1. Hop on the  Skyscanner  website or download the app

Step 2. Enter your departure & arrival cities

Step 3.  Select “one-way” (even if flying round trip – you're just determining the cheapest days to fly out first)

Step 4.   On a computer: click “Depart” but instead of entering a date, select “Whole Month”, and then “Cheapest Month” so you can browse all dates to see which is cheapest. Hit “Search flights” to easily see which date is cheapest.

Repeat these steps for your return flight if applicable. You can still book a round trip in one booking, but doing these steps first will let you see which dates are generally cheaper to fly in/out on for your round trip.

Kiwi.com and  Google Flights work similarly to Skyscanner, plus they have map views as well, so you can see where the airport is. For tracking when and where is cheapest to fly,  Hopper  also offer price analysis and track fluctuations (i.e. when is best to fly).

4. Fly for free with points

The cheapest flight you can book is free, and the easiest way to do that is with points. If you don't have any, don't fret – signing up for just one travel rewards credit card and hitting the minimum spend can land you a major points bonus, often enough for a free flight!

You can sign up for an airline rewards card that earns points with a particular airline, or a more general travel rewards card that lets you redeem points across a variety of airlines. As a beginner card, we recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card . You can earn up to 60,000  in bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after your account opening. That's worth $750  when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and more than enough for an international flight. And since it includes trip cancelation insurance, car rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, it's the perfect all-rounder travel credit card. You can compare this card with other top credit cards .

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• 60,000 reward points (worth $750 ) after meeting the minimum spend of $4,000 in the first 3 months
• $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x points for purchases on Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, and 2x points on all other travel purchases.
• Points are worth 25% more on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards (e.g. 60,000 points worth $750 toward travel)
• Includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance and more.
• Can transfer your reward points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $95

We recommend using your card for everyday purchases, and to treat it like cash, using only the money you have in the bank, and paying your balance off each month. That way, you won't be charged interest, and you'll effectively get your points for free!

For more tips on how to master points travel, check out our guide How to Get Free Flights with Travel Credit Cards and Points for everything you need to get started.

5. Befriend budget airlines

Budget airlines offer significantly cheaper tickets than their full-service counterparts. It should be obvious, but this comes with compromises such as less leg room and no “free” food/drink on-board (which by the way, is normally covered in your higher-priced ticket with full-service airlines).

If you are considering flying budget, which in our opinion is a great way to save, I'd highly recommend reading our guide on  7 must-know facts about budget airlines .

Below is a comprehensive list of budget airlines around the globe. Red indicates true budget airlines while blue  implies the cheapest companies available where budget airlines don't exist or aren't plentiful.

But First… A NOTE ON BOOKING BUDGET AIRLINES.   Always read the fine print  and do the following:

• Check where the airport location is (some budget airlines fly to airports further out of  town).
• Ensure you've booked & paid for your luggage allowance.  Adhere to restrictions on weight , height , and # of bags allowed . Some airlines (e.g. Ryanair) will charge hefty fee if you're over. Remember, paying only for the exact  luggage space/weight you need is how budget airlines keep their prices lower than traditional airlines!
• Read the fine print . The best example is that Ryanair WILL CHARGE AN AIRPORT CHECK-IN Fee €/£55 if you do not check-in online in advance and print your boarding pass, or use their mobile boarding pass. A warning of this fee is clearly stated in all capital letters in the first sentence of your e-confirmation. In a nutshell, always read and follow instructions!

Remember, if you want to book the cheapest flight possible ( not  service-of-the-year-award-winner), be adaptable, do your research, and know the budget airline's requirements & restrictions.

• Flair Airlines
• Air Canada Rouge
• WOW Air (cheap flights to Europe from Toronto/Montreal. Currently shut down, but meant to be returning soon.)
• Spirit Airlines (cheap flights from Niagara Falls and Plattsburgh which are just across the border)
• Air Transat (often has some of the cheapest international flights, especially to sunny beach destinations)

United States

• Southwest (consider their credit card with Companion Pass – every time you fly, your friend flies too – and Limited-time offer: earn Companion Pass® good through 2/28/25 plus 30,000 points after hitting the minimum spend of $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening)
• Allegiant Air
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• WOW Air (cheap flights to Europe)

New Zealand

• Air New Zealand
• Hong Kong Express
• Scoot (owned by Singapore Airlines)
• Spring Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• T'Way Airlines
• Vanilla Air
• Iberia Express
• Norwegian Air (great rates for flying between Europe/North America)

If you're heading to any of these parts of the globe, start stalking these airlines. Use Twitter, Facebook or regularly check budget airline webpages to keep you in touch with specials before they sell out. Air Asia, Jetstar, Tiger Air and Ryanair are especially good at having regular deals.

On a side note, Wikipedia has a more detailed, comprehensive listing of low-cost airlines down to specific countries here , though what they consider “low-cost” is debatable. Still, if you're going to a specific country, it's worth checking so you know all your options.

6. Search for airline error and sale fares

Two of the most popular sites for tracking sale and error fares are Going (U.S. only, previously Scott's Cheap Flights ) and Dollar Flight Club (international). These websites have dedicated teams that scour the internet for flight deals every day. Just make an account and enter your departure airport, and you'll start getting flight deals sent to your inbox. Both sites offer premium plans, which are well worth the price. Going is only $49/year (but you can get 20% off with the coupon code TNOMADS20 ), and Dollar Flight Club is $69/year. Both give you access to even more flight deals with even deeper discounts. Considering members save an average of $550 per ticket, this is well worth the cost!

Other sites like Airfarewatchdog , Kiwi.com Deals , and Secret Flying are great resources to stalk for finding mistake and sale pricing, as they conglomerate slashed ticket rates all in one spot. You can also read our detailed how-to guide which spells out how to find mistake fares on your own. One great approach is to search for flights for an entire month using Skyscanner (Tip #3 in this article). This will allow you to easily spot a significantly reduced fare against what's displayed that month, and has twice helped us stumble on error fares ourselves.

7. Book connecting flights yourself for less

If you're flying somewhere that involves a transfer, say from Canada to Australia which typically involves Canada to LA, then LA to Australia, consider that it may be cheaper to book these two legs separately on your own by adding another destination to your trip. It should go without saying that in doing this, you should not book tight layovers . I repeat: do not book layovers that are hours apart! This approach is for those who want to create an additional  destination of a few days or more, before catching their next flight. The one exception is when booking with Kiwi.com , who offer their own guarantee on making connecting flights even when not with the same partner airlines.

First, do your research: are there budget airlines unique to the country you're flying out of and  where you're headed to? Booking with a budget Australian airline (Jetstar) from Sydney to Honolulu, then an American one from Honolulu to Montreal saved us over $400 each when flying back from Australia to Canada earlier this year. This allowed us to create a thrifty five-day stopover in Hawaii on our way back, which was less exhausting and a lot cheaper! Kiwi.com and Skyscanner  are both great search engine for revealing cheaper routes like this that involve multiple airlines.

You can even book your own multi-day layovers, essentially allowing you to see 2 destinations for the price of 1. Rather than spend a day sitting in the airport, you can spend multiple days exploring the city you are laying over in. By using Skyscanner's multi-city search feature, you can book a multi-day stopover for essentially the same price as if you had connected directly. To learn how to do this, read our guide on How to Get Free Extended Layovers & Hack One Trip Into Two .

8. Find the cheapest place to fly

Whether you know exactly where you're going or you just want to find to the cheapest possible country to fly into, Kiwi.com  is a great tool to get the wanderlust going and save some big bucks. Hop on their site and enter your departure city, then select a date range to fly. Approximate costs then appear over hundreds of countries around the globe from your departure point, while the list of destinations is sorted by price, allowing you to see the most cost-effective place you can fly.

9. Mix and match airlines

Where Kiwi.com  really shines is the way in which it mixes and matches airlines in order to find the cheapest price. For example, maybe you want to go to Rome, Italy from Washington, USA. A typical flight search engine will only suggest routes coming from a single airline and its partners. An example search on Expedia shows the cheapest route as $631.20 USD via TAP Portugal.

Kiwi.com , on the other hand, will mix and match airlines (including  budget airlines ) in order to find you the very cheapest route. For long-haul flights especially, this can make a huge difference. The same search on Kiwi.com  returns a route at $459.80 USD via JetBlue, Norwegian Air, and Vueling. That's a savings of  $171.40 USD , and the travel time is even shorter!

Typically, booking a whole trip with different airlines would be risky. For example, let's say your first flight with JetBlue was delayed, and you missed your connecting flight with Norwegian Air. Because the airlines have no association with each other, Norwegian Air has no obligation to reschedule your flight for free, so you would just lose your money. Kiwi.com  instead offers their own guarantee , which covers schedule changes, flight delays, and cancellations. As long as you contact Kiwi.com  as soon as you're aware of the delay, they will provide you with an alternate connecting flight, or a full refund, at your discretion. We haven't used this guarantee ourselves, but it certainly sounds like an appealing way to take the risk out of a thrifty flight hack!

10. Consider hidden city ticketing

It should go without saying this is risky for many reasons. Here are some factors to consider:

• If your luggage is checked, it may go on to the final destination . For this reason, with hidden city ticketing it's best to have carry-on luggage only.
• You may not be allowed off the plane (if the same plane is continuing onward to its final destination).
• Airlines may detect that you did not take your connection. The consequences of this are hard to say, especially since people miss flights all the time.

There is now a web search engine which finds hidden city tickets for you. It's called  Skiplagged and was even sued by United Airlines who were angry about this debatable hack. We have never used the hidden city approach, but I know several who have, and they've scored some thrifty savings. Use at your own risk!

11. Buy flights in bulk

As a general rule, you will get better value on your flight tickets if you buy more at the same time , but only if they are with the same airline, or airlines in the same alliance (e.g. Star Alliance). For example, flying a return ticket from New York City to London with United Airlines will be cheaper than 2 one-way tickets.

You can also take advantage of this on  multi-city flights . For example, Virgin Atlantic has routes from New York City to London, London to Shanghai, and Shanghai to New York City. If you book all these at the same time using the multi-city search function on Skyscanner , you'll save some serious cash.

Another way to bulk buy flights for less is with  round the world tickets and  regional passes . These are special tickets offered by airline alliances that let you go around the world, a continent, or a country at a discounted rate. To learn how to book these, be sure to check out our ultimate guide to round the world tickets .

All this said, sometimes a few separately booked flights with budget airlines is  still cheaper than what partner airlines can offer. The only way to be sure is to use a site like Skyscanner , punch in your destinations, search as multi-city or return vs multiple one-way bookings, and compare yourself.

12. Don't forget about local airlines

While the above search engines are great, they do not always include small airlines, especially in less popularly booked routes and/or in remote regions. If you're flying somewhere obscure, Google search and ask around if there exists a local airline. While in South America we learnt that the LADE Air  in Argentina (run by the military) has cheap flights to Patagonia, which is of course not listed in mass search engines online.

When you do find small airlines, even if they are listed in a search engine results, it often pays to check the company site which may reveal exclusive online offers not found in a regular search engine. For example, when flying in Western Canada, I found that Hawk Air, a small and local company offers weekly deals on certain days. Be sure to double check!

13. If you know when and where you're going, don't wait to book

Rarely ever do airline tickets get cheaper as your departure date approaches , especially if you need to fly on a certain date. Budget airlines typically offer low rates as a baseline price, and as these tickets sell, the remaining ones increase in cost. This is very typical in Europe and Australia. If you know when and where you're going, don't wait on an unknown sale. More often than not, your biggest savings come from booking far ahead when you can.

14. Check if it's cheaper to pay in other currencies

Before booking a flight, consider if the rate is cheaper if paid in another currency. Often budget airlines will make you pay in the currency of the country you're departing from, but this isn't always the case. An important note when doing this : make sure you're using a credit card that is free of foreign-transaction fees , such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , otherwise your attempts to save money doing this will be lost! Our article on money matters for world travellers can help steer you in the right direction for the best credit cards for travel.

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Disclosures Many of the listings that appear on this website are from companies which we receive compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The site does not review or include all companies or all available products. Thrifty Nomads has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Thrifty Nomads and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

14 Easy Tips to Always Find Cheap Flights

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

For most trips, airfare is the most expensive part of the trip. While prices for transatlantic flights have gone down in recent years, they can still put a sizeable dent in any travel budget. Whether you’re a budget solo traveler or a family looking to vacation abroad, finding a cheap flight deal can be what makes or breaks your trip.

After all, if your flight is too expensive, you’re likely going to keep putting the trip off. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.

And yet every day, airlines have thousands of amazing deals — from mistakenly published fares to special promotions to slashing prices to compete with another airline. Cheap fares are out there and they can make your dream trip a reality — if you know where to look (I start all my flight searches with Skyscanner ).

Today, I am going to help you master the art of finding a cheap flight. These are the exact steps I’ve been following for a decade to get the cheapest airfare possible every time I fly. If you follow them too, you’ll never be the person on a flight who paid the most for their ticket!

Here’s how to find a cheap flight no matter where you want to go in the world:

Table of Contents

1. Ignore the Myths

2. be flexible with your travel dates and times, 3. be flexible with your destinations, 4. keep an eye for special deals, 5. fly budget carriers, 6. don’t always fly direct, 7. remember not all search engines are equal, 8. take advantage of student discounts, 9. mix and match airlines, 10. use points and miles, 11. search ticket prices for individual travelers, 12. look for tickets in other currencies, 13. book early (but not too early), 14. book hidden city fares, find your cheap flights today.

The first thing to know about finding a cheap flight is that there is no magic bullet or one secret ninja trick to doing so. There are a lot of myths online about how to find cheap flights. In fact, you’ve probably come across a ton of them on your search to find the best flight deal!

They are all lies. They will lead you astray.

Most websites hire terrible reporters who recycle common and outdated myths. Here are the most common that are 100% not true:

• It is NOT cheaper to buy airfare on a Tuesday (or any other specific day for that matter).
• There is NO evidence that searching incognito leads to cheaper deals.
• There is NO exact date or specific time period in which to book your airfare.
• You can’t predict airline prices and websites that do are basically taking an educated (but probably wrong) guess.

Airlines use advanced computer and pricing algorithms to determine prices and run sales based on the time of the year, passenger demand, weather, major events/festivals, time of day, competitor prices, fuel prices, and much more. Those so-called “tricks” don’t work anymore. The system is too smart. Throw them out. Let them die.

Don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Anyone who is telling you doesn’t know what they are talking about.  

Airline ticket prices vary greatly depending on the day of the week, time of year, and upcoming holidays, such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July. August is a big month for traveling around Europe , and everyone wants to go somewhere warm in the winter or travel when the kids are out of school.

In a nutshell, if you are going to fly when everyone is flying, then your ticket is going to cost more.

The solution is to fly off-season. Search alternative dates so that you can capitalize on the best day. The more rigid your plans, the less likely it will be that you find a deal.

Try to be flexible with your dates. If you are dead-set on visiting Paris , go in the spring or fall when fewer people visit and airfares are cheaper.

But if you want to go in the middle of August? You’re out of luck. Hawaii over Christmas? Good luck! Prices will be at their highest.

Moreover, it’s almost always cheaper to fly during the middle of the week than on a weekend because most people travel on the weekends and airlines hike their prices then. Prices are cheaper if you fly after or on a major holiday. Early-morning or late-night flights are also cheaper because fewer people want to travel then (who wants to wake up early?!). Fridays and Mondays are expensive because that’s when most business travelers fly.

When searching on Skyscanner , simply click on the date field to expand the calendar view and you’ll immediately see the cheapest months to fly. On this search from NYC to Paris, you can see that traveling during September, November, or December would be half as much as traveling during June or July:

Airlines are not dumb. They know when a festival, holiday, major sports event, or school break is coming up — and they raise prices accordingly.

Be flexible with your dates and times and you’ll save yourself some major money.  

If you can’t be flexible with when you fly, at least be flexible with where you fly. It’s best to be flexible with both, but if you really want to save the most money and get a cheap flight for your trip, you at least need to be flexible with one or the other.

Airline search engines have made it really easy to search the entire world to find the cheapest ticket. You no longer have to search manually, city by city, day by day. Websites like Skyscanner and Google Flights offer explore tools that allow you to put in your home airport and see a map of the world with all the flights on it. This allows you to easily compare multiple destinations without having to brainstorm every possible option. You’ll likely even find some interesting destinations you hadn’t even thought of either!

If you are flexible with where you want to go (i.e., anywhere but home), all you need to do is type “Everywhere” into the search box on Skyscanner or “Anywhere” if you’re using Google Flights.

The truth about airfare is that there’s always a deal to some destination — it might just not be your first choice. However, if you’re flexible about where you want to go, you’ll always get a deal and save a ton of money in the process.

When you are locked into one place at one time, you are stuck with whatever price shows up. Nothing can change that. But when you become flexible, suddenly the entire world opens up to you and you’ll find amazing cheap airfares!  

Before you start looking for specific lights, make sure you’ve signed up for some newsletters. Joining the mailing list for airlines and last-minute deal websites will give you access to the absolute best deals out there. Sure, 99% of them might not fit your itinerary but keeping your eye on the deals will ensure you don’t miss an amazing opportunity.

More often than not, cheap flights are only available for a limited window (usually 24 hours). If you aren’t always scouring the web for sales, you’ll likely miss out on the best deals.

I would have missed out on a round-trip ticket to Japan for $700 USD (normally $1,500) as well as a $500 flight to South Africa if I wasn’t signed up to flight deal websites.

Additionally, airline newsletters often offer frequent flier bonuses. Those points and miles can add up to free flights and awesome upgrades.

Aside from joining airline newsletters, the best website for finding travel deals is Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) . It’s the BEST for upcoming US flight deals and new users can get 20% off a Premium membership with the code NOMADICMATT20.

Other sites worth checking out are:

• The Flight Deal – Great for global flight deals.
• Holiday Pirates – The best for European flight deals.
• Secret Flying – A great site for flight deals from around the world.

Years ago, if you wanted to fly between continents, you were mostly stuck with traditional expensive airlines. That’s no longer true. These days, you can fly most of the way around the world on a budget airline. Sure, they might not be as comfortable and you may need to pay for premium upgrades like checked bags and meals, but they bring the world to your doorstep without breaking the bank.

Budget airlines mainly service short and medium-haul routes. While many budget carriers (notably Norwegian Air) scrapped their long-haul routes during COVID, new ones (like PLAY, Norse Atlantic Airways, and French Bee) have now arisen to take their place.

For now, budget airlines mainly operate regionally so it’s really easy to find a cheap flight, even during this age of higher prices.

• Flair Airlines
• Air Canada Rouge
• Air Transat

United States

• Allegiant Air
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Hong Kong Express
• Spring Airlines
• T’Way Airlines
• Cebu Pacific
• VietJet Air
• Norwegian Air

Australia/New Zealand

Middle East

Flying budget airlines is a good alternative to flying “the majors” whenever possible. You get fewer perks, but you can save a bundle in price.

Just be sure to watch out for fees. That’s how they make money! Budget airlines often charge fees for checked bags, carry-ons, printing your boarding pass, using a credit card, and anything else they can get away with. Be sure to add up the cost of the ticket AND the fees to make sure that the price is lower than a larger carrier.

You’ll also want to double-check the location of the budget airline’s airport at your intended destination. These airlines often fly in and out of airports that are quite far from the actual city, with limited and expensive transportation options.

For example, the shuttle to Beauvais, the budget airport for Paris , costs 17 EUR one-way. If you’re flying roundtrip, this means that you should add about 34 EUR to the price of your plane ticket to see if you’re even saving much by flying a budget airline.  

Not only does it help to be flexible with dates and destinations but being flexible with the route you take is another way to get a cheap flight. For example, sometimes it’s cheaper to fly to London and take a budget airline to Amsterdam than to fly direct to Amsterdam from your departure city.

I did precisely this when I was going to Paris. The flight from the US was $900 USD, but I could fly to Dublin for $600 and get a $60 flight to Paris. It meant more flying time, but the $240 USD I saved was worth it to me.

To use this method, find out how much it is to go directly to your destination. Then, open Google Flights and type in that destination’s continent to look at prices to nearby airports. If the difference is more than $150 USD, I look to see how much it is to get from the second airport to my primary destination (either by budget flight or train, if it’s not too far). You can use Rome2Rio to help search for the best ways to get between a nearby airport and your primary destination.

You can also do this for leaving too. It might be cheaper to fly out from a nearby airport. I often search other airports to see if it’s cheaper to fly/drive/train there and then fly to my final destination. For long international flights, it can be worth the added time!

If you do book separate segments, be sure to have at least three hours between connections. This will give you space in case there is a delay as your second flight won’t wait for you (you booked with a separate airline, so they won’t care if you’re late or not).

Leaving a three-hour buffer will also cover you for an insurance claim since most insurance companies require you to have at least a 3-hour delay before you can make a claim.

This method is more work since you have to figure out lots of different routes and check different airlines. But it can lower the price of your flight, which is worth the extra effort if you end up saving a few hundred bucks.

Note : If you ever have a delayed flight to or from Europe, you might be owed additional compensation (upwards of 600 EUR). Here’s how to find out if you’re entitled to compensation!  

In order to find the best deal, you need to search multiple websites. Many major search sites don’t list budget carriers or obscure foreign carriers because those airlines don’t want to pay a booking commission. Others don’t list booking sites that aren’t in English. And others still only display prices retrieved directly from airlines.

In short, not all flight search websites are created equal and all have their pros and cons.

Since there is no perfect airline search engine, you’ll want to search a few to compare. Even the best have their faults. That said, I have a few favorites I always start with as they tend to consistently show the best results. To me, the best websites to find a cheap flight are the following:

• Skyscanner – The best booking site out there. They have a great user interface (and a great app for mobile )
• Google Flights – Great search engine that lets you see prices for multiple destinations.

Typically, I start all my searches with Skyscanner because it searches all major AND budget airlines, non-English websites, English websites, and everything in between. They vet all the sites they link to as they have strict criteria on who they operate with. It’s one of the most comprehensive booking sites out there and they have the lowest price 99% of the time. I’ve been using them since 2008, and it’s the search engine all the other travel experts I know use too.  

If you are a student (or under 26), there are many discounts available to you. You can usually find prices 10-20% off the standard fare. Travel agencies like Flight Centre and Student Universe can help find you a cheap ticket. Don’t overlook them!

Additionally, keep in mind that most student discounts transfer over to airline partners. For example, Lufthansa offers a student discount, which means you can use that discount on partner airlines such as Swiss Airlines and Austrian Airlines. This will allow you to go much further afield while still saving a ton of money.

If you’re not sure which airlines offer discounts (they don’t make this information easy to find), visit their website or call them. Doing a little digging to save 20% (or more) will be worth it!  

When you book directly with an airline, you’ll only be able to fly that airline and any partner airlines it has. That means your options will be limited when it comes to finding the perfect itinerary or saving the most money.

Usually, that will suffice. However, if you’re chasing greater savings, try booking your tickets on separate airlines. For example, if you’re flying from New York to Paris, you might have a stop in London. Booking both legs as one ticket will be simple, but it likely won’t save you money.

Instead, book your New York to London flight as one ticket and then your London to Paris ticket with another airline. That will allow you to shop around for the best bargain. It’s more work, but the savings (and flexibility) can be worth it.

This is what most third-party booking websites like Kiwi.com do. They piece together trips using whatever flights they can find to ensure you get the cheapest price.

If you’re hunting for the lowest possible price and aren’t happy with what you’re finding on the airline’s website, try booking separate segments. You might just stumble onto a great deal!  

As soon as you know you want to travel somewhere you should sign up for a travel credit card. Using points and miles is the #1 way avid travelers like me earn free flights, travel perks, and free hotel stays. Travel credit cards offer huge welcome bonuses, credit toward rideshares like Uber or Lyft, access to airport lounges, travel insurance, and much more.

You don’t need to do any extra spending either. I earn over a million miles a year — without flying or spending extra money. That translates into dozens of free flights (often in business class) for myself and my family.

If you are smart with your money and collect points and miles, you can travel around the world for very little (and often free). Here are some articles that can help you get started:

• Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
• How I Earn 1 Million Frequent Flier Miles Every Year
• Is Collecting Points and Miles Really a Scam?
• The Ultimate Guide to Points and Miles
• The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Travel Credit Card
• The Best Travel Credit Cards for Travelers

If you already have some points and miles collected, consider joining a platform like point.me . It’s a search and booking engine that helps you find the best ways to use your points and miles. It searches 30+ loyalty and 100+ airline programs to find the best value possible so you never waste your miles! Get your first month for just $1 with the code NOMADICMATT .  

If you’re traveling with friends or family, don’t search for or buy multiple tickets in a single purchase. Airlines always show the highest ticket price in a group of tickets which means you’ll end up paying more money.

Airlines have tons of different price points for tickets (these are based on a variety of factors). They want to sell tickets in the highest fare bucket possible and, when they group tickets together, always list prices in the highest fare bucket.

For example, if you are a family of four and you’re searching for four seats, the airline will find four seats together and show your fare based on the highest ticket price. So if seat A is $200, seats B and C are $300, and seat D is $400, it will price those tickets as $400 each instead of adding up the individual ticket prices. If the price difference is large, that translates into a sizeable extra expense.

For that reason, always search for tickets as a single person. Afterward, in the checkout process, you can pick your seats so you and your family are sitting together. And even if you end up not beside one another, that’s a fair trade for saving a few hundred dollars.  

If your country’s currency is currently strong compared to others around the world, search for airfare in a country where the currency is weaker.

For example, when the US dollar was strong and the New Zealand currency weak, I found a one-way flight from Australia to NYC for $1,000 USD. However, when I searched on the New Zealand version of the airline, I found the same ticket for $600 USD.

It was the same airline, same flight, and same booking class — it was just booked in a different currency. This tip does not always work, but it works often enough that it’s something worth trying if your currency is currently doing well.

( Tip : Always use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card to avoid paying a surcharge .)  

Airline fares keep rising the closer you get to departure, but there is a sweet spot when the airlines begin to either lower or increase fares based on demand. Don’t wait until the last second but don’t book far, far in advance either. The best time to book your flight is around 2-3months before your departure, or around five months before if you are going to your destination during their peak season.

This isn’t a hard and fast rule, though, so use it as a guide. I could go on forever about airline pricing models but airlines raise prices closer to departure because the people who book last minute tend to be price insensitive business travelers so they will pay whatever. So don’t book last minute!  

This is a more advanced (and riskier) way of finding cheap flights, but if you’re adamant about spending as little money as possible, it’s worth looking for hidden city fares. This is when you book a flight that has a layover in your desired destination. You then get off the plane and exit the airport at the layover city instead of continuing onto the final destination that you booked the ticket for.

For example, say you want to fly from Austin to Atlanta. A flight from Austin to New Orleans with a stop in Atlanta might be cheaper than booking Austin to Atlanta directly.

As you can imagine, this practice can get complicated and tricky. There are a few crucial elements to keep in mind, namely that once you skip a leg, the airline cancels the rest of your trip. That means that you cannot buy round-trip flights and do this practice on your departure flight, because your return flight will be cancelled. Also, you cannot check bags, as they will end up in the final destination on your ticket, not where you get off.

Additionally, airlines strongly frown upon this practice, so you don’t want to advertise that this is what you’re doing, and you don’t want to do it often, otherwise you might get flagged.

All that being said, you can save hundreds of dollars with hidden city flights, and it’s perfectly legal. It’s easy to search for hidden city flights on the website Skiplagged . Just do so at your own risk!

Finding a cheap flight is all about being flexible and getting creative. It may take some effort, but the deals are out there if you’re willing to look. Follow the tips above to get started, but don’t waste hours and hours hunting for a cheap flight. If you’re spending more than an hour booking a flight, you’re spending too much time.

Once you find a flight deal that you’re happy with, book right away, as airfares change by the minute. Remember that you have a 24-hour window to cancel in case you need to.

Use the tips above on how to get a cheap flight to get the ball rolling. Do that, and you’ll always get a great deal!  

I start all my searches with Skyscanner because they search all major AND budget airlines, non-English websites, English websites, and everything in between. Even if you aren’t sure of your plans, it’s best to start searching for flights today. People who wait to book are people who end up spending the most.

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Protect Your Trip »

12 Unconventional Ways to Save on Travel

Points and miles are major, but there are other cheap ways to travel too.

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Consider setting up airfare alerts, housesitting and traveling midweek to help stay in budget.

Traveling can be expensive, and even when you rely on widely known savings tactics – such as traveling in off-peak seasons or staying at a hostel or a rental with a kitchen – the costs inevitably add up. If you're looking for ways to save on your next trip, add these unconventional tips provided by travel industry experts to your hat of travel tricks.

Get a set of packing cubes

Traveling with just a carry-on bag is a cost-effective option since it's typically free on most major airlines, but it's often easier said than done. That's why packing cubes are a good investment. They don't cost much – you can get a quality set like this one by Bagail for less than $25 – and they inevitably allow you to save space and fit more in your carry-on (or checked luggage ).

[Read: Guide: Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline .]

Choose the flight, then the destination

Scott Keyes, flight expert and founder of Scott's Cheap Flights , recommends changing the way you search for flights to save on airfare . Instead of looking for flights to a specific destination, use a flight comparison tool like Google Flights , Momondo or Skyscanner to browse a variety of airfares from your preferred airport(s). Maybe a trip to Barcelona wasn't what you originally had in mind, but if the price is right, why not head there instead?

Consider alternate airports

While flying from the airport closest to home is always the most convenient option, Keyes also suggests comparing fares from other airports, even those that are a few hours away. You may find prices are hundreds of dollars less to get to the same location, making the combined cost of gas, parking and driving time an excellent investment.

If you can drive a few hours to a larger airport with more flight options in general, that may be even better. Not only do you have the potential to save money, but you're more likely to find a direct flight or a route with fewer layovers.

[Read: What to Do If Your Flight Is Canceled or Delayed .]

Set up airfare alerts

If you're eager to travel far and want to save big on airfare, keep an eye out for short-term airfare offers on websites like Hopper and Trip.com . These sites offer deals that usually last a short time, meaning you have to strike while the iron is hot. "I do this every time I book a flight and I usually save at least 10%, but sometimes up to 75%," says Josh Band of A Backpacker's World . "I once got a flight that should have been $200-plus for just over $50 by setting up an alert."

Go to Europe for Thanksgiving

Many Americans opt to head to Grandma's house or another domestic destination for turkey dinner. However, not as many escape to the Caribbean and Mexico, and even less go to Europe – which means you're more likely to find flight deals to Paris , London and other European vacations you've been wanting to cross off your bucket list.

Travel midweek

There's no set day of the week to book the cheapest airfare, but there are less expensive days to travel, says Keyes. He recommends flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since most business travelers fly on Sundays and Mondays (and consequently drive up the cost of airfare on those days).

Consider a 'bleisure' trip

If you have an upcoming business trip in a unique or new-to-you destination, consider tacking on a few personal days to the journey. This way, you can enjoy a mini-vacation sans airfare (assuming your company will cover that portion).

[Read: The Best Garment Bags for Travel, According to Reviews .]

Buy travel insurance

It may sound counterintuitive, but purchasing travel insurance can save your bank account (and your sanity) in the event that you or a family member falls ill or has another emergency that forces you to change your vacation plans before or during the trip. A basic and cheap travel insurance policy will suffice, though there are coverage options for a wide variety of needs – including cancel for any reason travel insurance (which is exactly what it sounds like).

Housesit for free accommodations

Did you know you can enjoy free accommodations in exchange for housesitting? Sites like House Sitters America and Mind My House offer housesitting opportunities for a small annual fee (less than $50). Many of the homeowners have pets who need TLC while they're gone, too, making this a fun and budget-friendly alternative to traditional rentals like Airbnb. No matter where you travel, it doesn't get much better than living like a local and playing with pups.

Similarly, you can try couch surfing, which allows you to stay with a local for free. Services like the site Couchsurfing charge a negligible monthly or annual fee to sign up and get verified for safety purposes, while others such as BeWelcome are free. These services also provide exclusive meetups with other travelers.

Read: The Best Vacation Rental Travel Insurance Plans

Sign up for a family loyalty program

Did you know there are loyalty programs that allow family members or groups to pool rewards or freely transfer rewards to others?

"This can be a great option for infrequent travelers who may not rack up enough points or miles for a free flight or hotel room individually – but can reach those rewards when combined," says Nick Ewen, director of content for The Points Guy . "In some cases, it's a single, pooled account that automatically combines points (like JetBlue). In other cases, you can simply transfer points from one account to another (like Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, or Marriott Bonvoy)." He recommends reading the full terms and conditions of these programs, as some impose time limits, maximum transfer amounts and other restrictions.

Use travel rewards on experiences

Don't forget that both airline credit cards and airline rewards programs can be used to cover more than flights and hotels. Programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards make it easy to redeem points for sporting events, dining (including reservations, exclusive culinary experiences and takeout orders) and more.

You can also use points earned on hotel credit cards as well as hotel rewards programs to pay for fun experiences in hundreds of destinations around the world. Options range from cooking classes and concerts to outdoor activities and spa experiences .

Book a refundable car rental

While some companies offer discounts for prepaid car rentals, many travelers say they've had better luck with booking refundable car rentals , allowing them to secure a reasonable rate while keeping a watchful eye for price drops. If a better price pops up, simply cancel your original reservation and book at the lower rate. Frequent traveler Pamela Howard, who writes about her experiences on Our Adventure Is Everywhere , says she's consistently able to save anywhere from $25 to $100 using this tactic on Costco Travel car rentals. "It's simple and that little bit of time rechecking rates pays substantially in savings."

Ewen says you can do the same when you book a flight or hotel using points since many loyalty programs have flexible cancellation policies. "If you lock in a flight at 35,000 miles and see that your same ticket is 30,000 miles just a week later, you should be able to rebook and get those 5,000 miles back into your account," he explains.

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• COVID-19 travel advice

Considering travel during the pandemic? Take precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19.

A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19 . But even if you're vaccinated, it's still a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself and others while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, you're less likely to become seriously ill or spread COVID-19 . You can then travel more safely within the U.S. and internationally. But international travel can still increase your risk of getting new COVID-19 variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should avoid travel until you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses.

Before you travel

As you think about making travel plans, consider these questions:

• Have you been vaccinated against COVID-19 ? If you haven't, get vaccinated. If the vaccine requires two doses, wait two weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel. If the vaccine requires one dose, wait two weeks after getting the vaccine to travel. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
• Have you had any booster doses? Having all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, increases your protection from serious illness.
• Are you at increased risk for severe illness? Anyone can get COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 .
• Do you live with someone who's at increased risk for severe illness? If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the COVID-19 virus to the people you live with when you return, even if you don't have symptoms.
• Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Even if you've had all recommended vaccine doses, you must follow local, state and federal testing and travel rules.

Check local requirements, restrictions and situations

Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks, get tested, be vaccinated or stay isolated for a period of time after arrival. Before you go, check for requirements at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

Keep in mind these can change often and quickly depending on local conditions. It's also important to understand that the COVID-19 situation, such as the level of spread and presence of variants, varies in each country. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.

Travel and testing

For vaccinated people.

If you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC states that you don't need to get tested before or after your trip within the U.S. or stay home (quarantine) after you return.

If you're planning to travel internationally outside the U.S., the CDC states you don't need to get tested before your trip unless it's required at your destination. Before arriving to the U.S., you need a negative test within the last day before your arrival or a record of recovery from COVID-19 in the last three months.

After you arrive in the U.S., the CDC recommends getting tested with a viral test 3 to 5 days after your trip. If you're traveling to the U.S. and you aren't a citizen, you need to be fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination.

You don't need to quarantine when you arrive in the U.S. But check for any symptoms. Stay at home if you develop symptoms.

For unvaccinated people

Testing before and after travel can lower the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 . If you haven't been vaccinated, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within three days before your trip. Delay travel if you're waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your results with you when you travel.

Repeat the test 3 to 5 days after your trip. Stay home for five days after travel.

If at any point you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 , stay home. Stay at home and away from others if you develop symptoms. Follow public health recommendations.

Stay safe when you travel

In the U.S., you must wear a face mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation. The mask must fit snugly and cover both your mouth and nose.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:

• Get vaccinated.
• Keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) when you're in indoor public spaces if you're not fully vaccinated. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
• Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air flow (ventilation).
• Don't touch frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
• Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces. The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly and that fits. If you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases, wear a mask in indoor public places and outdoors in crowded areas or when you're in close contact with people who aren't vaccinated.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
• Don't eat or drink on public transportation. That way you can keep your mask on the whole time.

Because of the high air flow and air filter efficiency on airplanes, most viruses such as the COVID-19 virus don't spread easily on flights. Wearing masks on planes has likely helped lower the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus on flights too.

However, air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people. Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when traveling can help protect you from COVID-19 while traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment, including bins, at screening checkpoints. TSA has also made changes to the screening process:

• Travelers must wear masks during screening. However, TSA employees may ask travelers to adjust masks for identification purposes.
• Travelers should keep a distance of 6 feet apart from other travelers when possible.
• Instead of handing boarding passes to TSA officers, travelers should place passes (paper or electronic) directly on the scanner and then hold them up for inspection.
• Each traveler may have one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces (about 350 milliliters) in a carry-on bag. These containers will need to be taken out for screening.
• Personal items such as keys, wallets and phones should be placed in carry-on bags instead of bins. This reduces the handling of these items during screening.
• Food items should be carried in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Separating food from carry-on bags lessens the likelihood that screeners will need to open bags for inspection.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds directly before and after going through screening.

Public transportation

If you travel by bus or train and you aren't vaccinated, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a long period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 . Follow the precautions described above for protecting yourself during travel.

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. You can search car rental options and their cleaning policies on the internet. If you plan to stay at a hotel, check into shuttle service availability.

If you'll be using public transportation and you aren't vaccinated, continue physical distancing and wearing a mask after reaching your destination.

Hotels and other lodging

The hotel industry knows that travelers are concerned about COVID-19 and safety. Check any major hotel's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Some best practices include:

• Enhanced cleaning procedures
• Physical distancing recommendations indoors for people who aren't vaccinated
• Mask-wearing and regular hand-washing by staff
• Mask-wearing indoors for guests in public places in areas that have high cases of COVID-19
• Vaccine recommendations for staff
• Isolation and testing guidelines for staff who've been exposed to COVID-19
• Contactless payment
• Set of rules in case a guest becomes ill, such as closing the room for cleaning and disinfecting
• Indoor air quality measures, such as regular system and air filter maintenance, and suggestions to add air cleaners that can filter viruses and bacteria from the air

Vacation rentals, too, are enhancing their cleaning procedures. They're committed to following public health guidelines, such as using masks and gloves when cleaning, and building in a waiting period between guests.

Make a packing list

When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medications you may need on your trip and these essential safe-travel supplies:

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
• Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol)
• Thermometer

Considerations for people at increased risk

Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness. This may include people with cancer, serious heart problems and a weakened immune system. Getting the recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses can help lower your risk of being severely ill from COVID-19 .

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 . If you're unvaccinated, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 . If you must travel and aren't vaccinated, talk with your health care provider and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.

Remember safety first

Even the most detailed and organized plans may need to be set aside when someone gets ill. Stay home if you or any of your travel companions:

• Have signs or symptoms, are sick or think you have COVID-19
• Are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
• Have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past five days and you're not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines

If you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 , get tested after at least five days. Wait to travel until you have a negative test. Wear a mask if you travel up to 10 days after you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 .

• How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Domestic travel during COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Requirement for face masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• International travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• U.S citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and immigrants: Travel to and from the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Non-US. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants: Air travel to the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Stay up to date with your vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Pack smart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Travel: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) information. Transportation Security Administration. https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/who-advice-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-the-sars-cov-2-omicron-variant. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• VRHP/VRMA Cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. Vacation Rental Management Association. https://www.vrma.org/page/vrhp/vrma-cleaning-guidelines-for-covid-19. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Safe stay. American Hotel & Lodging Association. https://www.ahla.com/safestay. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Khatib AN, et al. COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: A scoping review. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2021; doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000771.

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3 travel apps you need before your next flight to keep you out of long TSA lines

Travel can be stressful, especially when airports are involved. 

Flights get delayed, or, worse still, canceled.  

Ever-growing security lines sometimes snake through the airport, putting you in jeopardy of missing your flight.

Last-minute changes can happen and derail months of planning, potentially starting off your trip on a bad note.

Programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry can help travelers, but there are also ways that tech can help you prepare for your journey and stay aware of the curveballs that might come your way.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Here are three apps to download before your next trip. 

Watch the video above to learn which three apps you need before your next trip. 

Airline app 

Download your airline’s app! 

It keeps all of your travel information in one, easy-to-access place. 

Turn on notifications to get immediate alerts when it's time to check in so you'll know if there are any delays or gate changes. 

Once you have a boarding pass, save even more time by adding it to the digital wallet on your smartphone.

The lines at airport security can be very unpredictable. Sometimes there is no wait, other times, the line extends into the check-in area. 

The Transportation Security Agency’s (TSA) app, MyTSA, tries to make the wait a little more predictable and helps you determine what to expect, especially if you’re traveling from one of the busiest airports in the US.  

The app provides a real-time look at your selected airport's wait time, any FAA delays, and which TSA PreCheck lanes are open. 

The app also uses historical data to help you plan ahead. So, even if your flight is three days away, the app can show you what you’re likely to encounter that day based on previous experiences. 

It’s also a useful resource if you’re unsure about what you can or can’t pack in your carry-on and checked luggage.

Mobile Passport Control

If you’re traveling abroad, the Mobile Passport Control app makes your return through U.S. customs much faster. 

The app is a digital version of the Customs and Border Patrol Declaration Form that anyone entering the U.S. is required to fill out.  

You can save up to 12 profiles in the app, and only one form is needed per family, per residence. 

The app doesn't work at every airport, so check  the CBP website to see where you can use it. 

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Distance between Seattle and Moscow

Flying non-stop from seattle to moscow.

How far is Moscow from Seattle? Here's the quick answer if you have a private jet and you can fly in the fastest possible straight line.

Flight distance: 5,218 miles or 8397 km

Flight time: 10 hours, 56 minutes

Because of the curvature of the Earth, the shortest distance is actually the "great circle" distance, or "as the crow flies" which is calculated using an iterative Vincenty formula. For a long distance, this appears as a curve on the map, and this is often the route that commercial airlines will take so it's a good estimate of the frequent flyer miles you'll accumulate as well.

This is a fairly long flight, so unless you have a Gulfstream G650 or your own Boeing or Airbus, you might be booking a commercial flight. In that case, your travel time would really need to include how many minutes to get to your local airport, wait for security, board and taxi on the runway, land at the other airport, and get to your destination. Scroll down to see a more realistic calculation that takes into account all these factors to get a more accurate estimate of your actual flight time .

Seattle to Moscow airports and flights

In the quick calculation above, we assumed you had a private plane and just wanted to know the time in the air from city to city. But for most of us, we're going to be flying on a commercial airline (whether it's first class or coach). So that means we really need to account for all the extra travel time getting to the airport, waiting for our flight, and making it to the destination.

To give you a better estimate of real-life travel, we've put together a flight itinerary with actual airports. Eventually you'll be able to customize this plan, choosing your own airports and flights. But for now, here's an example we've selected to give you an idea of how traveling might work between airports.

Departure airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Arrival airport: Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME)

With the airports selected, we can estimate the travel time to and from the airport, based on how far the airport is from downtown.

Getting to the airport: 33 minutes

Getting to your destination: 79 minutes

Now finally, let's look at an actual flight from SEA connecting through LHR and arriving at DME flying on British Airways. We can figure out how long it would take to fly including take-off and landing, time to taxi on the runways, and an average layover time of about 2 hours.

Initial flight time: 10 hours, 6 minutes

Connecting airport: London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Connection flight time: 3 hours, 40 minutes

So now we can finally get an idea of the total travel time from Seattle to Moscow including time spent getting to and from the airports, roughly 2 hours at the departure airport for TSA security lines and waiting at the gate, plus the connecting flight with a 2-hour layover.

Total travel time: 20 hours

Plan a trip to Moscow

Trippy has a ton of information that can help you plan your trip to Moscow, Russia. Start by reading the Trippy page on where to stay in Moscow . A great place to eat might be Pushkin Cafe . Trippy members can suggest things to do in Moscow like The Moscow Kremlin . Check out some of the questions people have asked about Moscow like Best Russian cuisine restaurants in Moscow . Click the button below to explore Moscow in detail.

How far is it the other way?

The distance is the same either way if you're flying a straight line. But for a real trip, there can be plenty of differences so go ahead and check the reverse directions to get the distance from Moscow to Seattle , or go to the main page to calculate the distance between cities .

If you happen to know Seattle, don't forget to help other travelers and answer some questions about Seattle!

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Spirit's Latest Sale Has Flights Across the U.S. Starting at $49 — but You'll Have to Book Fast

The airline's sale, which ends on Tuesday, is in celebration of Earth Day.

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Spirit Airlines is celebrating Earth Day with a sale that has one-way flights starting at just $49.

The deal , which ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on April 23, is available for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from April 30 to June 19 and then again from Aug. 6 to Oct.16, Spirit shared with Travel + Leisure . The sale is not available during several blackout dates, including May 28, May 29, Sept. 3, and Sept. 4.

“The opportunity to travel and explore nature is impactful and helps us better appreciate our planet,” Lania Rittenhouse, the vice president of guest experience, brand and communications at Spirit Airlines, said in a statement shared with T+L. "We hope this offer makes it easier for our Guests to discover a new national park or beach this summer with family and friends.”

Fly between Atlantic City and West Palm Beach, between Atlanta and Baltimore, between Nashville and Boston, between Charlotte and Dallas, between Newark and Pittsburgh, and more starting at just $49 each way. On the West Coast, travelers can fly between Los Angeles and San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and more also starting at just $49, or splurge and fly from the City of Angels to New Orleans starting at just $77 one-way.

Travelers can also fly cross-country for less with travel between Miami and Chicago starting at just $69 each way and travel between Philadelphia and Los Angeles starting at just $81 each way.

The sale comes as Spirit Airlines plans to launch new routes to popular destinations like Boston, Portland, Ore., and Salt Lake City in time for summer.

​​The ultra-low cost airline offers bare-bones tickets and charges for extras like baggage and seat selection. However, travelers who belong to the airline’s paid yearly membership program, the Saver$ Club, receive discounts on those extras.

Travelers who miss the sale can still save big by booking their tickets in person at the airport . That’s because Spirit waives its passenger usage fee for customers who book in person, which generally saves travelers around $23 per ticket each way.

Do Kids Need ID to Fly? Travel Identification Info for Every Age

A couple of times a year, I get a panicked message from a friend or reader who is about to take an airplane flight with their kids. Suddenly they’ve realized that they have no idea what kind of identification they need for their children to fly, if any. After a decade and a half of flying on hundreds of flights and dozens of airlines with my kids to destinations all around the world, I know this question can certainly be confusing!

In the United States, there are multiple entities that set the official legal rules and regulations governing air travel identification and documentation. Those can include Customs and Border Protection, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and each specific airline.

So exactly what documentation is required to board an airplane with kids? As you might imagine, it depends! Here is all the information you need to make sure you have the right identification to travel aboard both domestic and international flights with kids.

Short on Time? Quick Answers in a Nutshell

Children under the age of 18 typically do not need ID to fly on domestic flights within the United States when accompanied by an adult. Airlines may require identification, however, in more unusual circumstances such as with very young infants, lap children, unaccompanied minors, or older teens flying solo. Identification – specifically a passport book but sometimes more – is always required for kids of any age to travel on international flights.

Identification Required for Kids for International Travel

Most travelers usually expect strict identification rules when it comes to international travel. If you are traveling internationally by air the answer to the question of whether kids need ID to fly is pretty simple. Yes! They do!

Not just any ID will suffice. Just as with adults, a passport book is required to fly with kids internationally no matter how young. If you have kids who are United States citizens, getting an official passport can be time-consuming and expensive. In addition, it requires some logistical steps that parents can mess up.

How to Get Passports in the US for Kids

Specifically, the consent of both parents is required for kids under age 16. That usually means both parents need to appear in person at a passport acceptance facility (like many post offices, local government offices, etc.). Alternatively, one parent can appear in person with a notarized statement of consent from the other parent. I got a notarized letter from my husband the last time we applied for our kids because his work schedule made it difficult for him to be available during the limited business hours passport acceptance facilities in our area were open.

Note also that you can’t just easily renew children’s passports by mail like you can for adults. The same in-person application process with both parents present is required. Plus kids under age 16 must renew passports every 5 years, instead of every 10 years for adults.

For that reason, I highly recommend starting the process of obtaining passports for your kids many months in advance of any international travel. After the paperwork is submitted, the process can take 2-3 months for a passport to arrive. Plus, it can often take many weeks before you can get an appointment to even submit the paperwork.

This obviously makes international travel with very young infants especially challenging, as it takes time to first get a birth certificate for the child and then apply for a passport.

Hopefully you are landing on this article in plenty of time to get your paperwork in order for your specific situation. But if not, there may be ways you can get what you need more urgently. You can pay a $60 extra fee to expedite a passport, which can cut several weeks off of standard processing times. And in more urgent situations, there is an even more expedited option available by applying at a passport agency (which can be done if a trip is within 14 days or less).

Special Note about International Land Crossings and Cruises

One reason some travelers misunderstand the air travel rules for kid identification is because the rules for kids crossing land borders and on some cruises can be different. For example, minors who are US citizens can cross into Canada by land with only a birth certificate.

On some closed loop cruises starting and ending in the United States going to destinations like Mexico, Canada, or many Caribbean countries, there are times when both kids and adults can technically travel without a passport using a birth certificate or passport card.

But none of these exceptions apply to international air travel. Don’t mix these rules up!

Child Travel Consent Form

Although a passport book is necessary to travel with kids on international flights, it isn’t necessarily fully sufficient. There are some times that other travel documents may be required – such as a visa for certain countries.

What is even more likely to trip up international travelers is the situation in which a child is traveling with only one parent or is traveling with another adult who isn’t a parent. In many of these circumstances, proof that both parents consent to the specific trip can be required. In these cases, the best practice is to carry a notarized letter of consent for the child to travel.

Some countries have very specific forms or formats that you need to follow. Mexico is one such example and historically has tended to be quite strict. My husband will likely be traveling solo with one of our kids to Mexico for a family wedding in a few months, and we are already planning to get the a letter of consent completed as an extra precaution.

Many countries don’t have clear cut rules that are easy to research. For example, I flew last summer to Italy (first entering the Schengen Area in Frankfurt, Germany) with both of my kids without my husband. I wasn’t able to get completely definitive information as to whether consent was required. As a result, we went ahead and had my husband complete a notarized letter of consent that I kept with me along with a copy of his passport. We weren’t asked to show it, but I breathed easier knowing I had it!

Unfortunately, profiling can and does occur depending on where you are traveling. So parents who don’t share the same last name as their children or who may appear to be another race or ethnicity may find they face extra scrutiny. The best way to avoid any surprises – just or not – is to err on the side of having this document even when it’s not necessarily required.

Identification Required for Kids for Domestic Travel

If you are traveling domestically, the answer to the ID question is a little more complicated but thankfully usually much easier. In most standard circumstances, identification is not required for minors for domestic travel within the USA. There are specific unique situations, however, where it can be.

What Identification is Needed at TSA Checkpoints?

For domestic travel, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not require you to have an ID for children under age 18 at the security checkpoint.

That said, TSA agents may well talk to your child to confirm their identity and to screen for cases of child abduction. Agents have asked my kids over the years for their names. In some circumstances, they’ve pointed to my husband or me and asked our children who we are. If you have kids who are shy or who take warnings of stranger danger to heart, let them know in advance of your trip that it’s ok for them to speak to these agents and to answer truthfully.

Related: Strategies for Speeding Through TSA Checkpoints with Kids

Special Situations Where Kids May Need ID for Domestic Travel

While the TSA won’t require identification for kids under age 18, many airlines have policies in specific circumstances where some form of ID will be required. It’s vital to know about these outlier circumstances so you don’t come to the airport unprepared.

Young Infants

A number of airlines have rules that prohibit or limit newborns from flying. Airline rules differ, with some airlines like Delta prohibiting newborns under 7 days old from flying on any flights. Others set limits only on international travel, including Southwest which limits infants 14 days old or younger from flying on international flights. Most airlines allow young infants under their age limits, however, to fly with a letter of permission from a physician.

Related: Essential Tips for Your Baby’s First Flight

If you are traveling with a newborn, it’s highly advised to bring a document like a birth certificate for proof of age. And if you are looking for an exception to an age minimum of any sort, a physician’s letter is essential.

Lap Children

When you are flying with a child who will be sitting in your lap (permitted for kids under age 2), having identification to prove age may be required. Some airlines will allow younger infants to board with no ID, as it’s normally obvious that very small babies are not yet near the maximum age cutoff. Families with older babies toddling and speaking always should carry proof of age no matter what the airline. Airline employees can ask at any time for proof to make sure the child is young enough to travel as a lap child.

Related: What to Consider before Flying with a Lap Child

If you are flying Southwest Airlines, however, do not leave ID at home no matter what the age of your lap child. Southwest is the only US carrier that absolutely requires identification of any and every lap child regardless of how old they appear. You’ll need to show it at the ticket counter to obtain a boarding verification document (that works like a boarding pass) for the lap child.

Are there some instances where passengers haven’t had to show documentation for their children on Southwest? For sure. But I’ve flown with a lap child on Southwest more than a dozen times, and I can assure you that every time I had to show proof of age, even with a kiddo as young as 4 months! You don’t want to chance this.

Related: Complete Guide to Flying Southwest with Kids

What kind of identification works for lap children? A simple copy of a birth certificate will usually suffice. No need to rush to the DMV to get your tot a state-issued ID card.

Birth certificates can, however, can take awhile to obtain after a child is born. If you need to fly with a young infant domestically, most airlines will also accept hospital discharge documentation or vaccination records from a pediatrician’s office. The key is that the document have the child’s date of birth on it. When in doubt, if you cannot obtain a birth certificate, call the airline you are flying beforehand to confirm alternatives.

Unaccompanied Minors & Minors Traveling Solo

Another circumstance in which identification may be required for a child is in the case of children flying alone. Again, each airline’s policy is different.

In this situation, age really matters. All US airlines permit older teens (usually ages 15+ but sometimes younger) to fly solo just like adults. And most of them also allow younger kids (often ages 5-14) to fly as unaccompanied minors by paying a fee for limited supervision by airline employees. Depending on the child’s age and circumstances, different documentation can be required.

For older teens under age 18 flying truly solo and not with an unaccompanied minor program, ID is almost always required. Since many kids in this age range won’t have a driver’s license or official government photo ID yet, some airlines (like United) will accept other forms of identification like a birth certificates or student IDs. Other airlines (like Delta), however, require that 15-17 year olds flying solo have the same kind of photo ID that is required of adults. So if your child doesn’t have a driver’s permit or license yet, you’ll likely need to pack a passport.

Younger kids flying as an unaccompanied minor may need some identification as well. This also varies based on the airline and the circumstance. For example, when my son flew earlier this year as an unaccompanied minor on Southwest, I had to show ID as his parent, but I was not asked to show identification for him. Officially, however, Southwest’s policy is that parents may need to show proof of age for the minor. We probably weren’t asked because I booked under my son’s Rapid Rewards account that includes his date of birth (and he clearly appears to be within the age range of the program).

Most other US airlines won’t ask for ID for unaccompanied minors in straightforward situations, but the important thing to note is that they can . So the safest course of action is to at least carry a birth certificate. I put a birth certificate in my son’s backpack anyway, so we were prepared!

Here are links to the relevant age and ID policies that may apply to minors flying solo or as unaccompanied minors on each major US airline:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• United Airlines

Additional Identification Air Travel Tips

• When in doubt, bring it : I know from lots of digging around fine print on the internet that it’s sometimes impossible to get a definitive answer about identification. When in doubt, I highly recommend you err on the side of packing more than you need rather than less. A passport book is the gold standard. For domestic travel an original birth certificate (with the raised seal) can be helpful in many circumstances too.
• Keep extra copies on the cloud : Back in the pre-internet old days of travel, most of us traveled with extra passport copies in a separate bag in case we lost the original. In the digital age, having backups is easier than ever. I keep a copy on the cloud of passports and birth certificates for everyone in the family. That way, I can easily access everything on my phone in cases of emergency.
• Take extra precautions in case of child custody disputes and divorce : It’s crucial in situations of divorce or shared custody that parents have all of their legal ducks in a row before boarding a plane with their child, even for a simple hop across state lines. As a former attorney myself, I strongly suggest you consult your own legal counsel. Always make sure travel is permitted and that you know what additional documentation you need to bring to avoid any potential issues.

The post Do Kids Need ID to Fly? Travel Identification Info for Every Age appeared first on Trips With Tykes .

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Southwest airlines wanna get away sale: flights start at $49.

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Southwest has a summer travel fare sale with fares starting at $49. With summer approaching rapidly, now is the ideal time to start planning some getaways!

Flying with Southwest can be a fantastic deal, especially if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, which enables you to bring another guest along for free.

Ronkonkoma, N.Y. A Southwest Airlines flight logo is seen as the plane taxis to a gate at Long ... [+] Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, New York on March 25, 2021. (Photo by Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

From The Southwest Site: Wanna Get Away® sale. One-way as low as* $49.

*Book by 4/25 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. 21-day advance purchase required. Cont. U.S. travel valid 5/7-11/20/24. HI, intl., and San Juan, PR travel valid 8/20-11/20/24. Cont. U.S. travel blacked out 7/2-7/3/24. Cont. U.S. to/from intl., HI, and San Juan, PR blacked out 9/3/24. Nonrefundable. Seats, travel days, and markets limited. Fares valid on nonstop service where indicated; if not indicated, fares are valid on single connecting service. Points bookings do not include government fees from $5.60 per one-way flight.

Terms & Conditions

• 21-day advance purchase required.
• Purchase from April 16 through April 25, 2024 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
• Continental U.S. travel valid May 7 through November 20, 2024.
• Hawaii, international, and San Juan, Puerto Rico travel valid August 20 through November 20, 2024. Continental U.S. travel blacked out July 2-July 3, 2024. Travel continental U.S. to/from Hawaii, international, and San Juan, Puerto Rico blacked out September 3, 2024. Orange County (SNA) travel not valid. Travel is valid Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Fares valid on nonstop service where indicated; if not indicated, fares are valid on single connecting service.

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Automatic Refunds and No More Hidden Fees: D.O.T. Sets New Rules for Airlines

The Transportation Department issued new requirements on refunds when flights are canceled or delayed and on revealing “junk” fees before booking. Here’s what passengers can expect.

By Christine Chung

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process.

“Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them — without having to ask,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement, adding that the changes would not only save passengers “time and money,” but also prevent headaches.

The department’s new rules, Mr. Buttigieg said, will hold airlines to clear and consistent standards when they cancel, delay or substantially change flights, and require automatic refunds to be issued within weeks. They will also require them to reveal all fees before a ticket is purchased.

Airlines for America , a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers, said in a statement that its airlines “abide by and frequently exceed” D.O.T. consumer protection regulations.

Passenger advocates welcomed the new steps.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, the chief executive of AirHelp, a Berlin-based company that assists passengers with airline claims, called it a “massive step forward and huge improvement in consumer rights and protection” that brings the United States closer to global standards in passenger rights.

Here’s what we know about the D.O.T.’s new rules, which will begin to go into effect in October.

There’s now one definition for a “significant” delay.

Until now, airlines have been allowed to set their own definition for a “significant” delay and compensation has varied by carrier . Now, according to the D.O.T., there will be one standard: when departure or arrival is delayed by three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.

Passengers will get prompt refunds for cancellations or significant changes for flights and delayed bags, for any reason.

When things go wrong, getting compensation from an airline has often required establishing a cumbersome paper trail or spending untold hours on the phone. Under the new rules, refunds will be automatic, without passengers having to request them. Refunds will be made in full, excepting the value of any transportation already used. Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in the original form of payment, whether by cash, credit card or airline miles. Refunds are due within seven days for credit card purchases and within 20 days for other payments.

Passengers with other flight disruptions, such as being downgraded to a lower service class, are also entitled to refunds.

The list of significant changes for which passengers can get their money back also includes: departure or arrival from an airport different from the one booked; connections at different airports or flights on planes that are less accessible to a person with a disability; an increase in the number of scheduled connections. Also, passengers who pay for services like Wi-Fi or seat selection that are then unavailable will be refunded any fees.

Airlines must give travel vouchers or credits to ticketed passengers unable to fly because of government restrictions or a doctor’s orders.

The vouchers or credits will be transferable and can be used for at least five years after the date they were issued.

Fees for checked baggage and modifying a reservation must be disclosed upfront.

Airlines and ticket agents are now required to display any extra fees for things like checking bags or seat selection clearly and individually before a ticket purchase. They will also need to outline the airline’s policies on baggage, cancellations and changing flights before a customer purchases a ticket.

The rules, which apply to all flights on domestic airlines and flights to and from the United States operated by foreign airlines, have varying start dates.

For example, automatic refunds must be instituted by the airlines within six months. But carriers have a year before they’re required to issue travel vouchers and credits for passengers advised by a medical professional not to fly.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .