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Search for cheap flights
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Find and book the cheapest flights for 2024
When booking a holiday, flights are usually your first port of call. Whether you’re looking for a flight to Europe or the long-haul holiday of a lifetime, finding the right fare at the right price can be a bit of a minefield. Thankfully, there are some tried-and-tested tips that might help you snag a decent deal, even if it's a last-minute flight!
If you've come here for some inspiration alongside those money-saving tips, then this is the page for you. We've got hand-picked deals for round trips, island escapes, city breaks and much more. Or do you already have a destination and dates in mind? Read on to discover the top ways to grab the lowest fare possible.
How to find cheap flights
Right at the top of this page, you'll see a search bar where you can select your departure and destination airports, as well as potential dates. This is a great place to start your search so that you can get a glimpse of which airlines fly that route and what you can expect to pay at that time of year.
If you're still very much in the 'looking for inspiration' stage and simply want some tips on how to find the best and cheapest air fares out there, then we delve into this (and more) below. From the cheapest airlines and airports to the cheapest days to fly, use these tips to ensure that you're flying for cheap on your next holiday.
Which airlines are the cheapest?
While national airlines do tend to have sales across the year, there are some low-cost airlines operating in the UK that tend to offer the cheapest fares.
Ryanair: In past years, this Irish airline seems to have the cheapest fares of them all, with constant promotions across hundreds of airports spread across Europe. Their cheapest offers usually range from £2 to £9.99 each way.
Easyjet: This English airline tends to use the main airports in destinations (compared to Ryanair) so you can expect that prices will be slightly higher but still relatively cheap.
Wizz Air: Growing steadily popular each year, Hungarian Wizz Air offers low fares across Europe, especially to destinations in Eastern Europe not covered by other airlines.
How do I find the cheapest flights?
Keep your searches private: Switch on your browser's incognito mode when you're doing any flight searches. This will stop websites from being able to use cookies to remember previous searches, thereby bumping up prices.
Book separately: You can save money by booking your flight and hotel in different transactions. Bear in mind that your holiday will not be ATOL protected if you choose this method.
Keep an eye out for sales: Certain airlines have regular sales where they slash their fares and offer incredible deals. Sign up to airline newsletters or follow their social media accounts to keep track of these sales.
Consider your departure airport: This trick works both ways. Flying from different airports in the UK can affect how much you shell out for a flight. Make sure you check all the airports that you could consider departing from.
Find the cheapest days to fly: For short haul, Friday - Sunday dates are usually the priciest. If you're willing to be flexible, even flying 24 hours earlier can make a big difference to the price. Use Google Flights to search for the most affordable dates for your destination and length of travel.
Collect points: Airlines offer loyalty schemes where you can collect points that can be redeemed against future flights.
Budget vs other airlines: Low-cost airlines like Ryanair and easyJet may offer low fares, but prices add up by adding checked bags, seats or priority boarding. You may find it's cheaper to upgrade your airline, which includes checked luggage and meals as standard.
Be flexible: A lot of cities have more than one airport and choosing a different one can save you a small fortune. However, keep in mind that there may be higher costs involved travelling to or from a far-flung airport. Or consider flying into a nearby destination that happens to be cheaper. For example: fares to Florence can be expensive, but flights to nearby Pisa can be much more affordable.
When should I book my flights?
The day of the week definitely plays a role when it comes to the price of your flight. Outsmart the airlines by avoiding flying out too close to the weekend, as prices tend to rise for Thursday, Friday and Saturday flights. You can make some mega savings if you choose to fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday instead.
When it comes to finding deals, the end of the year (November and December) is a great time to look. This is especially the case for last-minute flights, as airlines will be wanting to sell their last seats quickly. Once you've found a bargain, don't let the opportunity pass you by, especially for long-haul flights. Those flights from London to Tokyo for £300? Grab them while you can because we can guarantee that they won't last long!
Top 10 tips and tricks for finding cheap flights
Book a return trip instead of one-way tickets
Longer layovers mean cheaper fares
Let current flight offers determine your travel destination
Consider alternative airports
Sign up to frequent flyer memberships
Check foreign domains of your booking website to compare prices
Act quickly if you spot a great deal
Opt for flights departing at the end of the day
Subscribe to airline newsletters and social media accounts
Be flexible on dates
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