25 Ways to Score Cheap Flights Without Flying a Discount Airline

While it's smart to save money on airfare where you can, not everyone wants to fly a discount airline like Allegiant Air or Spirit. Some discount airlines are notorious for late and canceled flights, while others charge you for seat selection, a drink, and even carry-on luggage. If you're eager to save without slumming it with a discount carrier, consider these tips:

While it's more convenient to fly out of the airport closest to your home, you could save money if you're willing to drive a little further. Make sure to compare pricing at airports within a few hours to see if lower prices could make the drive well worth it.

Google Flights is a magical website that lets you compare flights with multiple airlines to almost any destination around the globe. If you're flexible with where you travel, you can even let the website make recommendations for you based on where they find the best deals.

The Flight Deal is a smart resource to check out if you hope to take advantage of discounted fares and airfare sales to destinations worldwide. This website often reveals deals on international airfare for less than $500 per person.

Also check out SecretFlying.com, a website that is similar to TheFlightDeal.com since it lists the top airfare deals every day. You can also sign up for Secret Flying alerts so you're aware when a fare sale becomes available from your home airport.

While the internet has made it easier than ever to book travel on your own, don't forget that travel agents often have access to deals the rest of us don't. It can't hurt to reach out to a travel agent if you're having trouble finding a cheap flight and need some help.

The Skyscanner travel app lets you book alerts so you know when the price of a flight you're interested in goes down. This website also connects consumers with discount airfare deals and resources that can help them find the best deals.

While the cost of airfare can make or break your trip, all the "extras" can also make flying much more expensive. By not checking a bag when you travel, you can save at least $25 one-way and $50 per round-trip flight.

Airline miles let you travel the world without paying for airfare, but they can be hard to accrue through flying alone. Fortunately, a handful of airline credit cards let you earn enough miles for a free flight without ever flying at all.

Also, keep in mind that you don't have to have a travel credit card to earn airline miles. You can easily rack up miles by utilizing airline and travel shopping portals, joining airline dining clubs, and signing up for special promotions.

If you hate the idea of flying a discount airline, you can fly Basic Economy with major airlines like American at a discounted rate. These fares don't come with seat selection or room for free carry-on luggage, but they can be less expensive than regular fares.

The Hopper App can help you monitor airfare prices to see if they go down while also introducing you to special deals. The app claims to predict prices with 95% accuracy, ensuring you always know when to book for the best pricing on flights almost anywhere.

Hidden city ticketing is a term used to describe any time you book a multi-stop plane ticket to save money without any intention of completing the entire flight. This strategy only works if you don't check a bag and fly one-ways. If you try hidden city ticketing on a round-trip fare, your return trip home will be canceled.

While you might find the best prices on airline websites, you should also compare pricing on discount travel websites like Expedia and Travelocity. There are times when the discount deal sites offer better deals, but you'll never know unless you check.

If you can be flexible with your dates, you will almost always save money on airfare. Make sure to play around with different dates within at least a few weeks of time to find the best deal for the destination you want to visit.

If you can be flexible with your dates and your destination, you will be in the best spot possible to save on airfare. Consider multiple cities you may want to visit, or just let the deals guide your travels. You never know where you'll end up or what you'll learn when you travel somewhere new.

While this isn't always the case, it is usually true that mid-week flights are cheaper than flying on the weekend. If you can swing a flight on a Monday through Wednesday and return home a week later in the middle of the week, you will almost always save money.

When you book your flight matters just as much as when you travel. The lowest airfare deals usually go to those who book at least six months out. However, some airlines drop their rates to fill planes at the very last minute.

While you may want to avoid the cheapest discount airlines, some of the less expensive carriers are still okay. Southwest Airlines offers one-way fares for as little as $49 plus two free checked bags and they still have a great reputation with travelers.

Every destination around the world has an off-peak season with fewer travelers visiting. For example, fall is the off-peak travel season to the Caribbean and Europe. These off-peak times are often the best for travel since airfare can be cheaper and there are fewer crowds over all.

Whether you want to travel during off-peak season or not, you should avoid holiday travel at all costs. Airfare is almost always significantly more expensive before, during, and right after major holidays and holiday weekends.

Most of the major airlines like American, Delta, and Air France offer sales to specific destinations throughout the year. If you can afford to wait for a sale to pop up before booking your trip, these sales can help you save big.

If you want to be the first to know about special airline sales and deals, you should sign up for your favorite airline's mailing list. Also, follow them on social media and sign up for alerts if they offer them.

Also note that you can sometimes save money by choosing the least desirable flight of the day, which is usually first flight in the morning. This strategy can save you a bundle if you don't mind climbing into the friendly skies at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.

While volunteering your seat on an oversold flight won't get you a cheaper fare that specific day, you can score a voucher for future travel. In fact, many airlines will offer $300 or more for those willing to give up their seat and take a later flight to their destination.

Finally, give up the airline loyalty game if you want to save money. While earning elite status can help you score seat upgrades and more, you will almost always pay more if you stick with one airline all the time regardless of price.