How to buy cheap airline tickets: a few tricks to save money

Searching for cheap flights often turns into a quest: prices change daily, discounts appear and disappear, and airline algorithms work against ordinary passengers. But experienced travellers have their tricks that allow them to pay half as much for the same flight. Find out which methods will help you save on flights and travel more profitably

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For many travelers, the cost of airfare is often the single biggest expense of a trip. Whether you’re a student on a budget, a frequent business flyer, or someone planning a long-awaited vacation, finding affordable tickets can make a huge difference. Airlines know this, and their pricing systems are built to extract the maximum possible revenue.

But here’s the secret: airline ticket prices aren’t random. They are generated by algorithms that respond to demand, timing, location, and even the currency you choose to pay with. That’s why the same flight can cost vastly different amounts depending on how and when you book it.

Pilots and frequent travelers have learned to play this system to their advantage. Here are five strategies you can use to cut your ticket costs by 30–50% — without compromising on your travel plans.

Book at Off-Peak Hours

Most people search for flights during the day, and airlines raise prices accordingly. But if you check early in the morning — between 4 AM and 6 AM — prices often drop by 20–40%. For example, a flight New York–Madrid might be $480 when booked at noon, but only $340 at 5 AM.

📌 Tip: Try searching in the middle of the night or early morning in the airline’s local time zone.

Use Hidden City Ticketing / Skiplagging

Sometimes, a direct flight is more expensive than one with a connection. A Los Angeles–Paris ticket might cost $700, while Los Angeles–Paris–Warsaw is only $500. If you only need Paris, you can exit the plane there.

❗️ Caution: Airlines dislike this trick. Use it for one-way trips without checked luggage. Your bag will always be sent to the final destination.

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Change Currency & Use VPN

Airlines adjust pricing by region. A London–Tokyo ticket might cost $950 if paid in pounds but only $820 if booked through the Japanese site and paid in yen.

📌 Tip: Use a VPN to change your browsing location and compare fares in different currencies. Sometimes the savings exceed $100 per ticket.

Check Local Airline Websites

The global site of an airline may list a higher fare than a regional one. For instance, Emirates might show $600 for Dubai–Bangkok on the US site, but only $450 on the Thai version.

📌 Tip: Always compare fares across regional versions of airline websites.

Mix and Match Segments

Direct flights are convenient, but not always the best value. A Chicago–Lisbon ticket may cost $700 direct, while combining Chicago–Madrid ($400) and Madrid–Lisbon ($80) saves over $200. Travel time might increase slightly, but the price difference is often worth it.

📌 Tip: Use multi-city search tools or manually combine flights from different airlines.

On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can book plane tickets using the booking system from the aggregator, which allows you to manually compile routes.

Let us remind you! The recent attack by russian drones on Poland was an alarming signal for the whole of Europe, and especially for the aviation industry. Such incidents could become regular and lead to disruptions in air traffic across the continent. Find out why airlines consider drones a threat to stability.

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