What are the best websites for finding the cheapest international flights?

Airfare prices fluctuate constantly due to complex algorithms that consider factors like seat availability, seasonal demand, and even real-time competitor pricing.

This is why checking prices repeatedly can yield significantly different results.

Flying on less popular days of the week, like Tuesdays or Wednesdays, can lead to savings of up to 25% compared to peak weekend travel.

Booking flights 4-6 months in advance, on average, is the sweet spot for the lowest fares.

However, this can vary greatly depending on the destination and travel dates.

Flying during the off-season, when fewer travelers are booking, can provide substantial discounts, sometimes up to 50% off peak-season prices.

Clearing your browser cookies or searching in incognito mode can help avoid "dynamic pricing," where airlines may raise fares based on your browsing history.

Positioning your departure city as a layover hub, rather than a final destination, can open up more routing options and cheaper fares.

Flying with budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, or Frontier can offer rock-bottom base fares, but be aware of additional fees for baggage, seat selection, and other services.

Using a VPN to search from different countries can sometimes reveal lower fares, as airlines may offer geographically-based pricing.

Booking one-way flights separately, rather than round-trip, can lead to significant savings, especially for complex multi-city itineraries.

Flexible travel dates, even shifting by just a day or two, can result in hundreds of dollars in savings, as airlines adjust prices based on demand.

Airline miles and credit card rewards can be leveraged to book award flights, which may be significantly cheaper than paying cash, particularly for business or first-class travel.

Monitoring fare trends using price prediction tools like Hopper or Scott's Cheap Flights can alert you to mistake fares and flash sales, which can lead to dramatic discounts.

Booking separate legs of a journey with different airlines, rather than a single round-trip ticket, can sometimes yield lower overall prices.

Purchasing tickets directly from the airline's website, rather than through a third-party booking site, can occasionally result in better fares or more transparent pricing.

Utilizing hidden-city ticketing, where you book a flight with a layover at your desired destination and simply disembark at the layover, can provide savings, though this practice is generally frowned upon by airlines.

Traveling during shoulder seasons, the periods just before or after peak tourist times, can offer substantial discounts compared to high season.

Being flexible on your departure and return dates, even by just a day or two, can make a significant difference in the final price of your international flight.

Joining airline loyalty programs and using co-branded credit cards can provide access to exclusive sales, upgrades, and other perks that can reduce your overall travel costs.

Considering nearby airports as departure or arrival points, rather than the most obvious choices, can sometimes reveal cheaper routing options.

Understanding the science behind airline pricing algorithms, which constantly adjust fares based on supply, demand, and competition, can help savvy travelers identify the best times to book.