When you want to travel to distant countries, one of the biggest expenses is airfare. But the good news is that with the right methods and the right timing, it is possible to find the cheapest travel tickets. In this blog post, we will share with you the secrets of finding cheap flights, the strategies of famous airlines around the world, and practical advice.
When is the Best Time to Find Cheap Tickets?
The best time to find cheap tickets is usually 6-8 weeks before your travel date. This period is especially beneficial for international flights, as airlines keep prices stable at this stage and promotions are more visible. For domestic or short-haul flights, it is enough to buy tickets 3-4 weeks in advance.
As for which day of the week is more profitable to buy tickets, experience shows that it is possible to find cheaper tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. These are the days when airlines announce new discounts and offers. On the contrary, ticket prices are usually higher on Fridays and Sundays, because more people search on these days.
The cheapest dates for flights are usually weekdays - Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are cheaper. Flights early in the morning or at night can also be cheaper, as demand is relatively low during these hours.
- Ticket prices are higher during the summer and holiday seasons.
- Off-season months like February, March, and November are more affordable.
- Tickets are cheaper during the week, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
What are the best ticket search sites?
Airlines are constantly competing with each other. This means more affordable prices for passengers. Use the following platforms to find cheap tickets:
The best and most reliable search sites you can use to find cheap tickets are:
- Skyscanner
One of the most popular ticket search platforms. Allows you to compare flights, hotels and rental cars.
Advantages:
- Flexible approach to dates
- “Show cheapest month” function
- Travel ideas with the “Anywhere” function without entering a destination
- Google Flights
With Google’s clean and fast interface, you can compare prices in a matter of seconds.
Advantages:
- Shows price changes with graphs
- Can set price alerts
- Convenient for two-city flights
- Momondo
Famous for its colorful interface and extensive result base.
Advantages:
- Visually displays dates and prices
- Quickly finds low prices
- “Best”, “Cheapest”, “Fastest” categories
- Kayak
Differs in additional filters and the “Price Forecast” function.
Advantages:
- Provides suggestions on whether the price will rise or fall
- Wide results on the global market
- Mobile application is easy to use
- Aviasales
Especially useful for flights departing from Russia and CIS countries. Suitable for travelers from Azerbaijan.
Advantages:
- Simple and fast interface
- Powerful in finding regional flights
- The application is practical and fast
Budget Airlines
- Wizz Air – offers affordable flights from Baku to Europe, especially to Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw and other cities.
- Pegasus Airlines – offers flights from Baku to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and offers cheap flights to Europe via Istanbul.
- Flynas – offers flights to the Middle East and North Africa, as well as affordable flights to some European cities.
- Air Arabia – offers affordable flights from Baku to Dubai and the Middle East.
- Ryanair – offers flights from Baku to other European cities and offers budget-friendly prices.
- EasyJet – an airline that offers direct flights from Baku to European cities and offers budget-friendly prices.
- Turkish Airlines – offers affordable prices for both international and domestic flights, and offers flights from Baku to Istanbul and other cities.
- Aeroflot – offers affordable flights to various European and Asian routes via Moscow.
- FlyDubai – offers affordable flights from Baku to Dubai and other Middle Eastern cities.
- Jazeera Airways – offers cheap flights from Baku to Kuwait and the Middle East.
- Norwegian Air Shuttle – a Scandinavian-based airline offering affordable flights to Europe.
- Azimuth Airlines – a local budget airline offering affordable flights from Baku to various cities in Russia.
- Ural Airlines – offers affordable flights from Baku to Russia and several cities in Europe.
- Belavia – Belavia, a Belarusian airline, offers affordable flights from Baku to Minsk and other European cities.
- Ajjet – offers affordable flights from Baku to Istanbul and other destinations.
Using "Incognito Mode"
When using "Incognito Mode" (or "Private Browsing"), some users use this feature to find cheaper tickets in flight searches. This is mainly done to avoid the internet's tracking algorithms and price fluctuations.
Incognito Mode and Flight Prices:
- Lower Price Increases: When you use Incognito Mode, your browser history is not saved, so this tracking does not work and airlines are prevented from increasing your prices.
- Cookies and Tracking: The main function of Incognito Mode is to prevent cookies from being saved and websites from tracking user data. This can be useful in order to avoid presenting you with different prices on repeated searches.
- Simple Tracking: In some cases, airlines and search engines track users by IP address, meaning that even in Incognito Mode, price changes may be observed after you have searched once.
Effectiveness of Incognito Mode:
In Some Cases: While Incognito Mode doesn't give you full control over flight prices, it can be useful in some cases. It makes sense to use this method to track price increases after repeated searches.
Not Effective in All Cases: If price changes are more dependent on airline or local search algorithms, using Incognito Mode alone may not always be the best way to find cheap tickets.
Best Ticket Search Tools and Apps
Mobile apps provide travelers with real-time information and push notifications. Download the following apps:
Hopper: Predicts future price drops.
Kiwi.com: Shows alternative routes and combined flights.
Skyscanner app: Automatic notifications and price tracking.
How to Find Cheap Flight Tickets Using Highways
Flight prices can sometimes be very high, but it is possible to get cheaper flight tickets by traveling by road. This can be a very useful method, especially when traveling to nearby countries or regional routes. For example, taking trains or buses from Baku to Georgia and buying flight tickets from there at cheaper prices can help you save a lot.
Large cities in Georgia, such as Tbilisi or Batumi, offer a large number of international flights, and it is possible to fly to many destinations from these cities at affordable prices. So, after moving to Georgia, you can travel on longer routes with cheap tickets.
Those flying from Baku can save money by flying via Tbilisi or Kutaisi.
Regional ports in Europe, such as Frankfurt-Hahn or Charleroi, are also cheaper.
Sometimes transit (stopover) flights are also significantly cheaper. You can save 30-50% by waiting a few hours.
Sometimes, flights to Europe or other destinations can be cheaper via Turkey. For example, it is very common to travel to Sofia or other European cities by bus or car from Turkey and buy cheaper flights from there. Turkey is also a hub for many budget airlines. So, taking a bus to Sofia and buying a flight from there can be cheaper than flying directly to the same destination.
How to be informed about airline campaigns?
The best prices are usually during short-term promotions. To stay informed about these promotions:
- Subscribe to newsletters on airline websites.
- Follow Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
- Blogs and discount news sites are also useful (e.g. SecretFlying, Airfarewatchdog).
The Beginning of a Cheap Flight Strategy
Southwest Airlines was founded in 1967 in Texas by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King and began operating in 1971. The company initially focused on flying only within Texas—between the cities of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
A key strategy behind Southwest Airlines' success was to choose smaller, less-used airports instead of large international airports. This allowed the company to operate with lower landing and takeoff costs, less congestion, and faster turnaround times. For example, Southwest used a smaller airport called Love Field instead of the large DFW Airport in Dallas.
This approach created the following advantages:
- Fares were cheaper
- Flights flew more frequently
- Passengers waited less and avoided additional costs
This strategy was later called "The Southwest Effect": when Southwest entered a region, both its own prices and those of its competitors fell sharply.
Ryanair Continued This Model in Europe
In Europe, the company that successfully implemented this model was Ryanair. Starting in the 1990s, Ryanair also focused on smaller regional airports, avoiding large airports. For example:
- Beauvais instead of Paris
- Charleroi instead of Brussels
- Frankfurt-Hahn instead of Frankfurt
This model allowed Ryanair to offer ultra-cheap fares to European passengers without incurring huge costs. At the same time, regional airports also benefited Ryanair by generating additional revenue.
As a result, Southwest Airlines’ “small airport + high turnover + low price” model laid the foundation for the low-cost flight revolution in both the US and Europe.
Basic Tips and Tricks for Finding Cheap Tickets
- Buy your ticket at least 4-6 weeks in advance.
- Instead of a direct ticket, buy a round trip ticket – sometimes it’s cheaper.
- Be flexible with your flight date – a 1-day difference can save you 100 AZN.
- Get discounts with card bonuses and miles. To get discounts with card bonuses and miles, you can read our article about miles cards.
- Booking early is more profitable than last-minute reservations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the best day to buy a flight ticket?
Prices are more affordable on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in the morning. - Are last-minute tickets cheaper?
Sometimes they are, but it is risky. It is safer to buy early. - Are early morning flights cheaper?
Yes, early morning and night flights are usually more affordable. - Is it profitable to travel with transits?
If you have the time, connecting flights can provide serious savings. - Why do prices change when searching for tickets?
Because airline prices change in real time, and browser cookies can also play a role.
