Welcome to Flight Hacking Friday, my weekly blog post series on how to find the cheapest, sweetest deals! I have travelled to more than 40 countries, so trust me I know how to search for flight tickets. Now I want to share with you all my secrets! If you’re ready for conquering the world, then stay with me and become a flight hacker.
In the next 4 weeks, I will be posting new tips:
Flight hacking Friday (Week 1): Do you really know how to find cheap flights?
Flight hacking Friday (Week 2): active on 28.04
Flight hacking Friday (Week 3): active on 05.05
Flight hacking Friday (Week 4): active on 12.05
But if you can’t wait, download now my complete list of airlines that offer FREE stopovers. I have made it especially for you so that you can hack 2 trips in 1 and get even more value from your next journey!
What is flight hacking?
In a nutshell, flight hacking is travelling for the least money possible. Good news is that anybody can learn how to find cheap flights! And I will teach you how to find them too! I have described a bit more the idea of flight hacking in this post where I also share my win of the year: 30 euros for a flight ticket from Auckland to Barcelona!!!
Now, I want you to think of flight hacking as a mindset. Imagine you are a pirate looking for treasure. You are patient and restlessly analysing every clue. Also, you don’t get easily discouraged by the inconveniences on the way. The same is with flight hacking. Searching for cheap flights is an adventure on its own, you need to be patient, you need to be restless and you need to be okay with small inconveniences that will get you to your ultimate goal (these might be stopovers, early hour flights or the insecurity whether you get the ticket or not until the very last moment).
Sounds hard? Not at all! During Flight Hacking Fridays I will show you step by step how to save big bucks on flight tickets! I promise you will be hooked and have lots of fun!
How not to search for flights
Let’s start with how not to search for flights, which is exactly how the majority of people do that π So, a traditional way looks a bit like this:
1. Go to flight search engine/airline website
2. Fill “To” and “From”
3. Look at the lowest price
4. Buy or Cry
A serious issue with this method is that many search engines show you first the airlines that are in the same alliance. As a result, you might not find a cheaper and more convenient flight ticket that combines 2 competing airlines. Same happens when you go to “multi-city” button in your search engine. And what could only make it worse? Well, if you check only one search engine then you’re done. That’s the easiest way to overpay for your flight ticket!
You are probably thinking, what the heck is she talking about? So there is another way of doing it? Yes, there is, and we will get to the bottom of it! First, let me explain other flight searching myths.
5 common myths on flight searching
1. You need frequent flyer miles to fly almost for free
I believe frequent flyer system works much better in the USA than Europe and as I live in Europe, I don’t use miles systems to find cheap flight tickets. You can totally do without them. So, don’t worry if you don’t travel frequently or you live in Europe. I will show you a different approach.
2. Exotic and uncommon destinations are usually crazy expensive
No, they don’t have to be! I have found a return ticket to Seychelles for 300 euros, on New Year’s Eve!
3. There is a magic day of the week when flights are cheaper
Wouldn’t our lives be so much easier if there was one magic day when flights are cheap, and you can score amazing deals? Unfortunately, it would also be so much harder for airlines to sell on the other 6 days of the week.
4. Last minute fares are more expensive
Not at all! I have bought a direct return flight from Warsaw to Bali for about 400 euros, one day before the departure.
5. Booking direct with airline websites always gets you the best fares
Definitely not! Especially if you are looking for complicated travel itineraries. Later on Flight Hacking Friday, I will show you my favourite flight search engine that smashes prices like crazy! Stay tuned!
Now I hope that I have completely destroyed your way of searching for flight tickets, but there’s no need to worry. Flying for almost free is totally doable! There are crazy bargains out there! And in no time you will be able to find them too.
And even if you are familiar with flight hacking you might be surprised when you discover my secrets. I am serious, check out the list with 14 FREE stopovers that I have prepared for you. Let me know if you found it useful π
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Ugh, can’t wait for the next post on how to actually do it! We live in London which makes travel cheaper around Europe, but of course it’s always a plus to get lower price deals! Awesome post!
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I don’t know how good I am at getting cheap flight tickets. I’m a teacher, so my vacation times are completely inflexible. But I’m sure there are ways for people who have limited travel time options to save money!
Great post! We are always struggling to find cheap tickets. Warsaw to Bali for about 400 euros! That’s amazing. Waiting to read the rest.
If travel costs can be reduced then more than half the problem will be over.
I will watch out for the next part on this.
I think the most important point that you bring up is that last minute flights aren’t always more expensive. CORRECT. In fact, sometimes they’re insanely cheaper!
I needed this! I love that you busted a few myths that despite being a pretty seasoned traveler myself, I still make the mistake of believing (guilty of thinking last minute flights are always expensive!). Thanks a ton π
I agree with the last minute flight deals being a steal sometimes. I have been lucky with that. If we can hack this, half our travel costs can come down. Cheers