Some of My Favorite Flight Hacks

Interested in learning the DOs and DON’Ts of when, where, and how to buy your flights?

I’ve done the research, so you don’t have to.

When?

Two words. OFF SEASON.

The absolute BEST time to plan trips is right on the outskirts of tourist season. For most places that means October, November, and March, April. Let’s do some step by steps. If you don’t have specific dates, you’re already saving money. Flexibility is a godsend when it comes to affordable flights.

Where Do You Book It?

Now lets talk about a platform you probably know: Google Flights. Hands down, the best place to find the cheapest flights… not necessarily the best place to buy them. The pro tip with this platform is USE AN INCONGNITO TAB.

DO NOT RESEARCH FLIGHTS ON A NORMAL BROWSER, unless you want the costs to go up for you and everyone else. If you use an incognito tab, your history isn’t tracked and won’t be used to determine flight popularity. Another popular browser hack is using a VPN, since you can often find cheaper flights if you’re based in other countries. I don’t personally use one, but that hack definitely keeps your budget down as well.

They say that planning trips a year in advance will save you money, the farther the better. That’s not true anymore. A couple months out, between 2-6, is your best bet for the best deal.

Now let’s talk Google Flights. If you don’t know where you want to go, check the explore tab and choose flexible dates within a particular month or months to see what the cheapest spot would be. Keep in mind cheap flights don’t translate to a cheap destination, so know where you’re looking and what you can afford.

That being said, this is where the fun starts. If you don’t like the dates they give you, that’s okay! Look that flight up so you can browse the options and then click the Date Grid. From there you can pick dates, and figure out when the cheapest date is that fits your schedule. Make sure to customize flight options before using the Date Grid, so that you have the amenities you want. For example, add an included carryon bag and change the number of stops in the flight before you pick the cheapest dates. We all have nonnegotiables for flights, so those need to be accounted for first and foremost.

For example, check out this grid pictured above for flights from Boston to Barcelona in March. If you pick Mar 13-Mar.24, it’d be half the price of taking a trip from Mar.11-Mar.19. It’s all about dates.

Which Airline?

Personally, I’m impartial to Jetblue since they have the best amenities and being able to pick your seat on a long flight is a game changer. Delta has some gold stars in my book as well. I like to avoid United, American Airlines, and Spirit like the plague. The hidden fees on those flights add up, while the lack of amenities can make a long flight brutal.

Is There a Better Day to Book?

I’ve heard mixed opinions on when flights come out and the best days of the week to buy. Tuesday seems to be particularly popular, but picking the day you buy isn’t foolproof, and you’re better off buying as soon as you find a price you like so you don’t give it time to go up.

Traveling during the off season is great for many reasons. Less travelers and cheaper accommodation is one huge perk. Some places have better off seasons anyways, like Amsterdam where the tulips bloom in April, or Barcelona where the weather is still warm but the flights are half the price before it hits June.

Maximize Your Travel

NOW let’s get to the real deals. Travel credit cards.

I started off with a Venture one card through Capital One, since I like options for which airline to fly with. In one year, living low-budget, I spent enough to get $700 worth of travel to spend on flights, accommodation, or rental cars. The biggest perk is access to their travel website. When you use Capital One, you can browse through their server for travel related plans. If you buy with your card on their site, you get 2-10x as many points as you do normally. They will also match any prices that you find within 24 hours of booking. I just booked a hotel in Boston, and found a better price on their website, so I called Capital One for a swift travel credit and got the difference in my account right away.

Hit this link to get your own Venture Card!

These benefits soar even more with the Venture X travel card through Capital One. While there is a $395 annual fee, the benefits outweigh the cons like crazy. To start, you get 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in 3 months, which is equal to $750 of travel costs. You also get $300 refunded towards any travel purchases made on their travel website. But wait, there is so much more! $100 annual credit, and free Global Entry or TSA Pre Check. PLUS, you get a priority pass, which gives you access to lounges across the country, including the upcoming Capital One lounges. You also get FREE President’s Club membership to Hertz, a Prior Subscription, and even more free perks. While you need good credit for the card, my measly salary got me instantly approved.

Hit this link to get an extra perk for signing up for the card.

Here are Some Random Super Specific Flight Hacks

For the next year, the airline “Play” will be offering incredibly cheap flights, mostly based out of Canada, but Boston has destinations as well. I found a roundtrip flight to Iceland nonstop for $300, so it’s worth checking them out.

Don’t wait to check in for your flights, or you might get bumped. This happened to me in Bulgaria when I didn’t check in right away, and it almost made me stuck there for over a week!