Airfare can easily eat up a big chunk of your travel budget, especially when flying in or out of the United States. With prices fluctuating daily, it often feels like a gamble to know when to buy. The good news? In 2025, you have more tools, apps, and insider tricks than ever before to help you score the lowest fares. Here’s a practical guide to finding cheap flights without losing your sanity.
1. Book at the Right Time
Timing matters. Studies show that airfare prices follow patterns:
- Best booking window for U.S. domestic flights: 1 to 3 months in advance.
- For international trips: 2 to 6 months in advance (sometimes even earlier for Europe and Asia in peak seasons).
- Cheapest days to fly: Tuesdays and Wednesdays often yield the lowest fares, while Fridays and Sundays are typically the most expensive.
Tip: Avoid booking last-minute unless you’re comfortable with higher prices.
2. Use Flight Search Engines Wisely
Don’t just check one site. Tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak let you compare across multiple airlines at once. In 2025, Google Flights has even improved its AI-driven price prediction, letting you know whether to book now or wait.
- Set price alerts: These notify you when fares drop.
- Check “everywhere” searches: Great for flexible travelers who just want a good deal to any destination.
3. Be Flexible with Airports
Major hubs aren’t always the cheapest. For example:
- Flying into Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami, or Oakland instead of San Francisco, can save hundreds.
- If you’re on the East Coast, consider flying out of nearby cities like Boston, New York, or Philadelphia and compare the difference.
4. Embrace Budget Airlines
In 2025, budget carriers like Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, and Breeze Airways continue to offer bargain fares within the U.S. For international flights, carriers like Norwegian, PLAY, and AirAsia X keep prices low.
Yes, budget airlines charge for extras—baggage, seat selection, even water on some flights—but if you’re a light packer, you can easily beat traditional airline prices.
5. Use Miles, Points, and Credit Card Rewards
Airline loyalty programs remain one of the most powerful tools for cutting airfare costs:
- Travel credit cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture, or American Express Gold offer generous sign-up bonuses that can cover entire flights.
- Accumulate miles through everyday spending, then redeem them for international trips, where cash fares are often highest.
- Watch for “flash deals” where airlines slash mileage requirements for specific routes.
6. Fly at Odd Hours
Red-eye flights (late-night departures) and early-morning departures are usually cheaper. They’re less convenient, but if saving money is the goal, they’re worth it. Bonus: airports are less crowded.
7. Clear Cookies and Use Incognito Mode
While the myth that airlines track your searches isn’t 100% proven, many travelers report higher fares after repeated searches. Searching in incognito/private mode or from different devices sometimes reveals lower fares.
8. Check One-Way and Multi-City Tickets
Sometimes two one-way tickets (possibly with different airlines) are cheaper than a round-trip. Multi-city bookings—say, New York → Paris → Rome → New York—can also yield lower prices than separate tickets.
9. Leverage Subscription Services
New in 2025 are airfare subscription models. Programs like Hopper’s “Flight Club” or Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) offer curated alerts for mistake fares and heavily discounted tickets. Many U.S. travelers now swear by them.
10. Don’t Forget Hidden-City Ticketing (With Caution)
Websites like Skiplagged show “hidden-city” fares (e.g., booking a flight with a layover in your actual destination). While this can save money, it’s a gray area—airlines dislike it, and it only works with carry-on bags. Use sparingly and at your own risk.
Final Thoughts
Finding the cheapest airfare in 2025 is less about luck and more about strategy. By combining smart booking windows, flexibility, loyalty programs, and the right tools, you can save hundreds of dollars on your next trip.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway in Las Vegas or a bucket-list trip to Europe, a little effort in hunting down deals can leave you with more cash to spend on experiences once you land.
So the next time you search for flights, remember: flexibility is your wallet’s best friend.