Finding cheap international flights boils down to a few reliable strategies and the right search tools. Here’s a practical, step-by-step approach you can use right away. What to do first

• Start with flexible search platforms: use flight comparison tools that let you explore prices across many airlines and dates. These platforms also offer price alerts and calendar views that reveal the cheapest days to fly.
• Be flexible with destinations and dates: small changes in airports, dates, or even nearby cities can yield big savings.

Key tactics

• Use flexible date searches
  • Look for round-trip prices over a 2–8 week window rather than fixed dates. If possible, search for a range of dates (e.g., “the next 6 weeks”) to identify the cheapest departure and return days.
• Explore multiple airports
  • Check nearby departure and arrival airports. A short drive to a different airport can unlock cheaper options.
• Leverage the Google Flights Explore/Map feature
  • If you’re open to almost any destination, this map shows where you can fly cheaply from your home airport and how prices vary by region.
• Set up price alerts
  • Most flight search engines allow you to set alerts for specific routes. When prices dip, you’ll get notified so you can book quickly.
• Check alternative booking channels
  • After you find a good fare on a comparison site, visit the airline’s official site to confirm if the price is identical or if there are additional benefits (e.g., seat selection, checked bags) for the same fare.
• Consider mix-and-match itineraries
  • Sometimes the outbound and return legs come from different carriers or airports. Price and duration savings can be worth the extra complexity.
• Look for midweek departures
  • Flights departing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays tend to be cheaper than peak-weekend days.
• Watch for currency and fees
  • If paying in a foreign currency, check payment fees and exchange rates. Some cards add abroad fees, while others don’t.
• Consider hidden-city and one-way combinations
  • For some routes, breaking a trip into two separate tickets or using a multi-city search can yield lower totals. Use this strategy cautiously and verify bag policies and connection times.

Practical steps to execute

• Step 1: Define a few candidate destinations and dates with flexibility (e.g., 2–3 potential cities and a 2-week window around your preferred travel period).
• Step 2: Run parallel searches on major comparison sites (Google Flights, Skyscanner, Momondo, and Kayak, or equivalents in your region) for those routes and dates.
• Step 3: Use the price calendar or fare history views to identify the cheapest departure days.
• Step 4: Check nearby airports and alternate routing (e.g., one-stop vs. nonstop, different layover cities) to compare total travel time and price.
• Step 5: Sign up for price alerts on the routes you’re considering; monitor for a drop and book when a target price is reached.
• Step 6: When you find a good fare, check the airline’s own site to see if the same price is offered with better terms or fewer restrictions.

Avoid common traps

• Don’t assume the lowest base fare is best; include total cost (baggage, seat selection, and change fees) in your comparison.
• Don’t rush to book immediately if the price is slightly higher than yesterday; prices fluctuate frequently.
• Avoid excessive routing or long layovers if it significantly increases travel time unless the savings are compelling.

Would you like help tailoring a plan for your specific route, dates, and allowed airports? If you share your starting city, a rough destination preference (or openness to anywhere), and your travel window, a targeted set of steps and example search queries can be created to maximize your chances of landing a cheap international ticket.