What are the best tips for finding cheap flights and saving money on airfare?

Timing is everything - Flights booked 4-6 months in advance tend to be the cheapest, as airlines offer early bird discounts to fill seats.

Flexibility is key - Flying on off-peak days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays) or at less popular times (red-eye flights) can lead to significant savings.

Leverage price tracking - Services like Google Flights and Hopper can monitor prices and alert you to drops, helping you pounce on the best deals.

Understand seasonality - Airfares tend to be higher during peak travel seasons like summer and holidays.

Consider shoulder seasons for lower prices.

Embrace connections - Opting for connecting flights rather than nonstop can reduce costs, though travel time will be longer.

Explore budget airlines - Ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier offer bare-bones fares, but watch out for added fees.

Use credit card perks - Travel rewards credit cards can provide sign-up bonuses, miles, and other benefits to offset flight costs.

Clear your cookies - Browser cookies can trigger dynamic pricing, so searching incognito may reveal lower fares.

Fly open-jaw - Booking a flight to one city and returning from another can sometimes be cheaper than a round-trip.

Take advantage of mistake fares - Airlines occasionally make pricing errors, leading to unbelievably low fares before being corrected.

Consider alternate airports - Flying into a secondary airport near your destination can provide substantial savings.

Leverage airline alliances - Booking with partner airlines through alliances like Star Alliance or Oneworld can unlock more routing options and discounts.