How to find the cheapest airfare
May 2, 2024 5:39 PM Subscribe
I want to go to Phoenix in the summer. I’m looking for a website that lets me compare flight information if am flexible on when exactly this happens.
The short version is that I can go pretty much at any point in the summer. I would like to go for about five days at some point during the first two weeks of August because I have not signed my child up for any programs during that time. But if it was cheaper to, for example, leave on a Wednesday instead of a Tuesday or a Thursday instead of a Monday or whatever it might be, I’m totally flexible on how that all shakes down.
What website might I look at which will give me some options for how to find the best price? Assume I’m flexible on date of travel, date of return, which airline and pretty much everything else, except for where I am departing from and where I want to go.
The short version is that I can go pretty much at any point in the summer. I would like to go for about five days at some point during the first two weeks of August because I have not signed my child up for any programs during that time. But if it was cheaper to, for example, leave on a Wednesday instead of a Tuesday or a Thursday instead of a Monday or whatever it might be, I’m totally flexible on how that all shakes down.
What website might I look at which will give me some options for how to find the best price? Assume I’m flexible on date of travel, date of return, which airline and pretty much everything else, except for where I am departing from and where I want to go.
Note that SouthWest’s flights can only be found on southwest.com. However, I think it can sometimes helpful to check the websites of other airlines directly as well for any special deals.
If you are a Costco member, you can buy a $500 Southwest gift card for $430 right now.
I like using google.com/flights. Yes it has the same base as the Google ITA matrix software above, but it’s more consumer friendly for general tasks.
posted by oceano at 9:52 PM on May 2
If you are a Costco member, you can buy a $500 Southwest gift card for $430 right now.
I like using google.com/flights. Yes it has the same base as the Google ITA matrix software above, but it’s more consumer friendly for general tasks.
posted by oceano at 9:52 PM on May 2
Skyscanner is exactly purpose built for this.
posted by chasles at 5:44 AM on May 3 [1 favorite]
posted by chasles at 5:44 AM on May 3 [1 favorite]
My wife and I just used the Costco gift-card angle for our trip. Worked great, Oceano.
posted by Wild_Eep at 10:02 AM on May 3
posted by Wild_Eep at 10:02 AM on May 3
"I want to go to Phoenix in the summer. "
Well, you want to go to Phoenix from where? National/International?
ITA Matrix is good, if you play around a little bit.
Book Flights overview.
Just be aware of the disadvantages booking via a OTA (flights aggregator) vs. booking directly from the airline.
posted by maloqueiro at 1:16 PM on May 4
Well, you want to go to Phoenix from where? National/International?
ITA Matrix is good, if you play around a little bit.
Book Flights overview.
Just be aware of the disadvantages booking via a OTA (flights aggregator) vs. booking directly from the airline.
posted by maloqueiro at 1:16 PM on May 4
"I like using google.com/flights. Yes it has the same base as the Google ITA matrix software above, but it’s more consumer friendly for general tasks."
Google can actually be IP depended. I once managed to save USD 500 on an international trip with using a Russian IP (VPN) and google in Russia. Yes, booking was a headache, I am not good in Cyrillic and the first attempt was blocked by my US Citibank card. Obviously this was before the war and an international flight with Aeroflot.
posted by maloqueiro at 1:18 PM on May 4
Google can actually be IP depended. I once managed to save USD 500 on an international trip with using a Russian IP (VPN) and google in Russia. Yes, booking was a headache, I am not good in Cyrillic and the first attempt was blocked by my US Citibank card. Obviously this was before the war and an international flight with Aeroflot.
posted by maloqueiro at 1:18 PM on May 4
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Change "exact date" to "calendar of lowest fares" and then for duration (this is key) use a range like "4-7" or "5-6" for days. That will go a long way to finding the best itinerary that works for you.
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:01 PM on May 2 [8 favorites]