What are the best flight finding websites for searching multi-stop flights with flexible travel dates?

Flexible date searches on flight booking websites can significantly reduce airfare costs.

Many platforms like Skyscanner and Google Flights allow users to view price fluctuations across a range of travel dates, helping them identify the cheapest options.

Multi-city or "open-jaw" itineraries, where the return flight departs from a different city than the outbound, can sometimes be cheaper than regular round-trip tickets.

Websites like Kayak make it easy to search and book these complex routings.

Flight prices are highly dynamic, influenced by factors like seasonality, holidays, and even the day of the week you depart.

Adjusting your travel dates by even a day or two can lead to significant savings.

Aggregator sites like Momondo and Expedia search across multiple airlines and travel providers, potentially uncovering cheaper fares than booking directly with a single airline.

This is especially useful for complex multi-stop journeys.

The time of day you book your flight can impact the price.

Generally, flights booked during business hours on weekdays tend to be more expensive than those booked on weekends or during off-peak hours.

Airports serving major hubs like New York, London, or Tokyo often have higher base fares than smaller regional airports.

Considering alternative departure/arrival points can yield savings, especially for multi-stop trips.

Airline loyalty programs and credit card rewards can provide opportunities to redeem points or miles for discounted flights.

Strategically earning and using these benefits can lead to substantial savings over time.

Flexible travelers willing to take red-eye flights or endure longer layovers can sometimes find cheaper fares than those with strict schedule preferences.

The trade-off is often worth it for budget-conscious flyers.

Last-minute flight deals, while less common these days, can still occasionally be found for those able to book and travel at the spur of the moment.

Monitoring deal alert services can help identify these rare opportunities.

The type of aircraft used on a route can impact the airfare.

Smaller regional jets tend to have higher per-mile costs than larger mainline jets, so avoiding these when possible can lead to savings.

Booking multi-stop flights as separate one-way tickets rather than a single round-trip itinerary can sometimes result in lower overall costs, especially when flying to or from different airports.

Seasonality plays a significant role in flight pricing, with peak travel periods like summer and holidays typically seeing higher fares.

Being flexible with your travel dates can help you avoid these premium periods.

The class of service you book can greatly impact the price.

Economy class tickets are generally the most affordable, while business and first-class fares can be multiples higher.

Carefully considering your needs can help optimize your spending.

Airline pricing algorithms are highly complex, with factors like competition, fuel costs, and even the weather influencing ticket prices in real-time.

Understanding these dynamics can help savvy travelers capitalize on fluctuations.

Positioning flights, where you book a separate leg to or from a secondary airport to access a cheaper mainline routing, can lead to significant savings, especially for international travel.