Find a Flight

The myths, briefly

Incognito mode does not lower fares. Repeated tests have found no consistent evidence that airlines raise prices based on your cookies.

There is no magic day to book. The “Tuesday afternoon” advice comes from an era of weekly fare-filing that no longer operates.

There is no universal optimal booking window. The quoted figures are averages across millions of itineraries and describe no particular route.

Clearing your cache does nothing except log you out.

What actually moves the price

Flexibility on dates is the largest lever. Mid-week beats Friday and Sunday, and shifting by two days routinely changes a long-haul fare by a third.

Flexibility on airport, including nearby cities plus a train.

Season, which is the largest factor and the one people treat as fixed.

How competitive the route is. A city pair with three carriers is priced differently from a monopoly.

What is worth paying for

One ticket rather than two for a connection. On a single ticket a missed connection is the airline’s problem; on two separate ones it is entirely yours. This is the most expensive mistake in flight booking.

A real connection buffer — at least two hours internationally, more where you must clear immigration and re-check bags.

A direct flight on a long journey.

Budget airlines

The headline fare is not the price. Cabin bag beyond a small personal item, checked bags, seat selection and card fees frequently quadruple it, and gate enforcement of bag dimensions is strict.

Check which airport the fare uses — several “London”, “Paris” and “Milan” airports are an hour and a bus fare from the city.

Onward tickets

Many countries require proof of onward travel, and airlines enforce it at check-in even where immigration would not ask. This catches out one-way travellers constantly and being refused boarding is a bad way to start a trip.

The full guide is how to book flights cheaply.