Step 1: Got hit with expensive flights
My sister called last week. She’s finally visiting Europe after talking about it forever. Awesome, right? But man, she was freaking out about flight prices. Said everything looked crazy expensive. Been there! So I told her, “Chill, let me show you my trick.” Figured it was time for another comparison session.
Step 2: Opened my browser and fired up search tools
Grabbed my laptop. Felt tired of bouncing between airline sites forever. Went straight to my favorite search tools. You know the ones everyone uses? Yeah. Typed in her dates, her airports – LAX to Rome, round trip. Hit search and grabbed a coffee while it loaded. This step always takes a minute but saves hours later.
Step 3: Filtered like crazy
The results popped up. Man, it was a mess. Tons of flights, crazy times, different prices. No way I was scrolling through all that blind. Started hitting the filters hard:
- Non-stop only? Checked that box first. Sister hates layovers.
- Time of day? No red-eyes if possible. Who wants to land feeling dead?
- Airlines? Skipped the super budget ones this time. Not worth the headache.
- Baggage? Filtered for ones including a checked bag. Learned that lesson the expensive way!
Each filter made the list smaller, easier to handle.
Step 4>Almost lost it choosing
Okay, down to like 5 options. Sounds easy? Nope! Two airlines had basically the same price, same times. Decision paralysis kicked in hard. Started squinting at reviews, checked seat pitch – she’s tall. One airline had slightly better snacks (important for an 11-hour flight!), and cheaper seat selection fees. That tipped it. Picked that one before my brain exploded.
Step 5>Jumped on the booking
Saw the price was good. Really good, actually. Didn’t wanna risk it jumping up. Clicked that “Select” button fast. Double-checked the dates, the names – always triple-check names! – and flew through the checkout. Used my regular card, no fuss. Got the email confirmation less than a minute later. Done.
What I learned this time
Honestly, I forget how quick this can be if you know how to use the tools. Forced myself to be ruthless with filters. Saved maybe $150 compared to the first few options I saw and got a better flight time. My sister owes me big time. Or at least owes me a coffee from Rome.
Pro tip: If you see a price you like on the comparison tool? Don’t wait. Especially if it’s non-stop. Those disappear like free food at the office.
