What are the best websites to find cheap international and domestic flights?

Airfare pricing is a highly complex algorithm that factors in variables like fuel costs, seat availability, seasonality, and even holiday demand.

This makes it challenging to predict the "perfect" time to book.

The day of the week you book your flight can make a significant difference.

Studies show that booking on a Tuesday or Wednesday can save you up to 15% compared to booking on a weekend.

Flexibility with your travel dates is key.

Being open to flying a day or two earlier/later can unlock substantial savings, sometimes up to hundreds of dollars per ticket.

Hidden city ticketing, where you book a flight with a layover at your actual destination, can sometimes be cheaper than a direct flight.

However, this practice is frowned upon by airlines.

Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant often have very low base fares, but charge extra fees for carry-on bags, seat selection, and other amenities.

Factoring in these fees is crucial when comparing prices.

Airline pricing algorithms track user behavior and may increase prices if they detect you're repeatedly searching the same routes.

Clearing your browser cookies or using incognito mode can help circumvent this.

Consolidator websites like Vayama and AirWander can sometimes find cheaper fares by combining one-way flights on separate airlines.

This requires more effort but can lead to significant savings.

Mistake fares, where an airline accidentally publishes an extremely low price, can lead to massive discounts.

However, these are rare and get corrected quickly, so swift action is required.

Flying during the off-season, such as September-November for Europe or May-September for Asia, can provide substantial savings compared to peak travel periods.

Booking multi-city or open-jaw itineraries, where you fly into one city and out of another, can sometimes be cheaper than a round-trip flight.

Utilizing points, miles, or travel credit card rewards can drastically reduce the out-of-pocket cost of flights, especially for international travel.

The rise of budget airline alliances like OneWorld and Star Alliance has made it easier to combine flights from multiple carriers to find the best deals.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in flight search algorithms has improved the accuracy and personalization of flight recommendations.

Dynamic pricing, where airlines adjust fares in real-time based on demand and other factors, has made it more challenging to predict the optimal booking window.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the aviation industry, leading to more flexible booking policies and increased competition among airlines for passengers.

The growing popularity of flight subscription services, like Scott's Cheap Flights and Dollar Flight Club, has made it easier for travelers to stay informed about limited-time flight deals.

The increasing use of biometric technology, such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, is streamlining the airport check-in and boarding process, which could lead to faster connections and reduced missed flights.

Advances in sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft technology are driving efforts to reduce the environmental impact of air travel, which may influence future flight pricing and availability.

The rise of travel metasearch engines, like Kayak and Skyscanner, has made it easier to compare prices across multiple airlines and online travel agencies, empowering consumers to find the best deals.

The proliferation of travel hacking techniques, such as leveraging credit card sign-up bonuses and airline loyalty programs, has enabled savvy travelers to significantly reduce the cost of flights.