Introduction:

Banking on a trip but cursing the sky-high flight prices? You’re not alone. As airfare prices soar, resourceful travelers are using smart tricks to nab cheap tickets — no magic wand necessary. From hidden-city deals to credit card rewards, here’s your ultimate guide to help save you hundreds of dollars on flights across the USA. Let’s take off!

Book at the Right Time

📅 Domestic flights: Continue to book about 6–8 weeks in advance for the best prices. Set price alerts on Google Flights to follow trends.

🔥 Last minute steals: Look for unsold tickets 1–2 weeks before your trip on airlines like Southwest at discounted prices.

Fly from Alternative Airports

🛫 Examples:

• NYC: Instead of JFK, consider Newark (EWR) or Philadelphia (PHL).

• LA: Choose Long Beach (LGB) instead of LAX.

• Chicago: Midway (MDW) frequently trumps O’Hare (ORD).

Welcome Budget Airlines (But Check the Fine Print)

✈️ Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant base fares under 50, butwatchforbaggagefees (50, butwatchforbaggagefees40+/bag). Southwest comes with 2 free checked bags included, pro tip!

Use Incognito Mode (Maybe)

🕵️ Avoid dynamic pricing by clearing your browser or using incognito, while airlines lurch and claim cookie-based prices don’t exist.

Leverage Credit Card Rewards

💳 Top picks:

Chase Sapphire Preferred: 60k points750intravel)after750intravel)after4k spend.

Capital One Venture X: 75k miles + $300 credits

Set Fare Alerts

🔥 Apps like Hopper predict price drops; Scott’s Cheap Flights emails mistake fares (ex: $199 RT Europe)

Hidden-City Ticketing (At Your Own Risk)

🎫 Book itineraries where your layover is the destination via Skiplagged Caution: Airlines may not like it!

Mix & Match One-Way Tickets

🔄 Round-trip is sometimes more expensive than a pair of one-ways (like outbound on Delta, return on United).

Travel Off-Peak

• 🌙 Most inexpensive days in your app: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

• ❌ DON’T: Holidays, spring break, and summer weekends.

Prices in Other Currencies

🌐 You can see rates in other regions with a VPN. *May require a regional card to pay.

Snag Mistake Fares

🚨 Follow @SecretFlying on Twitter for flash sales (e.g., $250 NYC→Paris). Get on them FAST; they disappear in hours!

Bundle Flights + Hotels

🏨 Sites such as Priceline will give you 30% off if you book them together.

Join Airline Loyalty Programs

🌟 Even the occasional flyer gets miles. There are also dining/retail partners for Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus.

Utilize Student/Military Discounts

🎓 StudentUniverse and ID. me confirm availability for preferred rates.

Sign up for Airlines on Social Media

📱 Southwest and JetBlue launch Twitter-only sales (like this #BlueFriday deals).

USA-Specific Pro Tips

Southwest’s “Wanna Get Away” fares: No change fees, good for flexible plans.

Alaska Airlines’ free “Stopover” perk: Take a free stop in Seattle or Portland on a multi-city journey.

Frontier’s Discount Den: $60 annual membership for family flight deals.

FAQs

Q: Are budget airlines safe?

A: Yes! They comply with FAA rules but travel light to prevent costs.

Q: Does flight fare go down on Tuesday?

A: There are a lot of myths out there — use tools like Google Flights instead to get real-time data.

Q: Can I negotiate airfare?

A: No, but call airlines for price-match guarantees if you find a lower rate.