Saving Money / Airlines

5 Best Online Booking Sites for the Cheapest Flights

May 20, 2024

3 min Read

Written by Choncé Maddox

Edited by Gary Dudak

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Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your travel experiences. With the right tools, you can still travel without overspending or relying on credit card debt. One of the biggest travel costs is airfare, so finding affordable flights can save you a significant amount of money.

Here are five of the best online booking sites to use for the cheapest flights.

1. Kayak

Kayak is a travel website that compares flights from hundreds of travel websites, making it a one-stop shop for budget travelers. Its user-friendly interface and really specific filtering options allow you to tailor your search based on multiple criteria such as price, duration, number of stops, and airline preference.

2. Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a platform well known for its ability to search thousands of airlines and travel sites, ensuring you get the most competitive prices. Once you find the best deal, you’ll book your flight directly with the airline.

This site also allows you to include searches for nearby airports. So if you’re traveling to Orlando, for example, you can enable Skyscanner to show you flights to cities like Tampa and Sanford just in case there are cheaper options, and you can fly into another airport if your plans are flexible.

3. Expedia

Expedia is well-known for its extensive travel services, including hotel and flight booking. You can use this site to compare flights from multiple airlines and while it’s not exclusively a flight search engine, its bundling options for flights, hotels, and car rentals can result in significant savings.

4. Hopper

Hopper has a free website and app that you can use to search for flights and compare prices. The app also helps you plan travel by watching for flight discounts and price decreases. You just need to enter your travel dates and desired destination a few months in advance. Hopper will then provide timely updates about when airlines adjust and recommend the best time to buy your flight for the cheapest price.

5. Google Flights

Google Flights offers a straightforward, no-frills approach to finding cheap flights. You simply enter your travel dates and destination to see flight prices from several airlines all in one place. Google Flights doesn’t list flight prices for Southwest Airlines but shows several other major airlines, including budget-friendly options like Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air. You can also use Google Flights to set alerts to monitor flight prices and receive notifications when fares drop.

Finding affordable flights is crucial for budget-conscious travelers looking to explore the world without depleting their savings. By taking advantage of the features and tools offered by these top online booking sites, you can make the most of your next travel experience.

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