A Guide to Budget-Friendly Air Travel: Finding Cheap Flights

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We get the same question in our DMs almost every week: “How do you two afford to travel so often?” The honest answer is that it starts long before we pack a bag, because it starts with how we book flights. When you’re buying two tickets, every mistake costs double, and every smart move saves double too.

We both work full-time day jobs, so we can’t wait around for last-minute miracles. What we do have is a system that keeps our airfare low enough to leave room for the fun stuff, like the extra dinner out, the tour we almost skipped, or a whole extra trip each year. Here is exactly how we find cheap flights for two, including the tricks we wish someone had told us sooner.

1. Start With Google Flights and Skyscanner

Comparing flights across airlines is the number one rule in our house, and we start every trip search on Google Flights and Skyscanner. Both let you compare airlines side by side, but the real magic is in the flexible tools. The date grid and price graph in Google Flights show you the cheapest days at a glance, so you can see right away whether shifting your trip by a day or two saves you money.

2. Set Price Alerts With Going

We always have deal alerts running, even for trips that are still just a “someday” on our list. Our favorite tool for this is Going, which sends cheap fares and mistake fares from your home airport straight to your inbox, so we hear about deals without spending hours searching. We also track specific routes in Google Flights, which emails you when prices drop and tells you whether current prices are low, typical, or high for that route.

3. Let Destination Prices Decide Where You Go

Instead of picking a destination first and hoping the price cooperates, we often let flight prices choose for us. When a great fare pops up to somewhere on our list, that is usually where we go next. Our Going alerts and the Explore map in Google Flights make this easy, because they show you which destinations are cheapest from your home airport right now.

4. Fly Midweek and Plan Your PTO Around It

You will rarely catch us flying on a Friday or Sunday, since those are the days airfare tends to spike. We usually find the best prices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and sometimes Saturdays. Since we juggle two work schedules, we build our PTO around those cheaper days rather than the other way around. Leaving on a Wednesday and coming home the following Tuesday often costs less than a Friday-to-Sunday trip, and it gives you a longer trip for only a few extra vacation days. For more on stretching your time off, read how we make the most of our vacation time.

5. Travel in Shoulder Season

Peak season means peak prices, so we aim for the weeks just before or after the busy season. This tactic is what made our trip to Spain possible. We went in November and paid a significantly discounted price compared to what the same trip would have cost in peak season. You also get smaller crowds and cheaper hotels, which makes shoulder season a win on every part of the budget.

6. Book Inside the Sweet Spot

Spontaneous deals do happen, but they are rare, and they are even rarer when you need two seats. For reliable savings, we book international flights about two to eight months ahead and domestic U.S. flights about one to three months ahead. Prices tend to climb as the departure date gets closer, especially on popular routes and around holidays.

7. Search for One Ticket Before You Book Two

This is the tip that surprises almost everyone. Airlines sell seats in fare tiers, and if only one seat is left at the lowest price, a search for two travelers will price both tickets at the next tier up. We always run a quick search for one passenger to compare. If the single fare is cheaper, sometimes it makes sense to book separately. Just remember that separate reservations don’t know about each other, so link them with the airline or choose seats right away.

8. Check Nearby Airports

Flying out of a different airport can save a lot, especially on international routes. From our home base in Pittsburgh, we always compare PIT against Cleveland, which is about a two-hour drive, and Columbus, which is about three hours away. Before you book, add up the gas, parking, and extra time so you know the savings are real. And if the fares just aren’t cooperating, some of our favorite trips have been drivable weekend getaways from Pittsburgh that skip the airport entirely.

9. Put Your Points to Work as a Team

Airline miles and credit card points go further when two people earn them together. Many couples use a strategy known as “two-player mode,” where each partner opens their own card so you both earn sign-up bonuses, which can cover a flight or more on their own. Some co-branded airline cards include an annual companion certificate, and Southwest’s Companion Pass lets a designated companion fly for just taxes and fees once you qualify. Some programs also let households pool their points, so check whether yours does before letting miles sit in two separate accounts. Always read the terms and only open cards you can pay off in full.

10. Do the Real Math on Budget Airlines and Basic Economy

Budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Spirit can offer incredibly low base fares, but extras like checked bags, carry-ons, and seat selection add up fast. The same goes for basic economy on major airlines. Once you add two sets of bags and seats, basic economy often isn’t the cheaper option, so price out the full trip for both of you before you book. We try to fly with airlines we have co-branded credit cards for, since those cards generally include a free checked bag. Honestly, that perk doesn’t always matter for us, because we try to travel with just carry-ons.

11. Pack Carry-On Only, or Share One Checked Bag

Do you really need five pairs of sneakers? Packing only a carry-on is one of the easiest ways to save, but check each airline’s size and weight rules because they vary a lot. When a carry-on truly isn’t enough, sharing one checked bag between the two of you costs half as much as checking two. We pack versatile pieces and wear our bulkiest items on the plane. You can find the rest of our packing favorites in our Amazon storefront.

Shop the American Tourister carry-on we use →

12. Follow Airlines for Flash Sales

Airlines announce flash sales and promo codes on Instagram, Facebook, and their email lists, and those deals often sell out within a day or two. We follow the airlines that fly out of our home airport and sign up for their emails so we hear about sales first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Cheap Flights

What is the cheapest day to fly?

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the cheapest days to fly, and Saturdays can be good too. Fridays and Sundays tend to be the most expensive, since that’s when most weekend and business travelers fly.

Does searching in incognito mode get you cheaper flights?

It can’t hurt, and we have definitely noticed a difference from time to time. That’s why we always search and book in a private window, just in case. Price alerts still do most of the heavy lifting for us, but a private window is an easy habit to add.

How far in advance should you book international flights?

Booking about two to eight months ahead usually gives you the best prices on international flights. For peak summer or holiday travel, lean toward the earlier end of that window.

How do couples sit together on basic economy without paying for seats?

The honest answer is that sometimes we don’t. Most of the time we get lucky and end up seated together anyway, and on the rare occasion we’re a few rows apart, it really doesn’t bother us. If sitting together matters to you, standard economy usually includes free seat selection and may be worth the upgrade.

Is basic economy actually cheaper for two?

Often, it isn’t. Once you add two sets of bags and seat selection, basic economy can cost as much as a standard fare or more. We try to fly airlines we have co-branded credit cards with, since those usually include a free checked bag, although we typically travel with just carry-ons anyway.

How do you fit travel around two day jobs and limited PTO?

We plan around our calendars first and our destination second. We fly on cheaper midweek days, stack our PTO next to weekends and holidays so fewer vacation days turn into longer trips, and book far enough ahead that we can both request time off early.

Is it cheaper to book two tickets separately?

Sometimes it is. If only one seat remains at the lowest fare, booking two together prices both at the higher fare. Search for one passenger to compare, and link your reservations if you book separately.

Spend Less on Flights, Spend More on the Trip

Finding cheap flights for two comes down to flexibility, planning ahead, and a few smart tools working in the background. Every dollar you save on airfare is a dollar for the experiences you’ll actually remember, and sometimes it’s the difference between one trip a year and two. If you want to keep stretching your budget, read our post on 5 smart ways to save big on travel. Once you’ve booked, check out how to survive a long flight, or find a quick trip with our weekend getaway ideas.

Have a cheap-flight question we didn’t cover? Drop it in the comments below, and we’ll answer it.

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