How to find cheap flights online

Even if your only purpose is to score a cheap flight, even the most advanced flight search engine can only get you so far. If you want to save money on airfare or your trip as a whole, your best bet is to gain maximum value with the following tips:

Earn travel rewards from credit cards

Earning frequent flyer miles through travel rewards credit cards can earn you free flights. A few of our favorite credit cards are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardThe Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. With any of these three cards, you’ll earn bonus points for purchasing travel and use your rewards to book flights on a number of airlines. If you’re loyal to a particular airline, you can apply for an airline co-branded card to earn rewards through one frequent flyer program instead.

Fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday

If possible, book the departure and return dates of your trip in the middle of the week, as Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly. Flights tend to be more expensive on the weekends and Mondays and Fridays. For even more flexibility, most of the search engines above allow you to view prices for flights on each day of the week.

Book two to three weeks in advance

According to a Skyscanner, the best time to book a domestic flight is at least three weeks in advance and two weeks in advance for an international flight. Prices start increasing after the two-week mark and skyrocket the week before the departure date, so you’ll be sure to snag a cheap flight by booking well in advance.

Take your trip in off-peak season

There are certain times when it will always be more expensive to fly — think major holidays, long weekends and public school vacation weeks. If you have flexibility, you can save hundreds by planning your vacation around these busy travel dates and booking your trip off-peak, especially if you’re flying to a seasonal destination like Hawaii.