Over the past several years of traveling, I’ve saved well over $10,000 on flights. I know we’ve already covered the best websites for finding cheapest day to book flights and best credit cards for travelers—I’ll link to that below—but today, I want to share some extra, unconventional strategies that can help you score even better deals on your next trip.
Whether you rarely book flights or have done it a hundred times, I guarantee you’ll pick up at least one new trick by the end of this video.
Use Positioning Flights
A positioning flight is essentially an extra leg added to your itinerary to help you save money. This strategy can work in several ways.
First, if direct flights to your target destination are too expensive, look for cheaper flights that get you as close as possible. Then, book a separate budget flight to your final stop.
For example, let’s say you’re flying from Detroit to Malta in October. A direct flight might cost $1,021, but with a quick search on Google Flights’ Explore feature, you might find a flight to Vienna for just $677. From there, a quick check on Ryanair could reveal that flights from Vienna to Malta cost only $20–$30 per direction. Not only would you save around $300, but you could also take advantage of a stopover in Vienna and explore a whole new destination before continuing your trip.
This trick also works if you live far from a major airline hub. Instead of booking an expensive long-haul flight from your small airport, take a cheap domestic flight to a larger hub and fly out from there at a lower cost.
You can even apply this approach when redeeming points or miles. Some airlines price award flights based on distance brackets, meaning that a strategically placed positioning flight could reduce the total distance and push you into a lower award category—helping you save valuable points.
If you’re someone who maximizes every last bit of value from travel rewards, this method can be a game-changer. However, if you prioritize convenience over squeezing out every penny of savings, the added effort may not always be worth it.
Is Incognito Mode Really a Game-Changer for Cheap Flights?
Next up is something that’s less of a tip and more of a myth-busting moment. This one might be a little controversial.
For years, I’ve used incognito mode when searching for cheap flights. A lot of people swear by it, claiming that airlines track your searches with cookies and raise prices accordingly. But does it actually work? Well, recently… I stopped using incognito mode to search for flights, and for good reason. First, incognito windows can be a hassle to use. But more importantly, I learned from Going that the idea of incognito mode helping with flight prices is just a myth.
Going constantly searches for thousands of flights every day, and their entire business revolves around finding ridiculously cheap fares. Yet, they don’t use incognito mode at all. Since they have way more data than I do, I trust their expertise on this.
What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!
By the way, if you want cheap flight deals from your home airport delivered straight to your inbox, I’ll link to Going’s free plan and a trial of their premium plan in the description below.
Take Advantage of Airline Rules and Laws
There are a few airline rules that every traveler should know.
The first is the 24-hour rule. This rule allows you to either freeze a flight price for 24 hours or cancel a booking within 24 hours for a full refund. Most airlines offer the second option.
To qualify, the flight must:
- Depart from or arrive in the U.S.
- Be booked directly on the airline’s U.S. website
- Be booked at least seven days before departure
If you meet these criteria and spot an incredible deal or a mistake fare, book it immediately—then take the next 24 hours to decide if it actually works for you. If you wait too long, the price might disappear.
Another crucial set of rules relates to cancellations and rescheduling. Most travelers dread canceled or rescheduled flights, but in some cases, they can actually work to your advantage.
If an airline cancels or significantly changes your itinerary, they must either book you on a new flight or issue a cash refund. The best part? You get to choose your rebooked flight.
For example, let’s say you originally booked a late-night red-eye flight just to save money. If that flight gets rescheduled, you can request a better flight—maybe one that leaves earlier or has fewer layovers—at no extra cost.
If you ever find yourself needing to cancel a non-refundable ticket, don’t rush to call the airline and accept a loss. Instead, wait and see if the airline changes or cancels the flight first—that way, you can get a refund.
Keep in mind that airline regulations vary by country. These rules apply to flights in and out of the U.S., but if you’re traveling to or from Europe, you may be entitled to even more benefits and compensation, which I explain in another video.
Find Cheap Flights with the Goldilocks Window
This is another tip I picked up from Going. It turns out there’s no magical day of the week to book the cheapest flights, but there is a timeframe—what Going calls the Goldilocks Window—where you’re more likely to find the best deals.
Here’s how it works:
- Domestic flights: Book 1 to 3 months in advance
- International flights: Book 2 to 8 months in advance
- Peak season (summer, December holidays): Add a couple of extra months to the timeline
This isn’t a guarantee that flights will always be cheapest within these windows, but your chances of scoring a deal are much higher.
One thing to keep in mind: flight prices typically jump at specific cutoffs—21 days, 14 days, and 7 days before departure. The closer you get to the departure date, the more likely you are to overpay. So, make sure to book before the next price hike.
Grab My Free Cheap Travel Hacks Cheat Sheet
I’ve put together a handy cheap travel hacks cheat sheet with all my best money-saving tips for traveling. You can grab it for free in the description below!
Pay in a Way That Protects Your Trip
Make sure you pay for flights with a credit card that offers travel insurance. This won’t lower the price of your ticket upfront, but it could save you hundreds of dollars if something goes wrong during your trip.
Travel credit card insurance often covers things like:
- Trip cancellations
- Delays
- Lost luggage
For example, one time, our flight was delayed, causing us to miss our connection and forcing us to stay overnight in a random city. The airline wouldn’t cover our accommodation costs, meaning we had to figure it out ourselves. Fortunately, we had friends in the city, but if we didn’t, it could have easily cost over $100–$200.
Had we paid for the flight with a travel credit card, those expenses would have been covered.
I’ll link to my go-to travel credit card below, which comes with extra perks. And if you’re looking for a free card that still offers decent travel protection, I’ll include one of those as well.
Speaking of travel insurance, if you’re worried about getting sick or injured while traveling, check out my video on must-know travel insurance tips!
Reverse Round-Trip
This next tip is a bit advanced, but if you travel frequently (or plan to), it could save you hundreds of dollars per trip.
It turns out that round-trip tickets originating outside the U.S. are often way cheaper than round-trip tickets that start in the U.S.—at least for flights to and from Europe.
For example, I did a quick search for a round-trip flight between Detroit and London on random dates:
- If you start in Detroit, the price is $884
- If you start in London, the price is $678
That’s a $200 difference for the exact same route.
I tested this with flights between Detroit and 20+ European cities, and every single time, it was cheaper when departing from Europe. However, results were less consistent with other regions.
So how do you take advantage of this if you live in the U.S.?
You’d need to:
- Book a one-way flight to Europe to start the cycle
- From there, always book round-trip flights that start in Europe and return to the U.S.
It’s a bit of a mind-bender, but if you’re a frequent traveler, it can add up to big savings.
To make it work, you’ll need to:
- Plan your return flights in advance
- Book flexible tickets that allow date changes
- Be okay with scheduling your life around pre-booked return flights
Obviously, this strategy isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was too interesting not to share!
Conclusion
Finding cheap flights isn’t about luck—it’s about knowing the right strategies. By using these hacks, you can save hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on airfare, making travel more affordable and accessible.
Remember to:
- Ignore the incognito mode myth and focus on real savings techniques
- Take advantage of airline rules like the 24-hour cancellation policy
- Book flights within the Goldilocks window for the best deals
- Use a travel credit card to protect your trip
- Consider the reverse round-trip strategy if you’re a frequent traveler
With the right approach, you can travel smarter, spend less, and explore more.
What do you think about ?