Our founder Madi has been globe trotting solo for over eight years and has shared her top tips on snagging the cheapest flights for your next journey. You won't book the first flight you see ever again!

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1. Hide from the algorithm

Step one is to go incognito mode on your browsing window. This is so flight companies can't track your searches and increase the prices of flights your looking at on your device. (It may or may not be a conspiracy, but I swear ive seen this happen while searching flights with friends! Doesnt hurt to try!)

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2. Use a flight aggregation tool

You want to use either SkyScanner or Google Flights, as these accumulate flights from all different airlines to show you every option available so its easy to compare. Then, enter your airports and travel dates. Now here’s the biggest hack; you want to change flight settings to one-way instead of return! Trust us, this works out cheaper in the long run. 

 

3. Check the calander for the cheapest date

After hitting search, click on the dates which will bring up a calendar. You will see the prices of your flights on different days so you can find the cheapest date to fly. Be a bit flexible and you could save a lot of dollars when booking your flights. The best part is, these still aren't even the cheapest flight...

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4. Change the filter

Once youve selected the cheapest date which suits you, change the filter to 'cheapest' instead of 'best'. Now you truly get the cheapest flights available.

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5. Beware of self-transfer layovers and transit visas

Some online booking companies like BestJet, AuntBetty and Trip.com etc will create cheap flights by combining several individual flights (usually from different airlines) which line up to get you to your final destination. This means the different airlines are unaware of your other flight booking, so if one is delayed, the second airline will not help you reschedule or refund you; and, your bags will not be checked all the way through.

 

Sounds scary right?

 

However, these online booking companies manage to actually sell loads of these flights because they offer a "self-transfer guarantee" or "layover protection". It is like an insurance (sometimes included or sometimes extra) that they will help you rebook onto the next available flight or worst case provide a refund. Essentially the same as what the major airlines offer in the same instance. 

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As your bags are not checked through, this usually means you will need to exit the terminal and pass through immigration to reclaim your bags from the carousel, and then recheck-in your bags at the counter and pass through immigration again. This whole ordeal can take up to 3 hours depending on the airport, so you need to make sure there is enough time in the planned layover. Also depending on the country, you may need a visa to go through immigration, even if your not actually leaving the airport!! Dont end up like me, crying at the Kathmandu airport because I lost a $950 flight back to Australia not knowing I needed a visa for my layover in India.

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As you can see, this travel hack takes a bit of planning and research to get right, but it can save you hundreds of dollars, and once youve mastered the skill, you can do this on all your flights making travel in general so much more affordable! This is how backpackers travel for 6 months+ going to many so countries.

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6. Want to take your cheap flight hunt to the next level? Extend your layover!

Once youve figured out which is the cheapest flight route to get to your destination (from Australia its often a layover in Singapore or Kuala Lumpour if your heading west - thank you Scoot and AirAsiaX), then if you have extra time up your sleeves you can look at the individual flights to that layover and book THE cheapest day and time in and out which may mean you get a couple of days to explore that destination as well! Eg Sydney to Singapore, spend two days in Singapore, then Singapore to Delhi. 

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This also reduces the risk of you missing the second flight if your first flight is delayed, so you can avoid booking the extra self-transfer protection insurance.

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Happy flight hunting!

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