Finding a cheap flight has little to do with luck and everything to do with knowing when to look, being flexible with your options, and having the right research tools.

Because airlines continually adjust their prices depending upon how many seats they have available (and how much demand there is), where you want to go, and who else is competing with them for travelers’ business – the “cheapest” price will vary constantly.

The idea behind the strategies listed below is to limit what causes the airlines to raise their prices and expand what allows you to see lower priced flights.

By making a few small adjustments to your search methods – including route options, the tools you are using to find those options, and the timing of your purchase – you will be able to identify actual bargains more easily, and minimize the number of pitfalls that commonly trap people into paying more than they need to.

1. Be Flexible with Your Options to Find Cheaper Flights

Airlines frequently change the price of the same flight, depending on whether you fly in the morning, afternoon, evening, or overnight; or depending on which airport you depart from, and/or the airport you arrive at.

Generally speaking, if you are flexible with your travel plans, you will have more options to choose from – and having more options generally leads to finding better prices.

Some ways to create more flexibility include:

• Fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, since these tend to be the least-expensive days of the week.
• Adjust the time of your flight. For example, if you normally fly during rush hour, try flying an hour earlier or later.
• If possible, try flying from a nearby airport rather than a larger airport that charges higher taxes and/ or has more competition.
• Consider splitting your trip into two separate tickets. While this may seem like a hassle, you can compare one-way fares from multiple airlines and potentially save money.

In addition to changing your travel dates, even changing your travel time by just one day can result in lower fares, especially during peak travel periods.

2. Use Smart Searching Methods Using the Right Tools and Filters

Flight search engines will often overlook some of the cheapest flights if they are filtering based on a large number of criteria. In general, you get the most complete list of options when you perform a broad search first, and then filter based on specific criteria.

Here are some additional smart searching methods:

• Use “whole month” views to quickly see the cheapest days to fly.
• Set up price alerts so you can track changes in prices without having to check the website every day.
• Search in incognito mode or while you are logged-out of your account. This will help you avoid seeing the inflated prices that the airlines will show you based on your past browsing history.
• Compare fares offered directly through the airline versus fares offered through a third party (like Expedia). Sometimes, the airline site offers more favorable change policies.

When using filters to narrow down your search, be careful. For example, if you select the option to “avoid connecting flights”, you may eliminate the lowest-priced options.

3. Know How to Read Price Patterns and When to Book a Flight

While airfare pricing follows certain patterns, they are not hard and fast rules. Therefore, the best way to find a great deal is to monitor prices as soon as you know you are going to be traveling, and then buy your ticket once you see a good range of prices appear.

Some practical suggestions for booking flights at the right time include:

• Track prices as soon as you know your travel dates. As departure draws closer, prices tend to climb.
• Buy your ticket when the price is “good,” but don’t wait too long. If you wait until the price reaches its absolute bottom, you may miss the window to secure your ticket.
• For popular routes, try to avoid booking at the very last minute. During holidays and business travel periods, the demand for flights is extremely high and prices tend to skyrocket.
• After booking your ticket, check to see if the airline has dropped the price. Some airlines will offer credit towards another trip if they drop the fare.

The cheapest fare is not necessarily the best value for money, particularly if it comes with a lot of baggage fees and/or uncomfortable seating.

4. Minimize Add-On Fees and Protect Your Good Deal

Low-cost fares can rapidly escalate to expensive fares once you factor in all of the extra costs such as baggage fees, seat fees, etc. To truly determine whether a particular fare represents a good deal, you need to consider both the base fare and the full price for the service you are getting.

Here are several things you should take into consideration before you make a final decision to purchase your ticket:

• What are the baggage fees? Baggage fees can vary greatly between airlines and between carry-on and checked bags.
• Do the budget airlines charge for selecting seats? Basic seating is included in the ticket price of many budget carriers, but you may pay extra for reserved seats.
• How much time do you have for your layover? Layovers that are too short increase the risk of missing a flight.
• What are the change and cancellation fees? The cost of changing or canceling a ticket on a budget carrier can be much greater than the original price of the ticket.
• Which payment method will you be using? Depending on the type of card you use, you may receive some form of protection against loss, damage or other issues related to travel. Additionally, some cards will allow you to avoid foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.

When comparing flights, be sure to calculate the total price for the same level of service.

Conclusion

To find the best flight deals, you simply need to develop a repeatable process: Stay flexible, search broadly, monitor prices, and think about total price – and not just the advertised fare.

Travelers who use calendar views, price alerts and alternative airports to shop for flights, will often find lower prices that others are not aware of.

Strong decisions will also involve checking fees, layover risks and change rules before you commit to purchasing a ticket.

With a disciplined approach to researching flights and doing clear comparisons, you will be able to better understand the pricing of flights, and “insider” results will become an expected outcome, not a lucky break.