How I started looking for cheap flights
Last month I needed to fly to Thailand for work, but my company budget was super tight. I thought international tickets cost thousands, but my buddy told me you could actually get crazy deals if you search smart. I didn’t believe it at first honestly.
The tools I used to hunt deals
First I downloaded like five flight apps everyone talks about. I made accounts on each one and turned on price alerts immediately. Then I made a spreadsheet to track prices – pro tip: always check prices on Tuesdays around 3PM when airlines dump sales!
Next I played with dates like crazy:
- Searched entire months instead of fixed dates
- Compared nearby airports – flying into Singapore was $200 cheaper than direct to Bangkok
- Tested one-way vs round trip options
My wife thought I was insane checking prices while eating breakfast.
My ticket booking moment
After three weeks of tracking, my phone blew up with alerts one midnight. Found a $398 roundtrip deal with decent layovers! Panic-clicked so fast I almost bought the wrong dates. Paid with my travel credit card to get extra miles – always do this!
What actually worked
Final cost was $412 after seat selection fees. My lessons:
- Clear browser cookies before searching
- Mix and match airlines – going out with Scoot, returning with Qatar
- Booked exactly 47 days before departure
Saved over $600 compared to my coworker who booked direct with the airline. Still can’t believe I got that Tokyo layover for free!
