How to Find Cheap Flights

Booking flights can really feel like playing the stock market… blindfolded.

One day the price is €50, the next time you look, it’s €350, and you’re left wondering why you didn’t book it when you felt it in your gut.

Don’t worry. We’ve all been there. I’ve been there as well. Over the years of hopping across time zones, and a few mistakes I made while booking, I’ve picked up a few flight-finding hacks that have saved me hundreds, sometimes thousands.

And I’m about to spill the tea so you don’t end up paying €300 for a 2-hour flight to Barcelona.

Travelling is exciting, but booking flights can be exhausting… So, buckle up and check out these hacks!

1. Go Incognito or Get Tracked

Yes, airlines might be watching you. More specifically, websites use cookies to track your search behavior. Ever noticed how the price jumps after you’ve searched the same route five times? Coincidence? Probably not.

✅ Hack: Use incognito mode or a different device, try with a different VPN – or even ask a friend from another country for help when checking flights multiple times. Clear your cookies if you’ve already been browsing.

2. Be Flexible With Dates (Even Just a Little)

If your trip doesn’t revolve around a wedding or a work event, you’ve got the upper hand. A difference of even one day can shave off a huge chunk of your ticket price.

✅ Hack: Use tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner and view prices in a calendar view. You’ll spot the cheapest days at a glance. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often cheaper than Fridays and Sundays.

3. Use the “Everywhere” Option

Don’t know where to go but want to go somewhere cheap? This is my favorite game.

✅ Hack: On Skyscanner, enter your departure city and leave the destination as “Everywhere.” It will show you a list of countries (and cities) ranked by price. Perfect for spontaneous souls.

4. Check Budget Airlines (Even If They’re Hidden)

Budget airlines often don’t show up on flight search engines like Expedia or Google Flights.

✅ Hack: Check budget carriers directly on their websites. Think Wizz Air, Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Jetstar, etc. And compare the final price with luggage and taxes included.

Pro tip: Fly into a cheaper city nearby, then hop on a train or bus to your final destination.

5. Book at the Right Time

The myth of the “perfect” booking day is… well, not totally a myth. Airlines do release fares in cycles.

✅ Hack: Generally, the best time to book depends on the type of the flight: they say it is 1–3 months in advance for domestic flights, and 2–6 for international ones. Use sites like Hopper or Kayak Price Alerts to monitor price drops.

Bonus: Set alerts before you need to buy, so you have time to pounce when it dips.

6. Use Points, Miles & Error Fares

Frequent flyer? Credit card hacker? You might already be on this. But even if you’re not a hardcore travel hacker, you can still take advantage.

✅ Hack: Sign up for a travel rewards credit card (ideally one with a sign-up bonus) and book through airline loyalty programs.

Also check websites like SecretFlying, Flight Deal, or Fly4Free for error fares — those glorious pricing mistakes that can get you across the world for the price of a dinner.

7. Consider Booking Two One-Way Flights

Sometimes, round trips cost more than two separate one-way tickets. Sometimes even flying out with one airline and back with another saves money.

✅ Hack: Mix and match. Use Kiwi.com, Skyscanner, or Momondo to test different combinations.

Just double-check airport changes and layover times so you don’t end up in the wrong terminal with a 7-minute sprint.

8. Use Local Currencies When Booking

Here’s a sneaky one: depending on the country you’re in (or pretend to be in), prices can change.

✅ Hack: Use a VPN and try booking from a country where the currency is weaker or where the airline is based. Sometimes booking in a different language version of the site can shave off a few euros.

9. Check Nearby Airports

Flying into London Heathrow? Maybe Gatwick or even Luton is cheaper. Paris has Charles de Gaulle and Orly. New York has JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia.

✅ Hack: When searching, select “All airports” for a city. Sometimes the savings outweigh the cost of a longer transfer.

10. Don’t Wait Too Long

I get it — you want the lowest possible price. But waiting too long can backfire. Especially if it’s a popular destination or season.

✅ Hack: Use your gut — and a few price-tracking tools — but once you see a price that looks fair (especially if it’s lower than average), go for it.

Bonus Hacks From a Frequent Flyer

These aren’t exactly secrets… but they’re the little things that separate the savvy travelers from the rest.

Fly Early In the Morning or Late at Night

Red-eye flights and those crack-of-dawn departures are usually less in demand (read: cheaper). Plus, airports are quieter and security lines are shorter.

Travel Light

With budget airlines charging for everything from cabin bags to choosing a seat, going hand luggage only can save you more than you’d think.

Pro tip: Master the art of the personal item backpack — trust me, it’s a game changer. We got you covered regarding this as well! Check out our posts about packing and make sure you have everything you need and no headache because of Ryan Air regulations!

Use Multi-City and Open-Jaw Tickets

Flying into one city and out of another (like Berlin in, Amsterdam out) can save time and money — especially in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Avoid School Holidays and Local Events

Always check for festivals, conferences, or school breaks in your destination country. Even the cheapest cities get expensive when 10,000 other tourists show up.

Quick Recap – Your Cheap Flight Toolkit:

  • Search in Incognito
  • Be Flexible With Dates & Airports
  • Use “Everywhere” for Spontaneous Trips
  • Track With Alerts + Use Points
  • Check Budget Airlines and Book Directly
  • Book When Prices Drop (but don’t wait forever!)

A Little Behind the Scenes…

People often ask me how I afford to travel so much. I’m not a millionaire. I didn’t win the lottery. And no, there’s no mysterious benefactor wiring me money from a secret island.

I just got really, really good at finding cheap flights.

And I didn’t get there overnight.

I still remember my first travel fail: I booked a flight from Belgrade to Rome for €260… only to find out the same flight was available a week later for €49. That moment stuck with me like airport security’s hands in my carry-on. I promised myself I’d learn how this game works — and I did.

Since then, I’ve booked:

  • A €17 flight to Stockholm in the dead of winter (it was freezing but magical).
  • A €45 round-trip to Morocco — with mint tea, camel rides, and a questionable sunburn included.
  • A €0 flight to Oslo — yes, zero. Thanks to a combo of credit card points and a fare glitch.
  • A €60 multi-city combo that got me from Athens to Lisbon via Milan — with a day to eat pizza in between.

But… How?

And while friends were saying, “I wish I could travel more,” I realized — they could. They just didn’t know how to look.

That’s why I started digging. I joined weird flight deal newsletters, played around with VPNs, subscribed to loyalty programs I could barely pronounce, and figured out when and where the flight gods offer mercy. Eventually, I started teaching friends. Now, I’m teaching you.

This whole blog is about giving you the kind of knowledge I wish I had when I booked that €260 mistake flight. No fluff. No secret “premium access.” Just real hacks that actually work.

Because the truth is, cheap flights change everything.

They make spontaneous weekends away possible. Also, they help you visit friends across continents. They turn “one day” into “next month.” They shrink the world and expand your life.

And you don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a starting point — and the courage to click Book Now when that €29 ticket pops up.

If one of these tips gets you somewhere new, let me know. I’ll be the person clapping behind the screen, cheering you on.

This blog isn’t just about finding flights — it’s about building a life filled with adventure, intention, and moments you’ll never forget.

What’s Next?

So, you found a cheap flight?

Awesome!
But… what now?

Finding accommodation, finding activities to do in the destination you chose, packing, travelling to the destination… And everything in between!

But don’t worry, we got you covered!

Still have an unanswered question?

Feel free to write to us!

What I’ve Learned

I’ve learned something over the years: travel isn’t reserved for the rich, the retired, or the lucky. It’s for the curious. The persistent. The ones willing to dig a little deeper, click one more time, and trust that something amazing might be waiting on the other side of the screen.

I’ve met people on the road who quit jobs, changed careers, found love, made lifelong friendships, or healed from heartbreak — all because they took one cheap flight that led to a new perspective. Not a perfect itinerary. Not a five-star hotel. Just a €30 Ryanair seat and a dream.

That’s the thing. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just need a spark. And sometimes, that spark is a flight alert at 2 a.m. to a place you never considered visiting.

So if you’re sitting there thinking, “I’ll travel when I have more time,” or “Maybe next year when things settle,” — here’s the truth: life rarely “settles.” The inbox keeps refilling, bills keep coming, rent stays due, and responsibilities don’t just pack up and leave.

But you can.

Even just for a few days.

Task for you

You, 10,000 m in the air, OFFLINE(!), phone on airplane mode, stress left behind at the gate. A window seat. A fresh journal. That nervous-excited feeling when the wheels lift off. Landing somewhere where the signs don’t make sense and the smells are different and your brain feels wide awake again. That’s what travel does. And the cost? Sometimes less than a dinner out. If you know where to look.

These hacks are my way of handing you a little key — one that’s opened doors to places I never thought I’d see. And now it’s your turn.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign, let this be it.

If you’re thinking of someday, make it soon.

And if your budget says no, tell it you’ve got tricks up your sleeve now.

The world is massive, messy, and beautiful.

It won’t wait for the “perfect moment.” It just wants you to show up.

Start with one cheap flight,

with one weekend escape,

one bold click that says, “Let’s go.”

You don’t have to quit your job,

nor to sell your stuff.

You just have to begin.

And when you come back — sunburnt, tired, a little changed — I hope you write me. Tell me what you ate, what you saw, who you met, what scared you, and what moved you.

Because this isn’t just a blog. It’s a conversation.

And every adventure starts with one decision: to go.

Picture yourself sitting on the plane, and you’ll instantly feel better!

Ready to Hunt for Your Next Cheap Flight?

Now you’re armed with all the hacks. You no longer need to stare at your screen wondering if you should book or wait, click or cry. Whether you’re planning a summer Eurotrip, a remote work escape to Southeast Asia, or just a cheeky weekend getaway — these tips will get you there for less.

If this helped you, share it with your travel buddy or that friend who always says, “I want to travel more, but flights are too expensive.” (We all have one.)

✉️ Follow the blog for more no-fluff travel tips, destination guides, and budget hacks.

And hey — if you book a flight for under €20, brag to us! I’ll cheer you on.

Travel does not have to be expensive, even when you go to nice destinations!

You don’t need to wait for a “someday” (that, by the way, never comes). And you definitely don’t need to pay full price for flights.

With the right mindset and a few smart clicks, the world is more accessible than you think.

See you at the gate! 🛫

Safe travels and sky-high savings,

Reward.land crew member