During the course of planning your vacation, booking flight tickets might seem one of the most overwhelming points. If you spend too much on tickets, you may have to cut down on vacation expenses, go to a more affordable destination, and limit your activities during your time there. So to avoid all such hassles, it is essential to look for cheaper flight tickets.

Not all airlines charge the same price, and no two seats on the airline cost the same. Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you get cheaper flight tickets so that you get the best out of your vacation.

Book early
Since the prices of flight tickets go up around three weeks leading to the departure date, it is best if you book your flights early. The best window to book your tickets is at least fifty days before departure. Websites like Google Flights analyze historical data and confirm that flight ticket prices do rise during the last few weeks before departure.

Another great reason to book early is that you get to choose the seat you like for a reasonable price. If you were to get your preferred window seat during the last few weeks before departure, you might have to pay a higher fee for it.

Don’t rule out choosing a connecting flight
A connecting flight is something we all wish to avoid. It might not be the most convenient option, but it can be a cheaper one. If there is no urgency, a connecting flight is the best way to go. Surveys show that you can save up to $100 on a round trip. You can further choose whether you want it to be a one-stop, two-stop, or three-stop flight, as the ticket prices may vary accordingly.

Avoid baggage fees
Using an airline credit card can help you reduce your baggage fees. Airline reward cards usually waive off baggage fees for one traveler. Some companies like Delta Amex waive off the fee for up to nine bags. However, this is only possible if you book flight tickets directly with the carrier and use the particular company’s credit card to pay.

Sign up for free alerts
You never know when the prices on flight tickets might go down. Hence, free alerts come in handy when looking for cheap deals or last minute flight tickets.

Keep your travel plans flexible
It might save you a few bucks if you are not particular about the day or date of your travel. A study actually proves that Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays are the cheapest days for flight travel. Also, taking a flight on any weekday is generally cheaper than on a weekend.

Since there are very few takers for flying on holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, these days are ideal to get cheaper flight tickets.

Lastly, morning flights are less expensive than other times. Since the first flight of the morning is the least expensive, it pays to wake up at 4 A.M. Lunch- and dinner-time flights are the next cheapest. Taking a red-eye flight is also a surefire way to get cheaper flight tickets. If you keep your travel plans flexible, you can end up saving a lot on flight tickets.

It pays to fly frequently
Being a loyal customer to your airline is helpful as they will provide great offers. This means that if you are a frequent flier, you are much more likely to get good deals on flight tickets. Even if you don’t get a discount, using the airline’s credit cards can help you avail many other perks. Priority boarding, free checked bags, and selecting the seats of your choice are some of the perks you can avail if you fly frequently.

Use your miles and credit points
The points you have racked up from your airline credit cards can be used to pay for your flight tickets. You can also use your airline loyalty program and book tickets directly from the airline’s portal. Furthermore, a credit card like American Express can give you benefits of up to $200 for in-flight purchases and baggage fees.

Check the airline’s website
Sometimes, you can find great deals on your carrier airline’s website. If you are already late for booking flight tickets, browsing airline specials can help you find discounts. When airlines offer deals through third-party websites or travel agents, they retain the best on their own sites.

Also, there are a few low-cost airlines that do not quote their ticket prices on travel websites. So, it always pays to check these airlines separately. However, you need to be careful with these low-cost tickets as prices might increase due to the addition of baggage fees, carry-on charges, and so on.