Where to look for cheap flights? Proven methods, comparison websites and pitfalls when booking
Cheap flights are a topic. Sometimes Google Flights will show the best price, sometimes Skyscanner, sometimes the carrier’s website, and sometimes we see the same thing everywhere. In 2026, looking for cheap tickets is unfortunately a bit of a lottery and luck, and a bit of methodical work with various tools – comparing several sources, setting price alerts, checking dates and a bit of mathematics to make sure that the deal is really a bargain and not a price without mandatory additional fees. Below are some tips on how to do it all wisely.
Google Flights – without installing the application
Google Flights (the Flights tab on the Google Travel website) is one of the best places to start looking for cheap flights. It works quickly and does not require installing the application on your smartphone. The tool shows the differences in flight prices between different dates and allows you to easily see whether delaying your departure by a day or two will result in significant savings. For a flexible travel plan, the calendar and price chart are very helpful.
Google also allows you to track prices for a specific route and dates, or – for more flexible plans – for any dates. Once you turn on price tracking, you can receive notifications about changes. The “Flights – Deals” tool supported by AI is also in the beta phase. You can describe your itinerary and Google will find the best deals.
Skyscanner – a classic of the genre
Skyscanner has been one of the most popular flight comparison websites for years, especially among people looking for cheap destinations from a specific city. An interesting option here is the “Worldwide” search function. Here you only choose the departure airport and the date or month. In the search results, you get a list of countries and cities ordered by price – from the lowest. This is an ideal option if you want to find a cheap city break, but you don’t have an idea for a specific place. Instead of checking Rome, Athens, Barcelona, Vilnius and Stockholm one by one, you can immediately see which destinations are the cheapest for the selected date.
Skyscanner also has price alerts. You can save search parameters and receive notifications when the price increases or decreases. This is a good solution for routes you have been eyeing for several weeks but don’t want to buy a ticket yet.
However, on Skyscanner you have to be careful about where you ultimately book your flight. The platform often redirects you to airlines or online travel agencies. The price on the comparison site can be attractive, but before paying you need to check your luggage, cancellation policy, reviews of the agent and the final amount on the last screen.
Kayak and Momondo – an alternative to Skyscanner
Kayak and Momondo are in the same family of tools as Skyscanner. Their strengths are flexible dates, price alerts, filters and various route options. Kayak, for example, allows you to check prices several days before and after your selected date, which helps you quickly see whether traveling on Thursday instead of Saturday changes the ticket price.
Another interesting feature of Kayak are the so-called Hacker Fares, i.e. offers consisting of two separate one-way tickets. Sometimes such a set can be cheaper than a classic round-trip ticket. Please remember, however, that such solutions involve some risk: these are two separate reservations. With such a ticket, you are responsible for risk assessment, time between flights and possible consequences. Also remember that transferring on such tickets involves “leaving” the airport and going through check-in again, and not going to the appropriate gate through the “transfers” gate.
Airlines’ websites – always worth checking out
Comparison websites are great for looking for options, but it’s always worth checking the carrier’s official website before booking. Sometimes the price will be the same or slightly higher, but direct purchase may give you greater peace of mind when making changes, cancellations, returns, complaints and purchasing additional services.
This is especially important with low-cost airlines. A ticket for PLN 129 may look great on a comparison website, but only on the carrier’s website will you see the full cost including baggage, seat, priority, check-in and payments. In Ryanair, Wizz Air or easyJet, the difference between the “comparator price” and the “real travel price” can be significant.
Secret Flying, Fly4free and deal alerts
If you like hunting for bargains, it is worth following websites and newsletters with flight promotions. Some of the most famous websites of this type in our country are Fly4free and Wakacyjni Piraci. Globally popular are, among others: Secret Flying, Jack’s Flight Club or Going (not to be confused with the local ticket seller Going). Such websites detect promotions, tariff errors, cheap transfers and seasonal deals. Cons? The best deals disappear very quickly. You often have to make a decision within a few minutes, and sometimes you have to take into account unusual flight times, long transfers or airports far from the city.
Bargains from Pepperka
In my opinion, it is also worth checking out the Pepper platform (either in the browser or in the application). It is not a flight search engine, but a social networking site with deals, where users share promotions, coupons, price errors and individual finds. Pepper has separate categories for flights, travel and holidays, so you can find airline promotions, cheap tickets from home airports or travel agency travel packages there. Comments are a great convenience. Other users often quickly verify offers for hidden payments, comfort or unknown nuances.
Incognito mode, VPN and cookies – myth or real savings?
Many travelers believe that airlines increase prices if you check the same route several times. You can find good advice on the Internet, such as: clear cookies, use incognito mode, change your device, turn on VPN. Sounds smart, but the evidence that it works is mixed.
Personally, I have never managed to “raise” the ticket price just by refreshing the tab in the browser or by checking a certain direction several times. People who are involved in this point rather to dynamic tariffs, demand, availability of seats in specific booking classes and differences between systems. Google itself claims that in their Google Flights, incognito mode, search history and changing devices do not affect the prices shown.
Does this mean that a VPN will never change anything? NO. Sometimes prices may vary between markets, currencies, site versions or intermediaries. Checking several sources still makes sense. However, I would not treat cookies cleaning as the main method of finding cheap flights. For most people, greater savings will be achieved by flexible dates, choosing a less popular airport or a previously set price alert.
Cheap flights from Poland – check all airports
I know that extending your trip by taking a car or train within Poland is often not worth it, but price differences between Warsaw, Katowice or Gdańsk on the same or similar routes are unfortunately a fact. The same applies to Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Ostrava or Vilnius, i.e. foreign airports that are not yet at the end of the world. If you save PLN 150 on the ticket, but spend PLN 200 on travel and waste half a day, it’s not a bargain. However, when flying intercontinental flights or family trips with several people, you can sometimes save a lot by giving up the airport that is closest to your home.
Be careful with luggage, transfers and self-transfers
The cheapest flight in the search engine will not always be the best. Before purchasing, check whether the price includes hand luggage, what is the limit for a small backpack, how much is the surcharge for a cabin suitcase, whether the transfer is on one ticket and whether you do not have to collect your luggage yourself and go through inspection again at the transfer airport.
In the case of independent transfers and flights made up of several reservations, time is particularly important. If the first plane is late, the second carrier doesn’t care if you miss the next flight. The cheapest ticket is not always the best choice. Sometimes it is worth paying extra for a normal transfer on one booking, more reasonable hours or a departure from an airport that is close to home. I’ve been through this many times, and after several tiring or stressful trips, I can say with certainty that a good deal is not the one that shows up first on Skyscanner, but the one that still makes sense after adding in luggage, travel, time and risk.
