Flying in 2025? Here’s How to Find the Cheapest Flights
Planning a trip in 2025? Whether you’re flying for a quick weekend getaway, a business trip, or a big international adventure, one thing’s for sure: everyone wants to score the cheapest flight possible. And while flight prices may feel more unpredictable than ever, the good news is that with the right timing, tools, and strategies, you can still find great deals—even in this new age of travel.
So, how do you actually land those low fares in 2025 without spending hours combing the internet or booking at 3 AM on a full moon? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to find cheap flights this year—including the best search tools, when to book, how flexible you should be, and insider hacks that frequent flyers swear by.
Let’s dive in.
✈️ What’s Changed in 2025 for Airfare?
First things first: the travel landscape has shifted, and airfare trends in 2025 are different from even just a couple of years ago. Here’s what’s affecting prices this year:
- Dynamic pricing is more aggressive – Airlines are using AI and real-time data to adjust fares frequently.
- Demand is back – Travel demand is strong, especially for international and bucket-list destinations.
- Fewer ultra-low-cost deals – Many budget carriers have raised base fares or added more fees.
- Eco-fees & fuel charges – Some regions have introduced environmental surcharges or fuel adjustments, increasing the base cost.
That said, there are still plenty of ways to fly cheap—you just have to be a little savvier.
💡 Top Tips for Finding the Cheapest Flights in 2025
1. Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates
Flight prices can vary drastically depending on the day of the week, time of year, or even time of day. If you’re open to flying mid-week instead of weekends—or shifting your trip by just a day or two—you can often save hundreds.
Cheapest days to fly:
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are generally the least expensive.
- Avoid flying on Fridays and Sundays when demand peaks.
🗓 Pro Tip: Use a fare calendar or flexible date search (like Google Flights) to quickly spot cheaper departure and return combinations.
2. Book at the Right Time
Knowing when to book can make a big difference in price.
General booking windows (2025):
- Domestic flights: Book 1 to 3 months in advance
- International flights: Book 2 to 6 months in advance
- Peak seasons & holidays: Book 6+ months ahead
📅 Too early can be just as expensive as too late, so avoid booking more than 11 months ahead unless it’s a special fare or award ticket.
3. Use the Right Flight Search Engines
Don’t rely on just one site. Each search engine shows different prices and airlines, and some (like Southwest) don’t appear on third-party tools at all.
Top flight search engines for 2025:
- Google Flights – Great for flexible date and route searches
- Skyscanner – Powerful for international deals and multi-city trips
- Hopper – Tracks price trends and sends you alerts
- Kayak – Good for exploring “Anywhere” deals
- ITA Matrix – Advanced tool for flight hackers (more complex but powerful)
✈️ Always compare prices across 2–3 platforms before you book.
4. Set Price Alerts
Don’t want to search daily? Let the deals come to you. Set up price drop alerts for your desired routes, and get notified when fares dip.
- Use Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Hopper to create alerts.
- Start tracking at least 2–3 months before your trip.
5. Consider Budget Airlines—But Read the Fine Print
Budget carriers can offer killer base fares—but they often charge for bags, seat selection, food, and even boarding passes.
Popular budget airlines in 2025:
- Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant (U.S.)
- Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air (Europe)
- Jetstar, Scoot, AirAsia (Asia-Pacific)
🧳 If you can travel light and skip the extras, budget airlines are a solid choice. Just always compare the final price after fees.
6. Fly Into Alternative Airports
Big cities often have more than one airport—and flying into a secondary airport can slash your fare.
Examples:
- Chicago Midway (MDW) instead of O’Hare
- Oakland (OAK) instead of San Francisco
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) instead of Miami
🚍 Check ground transportation options first—sometimes getting to/from an alternate airport adds time or cost.
7. Use Points and Miles Strategically
If you have credit card points or frequent flyer miles, 2025 is still a great time to cash them in—especially as cash prices rise.
- Use Airline shopping portals to earn bonus miles
- Redeem during off-peak travel windows for the best value
- Check for flash sales or mileage discounts offered by your airline
💳 Not using travel rewards yet? Consider cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, or Capital One Venture to get started.
8. Try “Hidden City” Ticketing (Carefully)
Sites like Skiplagged find fares where your layover is actually your destination—this can save a ton, but comes with risks.
- Only bring carry-on bags (your checked luggage will go to the final city)
- Don’t use on round trips
- Airlines frown on it—use at your own discretion
9. Consider Booking One-Way Flights Separately
Sometimes, booking two one-way tickets (on different airlines) is cheaper than a round-trip. Use tools like Google Flights or Kiwi.com to mix and match options.
✈️ Just double-check baggage policies—each airline will handle bags separately.
10. Travel During Shoulder Seasons
Want to save without sacrificing the experience? Travel during shoulder seasons—those magic months between peak and off-peak travel.
- Europe: April–May, September–October
- Asia: February–March, October–November
- U.S. destinations: Mid-January to early March, late September to early November
❓ FAQs: Booking Cheap Flights in 2025
🕐 What’s the best day of the week to book flights?
While there’s no universal “cheapest” day, Tuesdays and Wednesdays often feature lower fares. But with real-time pricing tools now in play, setting fare alerts is a better strategy than relying on specific booking days.
📅 How far in advance should I book flights in 2025?
- Domestic: 1–3 months before departure
- International: 2–6 months in advance
- Holiday or peak season: 6+ months early
🛫 Are last-minute flights ever cheap?
Rarely. Last-minute fares used to drop, but in 2025, they tend to go up, especially for popular routes. The exception? Budget airlines or flash sales for off-peak travel.
🌎 Which destinations have the cheapest flights in 2025?
Affordable hot spots include:
- Mexico (Cancún, Mexico City)
- Portugal (Lisbon, Porto)
- Greece (off-season)
- Bali & Vietnam
- Colombia & Peru
- Domestic U.S. cities like Denver, Las Vegas, or Orlando
📱 What apps help find cheap flights?
- Google Flights
- Hopper
- Skyscanner
- Flighty (for tracking)
- Kayak Explore
🧳 Bonus Hacks to Save Even More
- Use incognito/private browsing when searching for flights
- Check airline websites directly after finding a deal on a third-party site
- Sign up for deal newsletters like Scott’s Cheap Flights, Airfarewatchdog, or Dollar Flight Club
- Avoid peak travel days (like the day before Thanksgiving or around Christmas)
- Bundle with hotels or rental cars if you’re using platforms like Expedia or Priceline—sometimes the total price is cheaper
🏁 Final Thoughts: You Can Still Fly for Less in 2025
Sure, airfare in 2025 can feel a little wild. Between new pricing models, high demand, and shifting fees, finding a cheap flight might seem trickier than ever. But if you know when to book, where to search, and how to stay flexible, scoring an amazing deal is still very doable.
Remember: flexibility, research, and timing are everything. Use tools like Google Flights and Hopper to track prices, don’t ignore budget carriers, and consider alternate routes or airports. Even small changes in your search can lead to big savings.
So go ahead—start planning that trip. The sky’s not the limit… it’s just your next great deal waiting to be booked.