By John EganHow to Save Money on Flights
By John Egan
Even with rising flight prices, you can save money on flights by remaining flexible with your travel dates, comparing prices and using an airline credit card. Follow these seven tips to save on your next trip.
1. Plan Your Trip Early
Getting a jump on buying a plane ticket can pay off, although you may want to hold off until the ideal booking window opens.
Most airlines let you book a flight as early as about 330 days before you plan to travel. However, booking that early might not yield the most savings.
Based on global flight data, you can save the most money on a domestic U.S. economy flight by purchasing it about 15 to 30 days before you travel, according to Expedia. Prices tend to hit their peak if you book 180 days in advance or more.
For international economy flights, fares often dip to their lowest level eight to 14 days ahead of departure. As with domestic economy flights, you'll pay the most if you buy your ticket 180 days or more ahead.
While you may not want to risk waiting until two weeks ahead to purchase a flight—especially if you're traveling with family or taking an extensive trip that requires additional bookings—knowing your general travel dates well in advance allows you to keep an eye on fares to find the best deal possible.
Tip: To stay on top of fare increases and decreases, set up an alert on a travel website like AirfareWatchdog or KAYAK.
Learn more: Should I Use a Personal Loan for My Vacation?
2. Stay Flexible on Travel Dates and Times
Building flexibility on dates and times into your travel plans can enable you to score airfare savings.
Best Times of Year
There's not necessarily a best time of year for booking air travel. As a general rule, though, travel "shoulder seasons"—late spring or early fall in many cases—typically offer the lowest airfares.
Be sure not to overlook late fall and non-holiday periods during the winter: They often deliver the lowest prices on airfare.
If you're looking for a particular month to travel, consider August. The 2026 Air Hacks Report from Expedia indicates August is the most affordable month for travel, especially to certain international destinations. Meanwhile, January is the cheapest month for U.S. flights, and July, October and November are the months with the most airfare deals.
Best Days of the Week
The Expedia report also indicates Friday is the cheapest day of the week to book and fly, while Sunday is the most expensive day to fly. Tuesday turns out to be the cheapest day to take a U.S. flight.
Best Times of Day
The best times of day to fly inexpensively are usually early in the morning or late at night. Another time for cheap flights may be overnight on "red-eye" flights.
3. Compare Flight Prices
Just as it's wise to shop around for the best rates on car insurance, it's smart to do some comparison shopping when searching for low airfare.
Creating airfare alerts on travel websites can help you monitor airfare highs and lows. Many travel websites also let you search for cheap airfare by entering departure and arrival cities, plugging in flexible dates and choosing the cheapest month or preferred month for travel. Then, you narrow the search to certain departure days, return days and travel times.
Tip: Unless you are dead set on flying on a particular carrier, such as one where you hold a loyalty card, opening your flight search to a variety of options can help you find the least expensive flight.
4. Look at Flights From Alternate Airports
Flying in and out of a regional airport instead of a major hub might cut the cost of a plane ticket.
For instance, if you live in the Denver area, you might find cheaper flights from nearby Colorado Springs Airport compared with the larger Denver International Airport. Or, if you live in the Detroit area, you may be able to score a cheaper flight at the region's Flint Bishop International Airport compared with the larger Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Learn more: How Does Credit Card Lounge Access Work?
5. Pay With an Airline Credit Card
An airline credit card can put more money in your pocket, although normally not right away. Here are a few key benefits:
- Rewards: An airline credit card allows you to pile up frequent-flier rewards or points that can be put toward flights, hotel stays or other travel rewards.
- Perks: These cards can also supply perks like upgrades, priority boarding and free checked bags.
- In-flight discounts: An airline credit card may provide in-flight discounts on purchases such as food, drinks, Wi-Fi upgrades and entertainment.
Before committing to an airline credit card, be sure to weigh any annual fee against the potential savings on travel expenses. If you're not a frequent traveler or the fee exceeds the potential savings, that card may not be the right one for you.
Learn more: Are Airline Credit Cards Worth It?
Best travel cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that earn valuable points or miles and unlock travel perks on flights and hotel stays.
Offers from our partners
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Intro bonus:
60,000 Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 10x (Points per dollar)
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$95
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
2x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Annual Fee:$99, waived for first 12 months
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 6x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 6 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com. Earn 3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Earn 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$350
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Intro bonus:
70,000 Points
Earn 70,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:
3x - 7x (Points per dollar)
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Annual Fee:$0
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro bonus:
Earn 2 Delta Comfort Flight Certificates + 50K Miles
Earn two domestic Delta Comfort Flight Certificates + 50,000 Bonus Miles after $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:
1x - 3x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$650
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro bonus:
As High As 80K Miles + $250 Statement Credit
You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles and a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:
1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)
When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
Annual Fee:$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 6x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 6 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com. Earn 3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Earn 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$350
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Intro bonus:
25,000 Points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 billing cycles
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 27.49% Variable
Rewards:
1.5x - 3x (Points per dollar)
1.5x points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, 3x points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through BofA Travel
Annual Fee:$0
See all our best travel credit cards for 2026.
6. Join Frequent-Flier Programs
Signing up for an airline's frequent-flier program, which usually costs nothing, can offer travel benefits for a specific airline or a group of airlines. One of the primary benefits: Compiling enough miles or points lets you book free tickets. Other potential benefits include food and beverage perks, free upgrades from economy class to a higher class, priority check-in and boarding, and mileage credits that can be put toward purchases.
Learn more: Ways to Use Your Airline Miles (Other Than Flights)
7. Consider Travel Insurance
If you must cancel a flight you've booked, travel insurance can help recover travel costs. Travel insurance primarily covers prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs when you cancel for a reason covered by the policy. Covered reasons generally include serious illness or injury, a family medical emergency, a death in the family, a job loss or a long travel delay.
You also may be able to get cancel for any reason coverage, which can help you recoup even more travel costs.
Keep in mind that some travel credit cards may provide travel insurance at no extra cost, but it generally covers only those travel expenses charged to the card.
Learn more: Should You Buy Travel Insurance?
The Bottom Line
Saving money on flights takes time, requires homework and demands patience. But putting in the hard work can put some hard cash back into your travel budget. Whether it's by mapping out your travel plans early or using an airline credit, you can cut airfare costs—hopefully without sacrificing any travel comforts.
Want to lower your monthly bills?
We’ll negotiate bills for you and cancel unwanted subscriptions.
Get started
About the author
John Egan
John Egan is a freelance writer, editor and content marketing strategist in Austin, Texas. His work has been published by outlets such as CreditCards.com, Bankrate, Credit Karma, LendingTree, PolicyGenius, HuffPost, National Real Estate Investor and Urban Land.
Read more from John