Everyone likes to find a product or service with a discount price that it usually would be. Good deals and discounts depends on holidays and on other incentives, like spreading its reputation mouth-to-mouth. For airplane tickets, these are no exception. But how do you exactly find a ticket that suits you? Continue reading to learn how to find cheaper flights.
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Apps or websites that search cheaper flights for you.
Thanks to automated machines, you don't need to search directly in each website of the airline (or even bother to call them by phone). Instead, a computer algorithm can search for you and bring you options for convienient flights at their best prices. Now, not all prices will include all the baggage you wish you could take it with you; furthermore, not all low prices equals direct flights. But, you will find the flight that best suits you, guaranteed. These are places where I check available flights.
Google Flights.
All in one place, with a user-friendly interface. This website suggests you a diverse selection of possibilities for your trip. Hey, it’s the Google Search Engine algorithm itself playing the cards. The cool option is that it separates the most convenient flights into one “best flights” section. You may not always choose from them, but it gives you a pretty good start.
Google Flights lets you search flights in a friendly user interface.
When choosing a flight, avoid airports stops that are too long (12h+). Some flights will show the cheaper ones first. Those will not always include full-size baggage, just a small carry-on item. You may not want to go to the counter in your flight day to be surprised that your ticket doesn’t include all of your baggage! So be sure to check it on the airline website by clicking on “Select flight” before deciding for one.
Hopper
This webpage (also available as app) notifies you when a airplane ticket that you want, has a discount. It helps you determine the best date to buy an airplane ticket with many weeks (even months) beforehand.
“Watch this trip” comes very handy! The price prediction gives you an bird's eye view of the price days ahead. An extra time predicting feature. 
An example of notification in your smartphone.
Perhaps the handiest features is, of course, it’s color calendar. You can see with a bird’s eye view the most suitable dates for traveling according to its price. I encourage you to let the app notify you when there are changes in the price. If there is a price drop, you could proceed to book it. If the prices will tend to skyrocket, you could buy it before it happens.
Expedia
Expedia App. Select your destiny and date! Screenshot of travel dates. Filter options. Allow notifications to make the most out of the app.
The all-in-one-place for airplanes tickets, as well as reservation in hotels, car rental and even a cruise hunting! For airplane tickets works as it should. You select the date for travel, passengers and the class.
The app is very useful when you are using the filter options. I use it the most when I get picky for many airplane preferences.
For cheaper flights, fly to airports hubs first.
I learned this thanks to my mentor of cheaper airplane ticket shopping.
Well, a clear example of the “law of supply and demand” in action. As it turns out, airports will full of traffic are competitive and will have many options to choose from.
When it comes to airplane tickets, there are many ways that you could find a nice deal. If I want to find a flight for a convenient price, there is usually many workarounds. You may or may not find it in a cheaper price.
Let's take this example:
| Origin | Destiny |
| Ankara, Turkey (ESB) | Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE) |
If I search it directly, it comes up with surprises like 1214 USD. But, what workaround are to this high price? It’s easier if we divide the trip into 3 parts:
- Pre-long trip.
- Long trip.
- Post-long trip.
Sounds easy to remember, right? The pre-long trip and post-long trip can be skipped if you have starting and/or finishing point in one of these airport hubs, sometimes called mega-airports.
Try to find the big fish first, the long trip from one airport hub to the next one. This is the one that you simply can’t miss. You can proceed to the next flights once you buy them. But be aware of delays because they may occur and they will! Don't forget to book the flights with 6 hours of difference between the pre-long and post-long trip; unless you buy them from the same company.
I would search from Istanbul (any airport) to the major airports in United States (New York, Miami, Chicago), Spain (Madrid), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Panama (Panama) and Germany (Düsseldorf, Frankfurt). Make sure to click the plus ‘+' button to enable more than 1 airport. Try all the cities in one country before passing to the next one.
After making a research, I found that there are 2 interesting routes:
Route 1: through Europe.
After seeing some combinations among various cities, Madrid seems the best option.
- Pre-long trips:
- Ankara, Turkey (ESB) to Istanbul, Turkey (IST, SAW).
- Istanbul, Turkey (IST, SAW) to Madrid, Spain (MAD).
- Long trip: Madrid, Spain (MAD) to Guayaquil (GYE).
Picking this option, we could pay from Istanbul to Guayaquil just 436 USD.
Route 2: through North America.
After seeing some combinations among various cities, New York seems the best option.
- Pre-long trips:
- Ankara, Turkey (ESB) to Istanbul, Turkey (IST, SAW).
- Istanbul, Turkey (IST, SAW) to New York, USA (JFK, EWR, LGA).
- Long trip: New York, USA (JFK, EWR, LGA) to Guayaquil (GYE).
Picking this option, we could pay from Istanbul to Guayaquil just 494 USD.
Conclusions. Did we found cheaper flights already?
Switching to indirect routes through airport may save you money. As much as 778 USD! But this is just an example; you may get different results in different seasons with many variants!
If you bring full-size baggage, make sure to book your flight with your suitcases in mind!
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