What's the cheapest day of the week to fly?

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are typically cheapest. Monday and Friday are more expensive. Sunday is the most expensive. But this varies by route and season—always check your specific dates in a price calendar.

Should I book through Google Flights, Kayak, or the airline directly?

Use Google Flights or Kayak to compare and research. Book directly on the airline's website. You get better customer service and protection if something goes wrong. Third-party sites make money taking a commission—they're not your advocate if there's a problem.

How early should I book?

For international flights: 2–3 months ahead. For domestic: 1–2 months ahead. Booking too early (4+ months) is often more expensive. Booking last-minute (less than 1 week) is almost always more expensive, unless you find an error fare.

What's an error fare?

A pricing mistake by the airline that results in an unusually cheap ticket. These happen 2–3 times a year on major routes. Sites like Scott's Cheap Flights and The Flight Deal email subscribers when they find them. When you see one, book immediately—airlines often cancel these bookings within 24 hours once they notice the error.

Is it cheaper to book a roundtrip or two separate one-way tickets?

Usually roundtrip is cheaper or the same price. Two one-ways can be cheaper on certain routes or if you're booking with different airlines. Always compare both options before deciding.

What if I don't know my exact return date?

Search with a flexible return date—most booking tools let you set this to 'any time.' You'll see prices for different length stays. Pick a range (7–14 days, for example) and then set a price alert. When you're closer to your trip and know your exact dates, search again.

How to Book Flights When You Don't Know Where You're Going

Use flexible search tools (Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak) to set your departure city and date, then browse by price or map view to see where cheap flights go. You can also set price alerts and search for nearby airports to expand options and find unexpected deals.

Pick your departure city and dates. This is the one thing you need to know. If you live in a major hub (New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo), you have more options. Check 3–6 months out for international flights. If you're flexible on dates, search a range of 7–10 days to catch cheaper days. Midweek flights (Tuesday–Thursday) are typically 10–20% cheaper than weekend departures.
Open a flexible search tool. Use Google Flights' explore function, Skyscanner's 'everywhere' option, or Kayak's calendar view. These let you see prices to multiple destinations at once instead of typing in a single airport code. You're looking for patterns: which regions are cheapest from your city right now.
Filter by price, not destination. Sort results by lowest price. Don't dismiss a destination because you haven't heard of it—a $350 roundtrip to a smaller city might be the better story than a $600 ticket to a famous one. Look at flight times too. Redeye or early morning flights are often $50–150 cheaper than afternoon departures.
Check nearby airports. If you live within 100 miles of a second airport, search from there too. Flying from a secondary hub can save 15–40% on international tickets. For example, flying from Newark instead of LaGuardia, or from Oakland instead of San Francisco, often yields lower fares. Factor in ground transport time and cost.
Set price alerts. Once you've narrowed to 3–5 destinations, set alerts on Google Flights or Hopper. These will email you when fares drop for specific routes. Check alerts for 2–3 weeks. When you see a fare $100+ below your baseline, book it that day. Good deals don't stay on sale for long.
Book direct when the price is right. Go to the airline's website and complete the booking there, not through a third-party site. This protects you in case of schedule changes or cancellations. You'll have a direct relationship with the airline. Screenshot your confirmation email and book number. Do this immediately—don't wait.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly?: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are typically cheapest. Monday and Friday are more expensive. Sunday is the most expensive. But this varies by route and season—always check your specific dates in a price calendar.
Should I book through Google Flights, Kayak, or the airline directly?: Use Google Flights or Kayak to compare and research. Book directly on the airline's website. You get better customer service and protection if something goes wrong. Third-party sites make money taking a commission—they're not your advocate if there's a problem.
How early should I book?: For international flights: 2–3 months ahead. For domestic: 1–2 months ahead. Booking too early (4+ months) is often more expensive. Booking last-minute (less than 1 week) is almost always more expensive, unless you find an error fare.
What's an error fare?: A pricing mistake by the airline that results in an unusually cheap ticket. These happen 2–3 times a year on major routes. Sites like Scott's Cheap Flights and The Flight Deal email subscribers when they find them. When you see one, book immediately—airlines often cancel these bookings within 24 hours once they notice the error.
Is it cheaper to book a roundtrip or two separate one-way tickets?: Usually roundtrip is cheaper or the same price. Two one-ways can be cheaper on certain routes or if you're booking with different airlines. Always compare both options before deciding.
What if I don't know my exact return date?: Search with a flexible return date—most booking tools let you set this to 'any time.' You'll see prices for different length stays. Pick a range (7–14 days, for example) and then set a price alert. When you're closer to your trip and know your exact dates, search again.