As any seasoned traveler knows, airfare can make or break your entire vacation budget before you even reach your destination. Flights across the U.S. are rarely cheap, with prices fluctuating like crazy based on demand, season, stops and about a million other factors. It’s enough to make you want to drive instead…but we all know that’s not really feasible (or enjoyable) for cross-country adventures.
Fear not, budget travel warriors! I’ve become something of an airfare ninja over the years, constantly hunting for flight deals and tapping into insider tricks to score major discounts. With some flexibility and using the right strategies, it is absolutely possible to fly all around this great nation without pulverizing your bank account.
From New York to New Mexico, sea to shining sea, here are my top tips and tricks for booking the cheapest and best air tickets when flying within the U.S. Get ready to take notes and prepare for takeoff!
Be Flexible, Flexible, Flexible Arguably the most crucial ingredient for scoring dirt-cheap flights is having a flexible schedule. If you can be a little loosey-goosey with your dates, times and airports, suddenly a world of lower fares opens up to you.
Most search engines will show you a calendar view to quickly identify the cheapest days for flying out and back. Opt for things like red-eye or super early morning flights that most travelers avoid. Consider nearby alternate airports that could be a $100+ difference for the same destination.
The key is being willing to compromise a little convenience for maximum savings. Who cares if you have a 6 a.m. departure time if you’re saving hundreds of dollars?
Play the Long Game and Book in Advance
Although last-minute deals do occasionally pop up, flights generally get more expensive the closer you wait to your travel dates. As soon as you have a destination and rough timeframe in mind, start meticulously monitoring fares to get a sense of price trends and available routes.
Use a few different booking sites and airline tools to track costs over time and pounce when you catch a lower-than-average rate. It’s not unusual for domestic fares to spike $100 or more in just a few weeks leading up to travel dates, so plan ahead to avoid getting gouged.
Be wise about exactly how early to book though – fares are usually at their lowest about 3-6 months out from your trip. Go too far in advance and you’ll likely end up overpaying.
Let’s Get Bundled Up If you’re booking a package deal for flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. all from the same travel company, they’ll often shave off extra discounts compared to booking all of those separately. While packages can limit some flexibility, the overall cost savings make this an attractive option for budget travel within the U.S.
Use your Travel Rewards Loyalty does pay off! Frequent flyer miles, credit card points, hotel loyalty programs – take advantage of any travel rewards programs you’ve accumulated over the years. Even if you don’t have enough miles to cover a full flight, using them can offset costs and score you perks like free checked bags or priority boarding.
Budget Airlines Are Your Friend
Unless you’re rallying against Basic Economy sacrifices like no carry-on bags or seat assignments, budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Sun Country can uncover seriously inexpensive routes, especially for flights under 3-4 hours. Just be prepared to pay additional fees for things like checked bags or seat selection.
Get the Deals Sent Directly to You So many airfare deal subscription services these days alert you to flash sales, mistake fares or incentives from your nearest airports. SignupforScottsCheapFlights, FareDrop and Airfarewatchdog to get money-saving alerts delivered straight to your inbox.
Strategic Stopovers Can Save Big Time Don’t rule out routes with stopovers and plane transfers – these can sometimes be the more affordable option. Search engines like Google Flights and Skiplagged make it easy to browse prices for nonstop vs. multi-stop itineraries. It might take a little longer, but could save you hundreds.
Time Your Purchase Just Right Data shows that the cheapest day to actually purchase domestic flights is generally Tuesday or Wednesday morning, after the weekend rush is over. Try to target these middle-of-the-road days and times to increase your chances of finding discounted seat inventory.