Flex a Monday–Wednesday flight, add nearby airports, and let a layover do the heavy lifting.
I used to believe there was one “secret” to airfare—some magic day, some trick only insiders knew.
Then I started asking actual insiders (and experimenting on my own trips).
What I learned: the cheapest ticket is rarely about one hack. It’s a stack of small, boring, highly effective moves.
Let’s keep this simple and actionable.
1. Flex dates
Price is a moving target, and the easiest way to hit it is to broaden your window.
When I’m planning a trip, I start with a range, not a single weekend. I’ll look at a month view and note where the dips are.
Midweek departures consistently undercut weekends. In fact, Google’s analysis found that flights departing Monday–Wednesday have been about 12% cheaper than weekend departures on average.
2. Set alerts
I don’t babysit fares anymore; I outsource it.
I’ll search a route once, then toggle price tracking so my inbox does the watching. I track either exact dates for a wedding-type trip or “any dates” for flexible getaways. That way, when the price moves, I move.
Bonus: alerts teach you the “normal” price for your route. Once you’ve seen the baseline a few times, the genuine deals become obvious.
3. Follow the deal
Quote I keep taped to my brain: “The biggest mistake travelers make is picking the destination before the deal.” — Scott Keyes, Going’s chief flight expert.
I love this because it flips planning on its head. Instead of forcing a cheap fare to Paris in June (good luck), you let an unusually low fare point you somewhere interesting, then build a great trip around it.
Personally, some of my favorite trips started this way—a surprise sale to Lisbon sent me down a rabbit hole of custard tarts, tile museums, and sunset rooftop photos I’m still proud of.
4. Add airports
If you only search your closest airport, you’re paying a “convenience tax.”
I always add a few realistic alternates within a drive or short train ride. On the return, I also check if flying back into a different airport in the same city is cheaper. (NYC folks know the magic of mixing JFK and LGA.)
A simple mental model: more gates, more competition, more opportunities for a dip.
5. Use the 24-hour rule
Here’s a power move most people skip.
When a fare looks good, book it—then keep watching for 24 hours.
For flights to, from, or within the U.S. booked directly with an airline at least 7 days before departure, the Department of Transportation requires carriers to either hold a reservation for 24 hours without payment or allow a free cancellation within 24 hours.
As the DOT puts it, airlines must “hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty.”
I’ve used this to lock a price on a Tuesday night and then rebook cheaper on Wednesday morning. No angst, no fees.
6. Mix one-ways
Roundtrips aren’t mandatory. I regularly price two one-ways on different airlines—especially for international trips.
Sometimes the savings come from an odd combo (say, a budget carrier outbound and a legacy carrier home).
One-ways also make it easier to fly into one city and out of another, which can nudge you toward a cheaper overall path.
7. Avoid false savings
A rock-bottom “basic economy” fare can get expensive once you add a carry-on, seat selection, or the privilege of changing your mind. I’m not anti–basic economy, I’m anti–surprise fee.
Do the math: if you’ll need a bag and a decent seat, a standard economy ticket might be cheaper in real life.
I’ve mentioned this before but paying a little more up front can be the thrifty move if it prevents change fees or luggage pain later.
8. Fly midweek
This one is delightfully unsexy and incredibly reliable: depart Monday–Wednesday when you can.
It sidesteps peak demand and often dodges the “business travel” premium. Pair a midweek flight with flexible return dates and watch prices slide.
Insider note: being open to a Tuesday or Wednesday return can be just as impactful as a midweek departure.
9. Consider layovers
Nonstop is convenient, but you’re often paying for that convenience.
Google’s data shows nonstop fares have been roughly 20% higher than itineraries with stops.
If you’re trying to bring a trip within budget, adding a layover is one of the quickest ways to shave the price without resorting to sketchy tactics.
Pro tip I use a lot: if you’re booking with a connection anyway, pick a hub where delays are less catastrophic for you (i.e., where you have friends to crash with or a lounge you can access).
10. Position smart
For long-haul trips, I sometimes “position”—take a cheap domestic hop to a larger hub, then catch the international deal from there.
The key is to leave a generous buffer (or overnight) between tickets so a delay on the first flight doesn’t nuke the second.
This is also how I’ve turned outrageous summer prices into something tenable: buy the bargain long-haul to Europe, then use a $39 regional hop (or train) to get where I actually want to be.
11. Book earlier (but not blindly)
Yes, booking early helps, but not in a panicky way.
I aim for the window where deals historically show up for my route (roughly a month or two out for many domestic trips, earlier for international), keep alerts on, and pounce when I see “low” relative to the usual.
If I’m shopping for peak dates—school holidays, major festivals—I stretch that timeline. The pool of cheap seats is smaller, and they get snapped up faster.
12. Let data kill myths
Let’s end with one of the biggest zombie tips in travel: “Buy on Tuesday.”
Google’s airfare analysis is blunt about this one: “There isn’t much value in purchasing your tickets on a certain day of the week — sorry, Tuesday!”
The real levers are when you fly and whether you’re flexible—not the day you click “purchase.”
The short version
To actually score the cheapest fares, stack these moves: flex your dates, track prices, let the deal point the way, widen your airport net, use the 24-hour rule, and be cool with a layover when the savings are real.
Do that consistently and you’ll start seeing prices your past self wouldn’t believe.
Happy hunting—and see you in an aisle seat.
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