After a year of sharp price increases, US tourists were able to take advantage of cheaper tickets in 2024. Although average costs have decreased, certain locations and travel times, such as spring break and the holidays, continue to have very high pricing. Unbelievably, round-trip domestic flights to well-known locations or during peak travel times may sometimes cost more than $500. It makes sense to look for strategies to reduce the cost of airline tickets when there are so many other costs vying for your budget’s attention. You may extend your vacation budget by being aware of when to make reservations and how to get the greatest offers.

I’ve already written about important travel trends, but now I’ve put together more advice on how to reduce airline costs. Here’s all the information you need to purchase airline tickets at a lower cost than the listed price. We’ll provide you the advice you need to get inexpensive flights, from the best travel credit cards to the cheapest day to fly.

Read more: Make the Most of Your Trips by Remembering to Bring These 12 Things

1.Try to take a midweek flight.

It’s expensive to book flights that depart and arrive on the weekend. The cheapest flights are offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, according to Google Flights statistics, with Tuesday being the most affordable day based on historical flight data. If you choose to travel in the early to midweek, you may save anywhere from 13% to 20% on tickets when compared to weekend flights on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The most expensive day to fly is Sunday.

There isn’t a single “best” day to book flights, according to Google Flights statistics, although the day of travel does affect the price. For the greatest deals, steer clear of traveling on a weekend day.

2. Examine low-cost airlines

If money is a major consideration while traveling, think about making your reservation with a low-cost airline. Budget airlines may save you hundreds of dollars compared to major carriers like American, United, and Delta, but they are also often smaller, less opulent, and provide fewer travel alternatives.

The following is a list of low-cost US airlines:

Air Allegiant
Airlines Avelo
Breeze Airlines
The Frontier Airlines
JetBlue
Pacific Airways New
Spirit Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
For lower rates, budget airlines sometimes demand that you forgo some convenience. For example, carry-on baggage and other facilities that are often free on nonbudget carriers will probably cost more. To choose your seat on the aircraft or have it allocated to you at random, you will also need to pay. To ensure that you’re really saving money over time, it’s essential to total up these expenses.

You may save hundreds of dollars on your vacation by forgoing the frills offered by larger airlines. Budget airlines are particularly well-suited for short-haul travel and informal weekend vacations.

3. Benefit from layovers and one-way flights

Although purchasing one-way tickets may not be as handy as purchasing round-trip tickets, you have more alternatives in terms of cost: For the greatest deals on the days you want to travel, you may make reservations with many airlines. For instance, American Airlines could be less expensive for the flights home, but Delta might be less expensive to get you to your location.

If you have a flexible schedule, you may want to arrange a flight with one or more layovers to save even more money. The fact that flights with layovers are less expensive than continuous flights should come as no surprise, but you may be surprised at how much of a difference the savings might be. According to Google journey statistics, buying a journey with a stopover rather than a continuous flight may save travelers 25%.

4. Apply for a credit card for travel.

Travel credit card rewards points and frequent flyer miles may be used to further reduce costs. The way travel credit cards operate is by giving you points or miles for both regular and travel-related purchases. Once you’ve accrued enough points or miles, you may redeem them for benefits like hotel stays and airline tickets. Although rates vary, using a travel credit card for travel-related expenditures may potentially earn you more points or miles.

Priority boarding and a complimentary checked bag are among the benefits that certain airlines, such as United and Delta, provide with their own credit cards that pay in miles that may be used for “free” flights or upgrades.

Two tips for using your credit card to book vacation travel.png
You may get benefits like priority boarding, free checked baggage, upgrades, and cheaper flights when you use a travel credit card.

5. Try using travel apps and features to locate cheap flights.

Cheap flights may be found more easily with the use of apps and automated features. Apps like Going (previously Scott’s Cheap Flights) allow travelers to find cheap flights. Going combines discounts and mistake fares (when an airline or travel agency advertises a price for a plane ticket that is much less than its value) up to 90% off using software and flight specialists. Members are then sent the reduced tickets.

An image from the Going website that illustrates how the program tracks flight costs
Software is used by apps such as Going to find the most affordable local and international flights.
Screenshot by Macy Meyer on CNET
In October 2024, Google Flights also introduced a new “Cheapest” option to its website, which makes it easier for consumers to discover very low-cost flights. Entering your travel information and selecting the “Cheapest” button will allow you to peruse the most affordable choices.