When planning your next getaway, it’s essential to find the best flight. Whether it’s just a weekend getaway or an international journey, having access to competitive airfare can make all the difference.
Thankfully, there are numerous tools available to help you get the lowest airfare possible. Here are some of the best ones, along with advice on finding one that’s suitable for you.
The Best Sites to Find the Lowest Fare
When searching for flights, look for websites with a comprehensive range of search features that are user friendly. Plus, some have special features like “Flex Search,” which enables you to look at fares up to three days either side of your dates, allowing you to uncover deals you might otherwise overlook.
We regularly pit airfare search engines, aggregators and booking sites against each other in an effort to determine which can find the lowest price on more than two dozen identical searches. The victor receives a place in our rankings as well as an array of rewards such as free flights on airlines or discounts on hotel stays.
Kayak is a top contender for best airfare search engine, thanks to its comprehensive filters and capacity to pull in cheap flights from multiple airlines at once. However, it wasn’t perfect; during our last-minute tests, it couldn’t find the cheapest flights on Miami-Rio or Philadelphia-to Rome, plus it found an expensive flight from Denver-Delhi that took four hours longer than expected.
Tripadvisor is another travel website that performs well in our tests, but it has some issues which hurt its ranking. For instance, it cannot find direct flights from Miami to Rio or Philadelphia to Rome–two of the most sought-after trips online. Furthermore, it often fails to include competitive fares from American, Delta, United, and Southwest airlines in its results.
Spirit Airways is a budget-minded carrier that offers low fares to many US destinations at reasonable costs, but its customer service reputation and seat pitch are notoriously lacking. Most annoying are its extra fees – bag fee and seat selection fee combined can add up to several hundred dollars in additional expenses.
ANA All Nippon Airways is the largest Japanese airline, boasting an impressive fleet of aircraft and an award-winning customer satisfaction score from JD Power. From North America, they fly to Asia and Mexico.
Cathay Pacific is an excellent option for first-class travelers, offering cozy pods and excellent food. Plus, you can enjoy a champagne bar before takeoff as well as snacks from Aesop.
In Hong Kong before takeoff, the airline offers a luxurious lounge to enjoy cocktails and an exquisite menu of high-end meals. Plus, you’ll receive an enticing amenity kit including soft organic pajamas for ultimate relaxation.
The ideal flights are those that guarantee timely departures and don’t charge extra for carry-on or checked bags. You can save costs by booking early or comparing flights at multiple airports.