Finding the best summer flight deals: How to score cheap airfare, even at the last minute
We are entering the prime time to score the best deals for peak summer travel dates, so it's time to book your trips.
While some international routes are already getting more expensive, you can still find plenty of deals ... even to Europe. Now is the perfect time to book domestic flights, too.
TPG recommends booking one to two months ahead of time for domestic flights and two to five months ahead for international flights.
Related: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
There's more good news this year as well, as average airfare prices are down year over year, thanks, in part, to softening demand. TPG has launched a data collaboration with Points Path, a free web browser extension that shows points and miles award prices in Google Flights, along with cash fares. After combing through data for the past few years, Points Path found cash prices were down slightly year over year for both domestic and international flights.
All that to say: It's not too late to score a great deal.
Here are our top tips for finding a cheap flight and hotel, even if you are booking at the last minute.
Take advantage of Google Flights and Google Flights Explore
Google Flights and Google Flights Explore are the two biggest weapons in my deal-hunting arsenal. I've written guides to using both services, but in their simplest forms, both tools help you find cheap flights.
Google Flights is my go-to search engine. It's where I usually start any search. Some of the best features include setting price alerts and tracking price histories.
Google Flights will tell you if you are getting a good deal and help you understand price trends. My favorite feature is that you can set alerts. Google emails me if the flights or hotels I'm watching get cheaper (or even more expensive).
Google Flights Explore helps me plan trips and find cheap destinations I may not have even been considering.
It has an interactive map that will show you the cheapest destinations, both those far from home and in your backyard.
These are my top two tools for finding deals and tracking flights.
Remember that flexibility is key when it comes to deals
When it comes to finding cheap airfare, being flexible is essential. Changing your arrival or departure date by a single day can save you hundreds of dollars or tens of thousands of points or miles on airfare. This is true for both cash and award rates, so be sure to cast a wide net for the best values.
As you can see in the Google Flights image below, changing dates by just one day can save you a lot of money.
Set up deal alerts, and use deal websites
I've also scored a ton of deals by signing up for deal alerts from companies like Going and Thrifty Traveler.
Both companies have basic or premium subscriptions that will flag when good deals come along.
Here's an example from Going, which sent me a deal alert for round-trip flights to Paris for less than $400.
I was able to find a business-class flight to Paris on Air France thanks to a Thrifty Traveler alert sent last year.
There are plenty more deal alert companies out there. I also recommend following a few on social media. I like the account Find Flights For Me, which sends out regular posts on deals (they go fast). Here's one it recently found for a points deal to Frankfurt.
TPG also publishes regular deal alerts. You can sign up for alerts on X and subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest deal news.
And remember, no matter how much you think you know about redeeming points or miles for flights, there are always new tips and tricks for turning those earnings into dream trips. Turn to TPG for guidance on sweet spots for redemptions and sites like ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures) for additional redemption ideas and a look at business-class upgrade inventory.
Related: My beginners blueprint to find the flight awards you want
Sign up for airline emails
Most airlines and hotel programs send out regular emails with information, and they often alert subscribers to deals or special promotions. It's a great way to keep in touch with your favorite airline or hotel, and you'll sometimes get advance notice of deals.
I find Alaska Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines offer regular sales, and they tend to let their subscribers know about them first.
American Airlines is great about informing me of promotions like shortcuts to elite status or opportunities to earn bonus miles. Recently, TPG found out about a flash sale at American via an email sent to subscribers.
Put award search tools to good use
There is a great new crop of award tools out there right now. Among the ones TPG uses the most are Points Path, Seats.aero, Point.me, PointsYeah, Pointhound and Roame.travel. You can read more about each tool in this story.
I've had good luck with several of them.
Points Path is one of my personal favorites. The free browser extension displays award pricing alongside cash prices for select airlines in Google Flights. As you can see in the screenshot below, Points Path tells me that I could book from New York to Paris for as few as 57,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. In this case, though, paying cash is probably a better deal.
TPG's Andrea Rotondo just wrote a great guide to finding award flights, but these other tools can really help, too.
Related: How to decide when to use cash or miles for buying airline tickets
Consider vacation packages
One of my favorite hacks is to remind people of airline vacation packages. Sometimes, when you book a hotel stay, a flight and even a rental car or an excursion all together, you can save as much as 40% versus booking each separately.
American Airlines Vacations is the one I've used most often. Just one example: I booked American Airlines in business class for two people to Germany with a five-night stay at the glorious Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. The whole trip cost me just over $2,800. That's less than the cost of the hotel booked on its own. The airlines will sometimes even throw in bonus miles or extra savings.
All the major airlines sell these types of packages.
The one cautionary note is that these packages are booked via third-party companies, so if something goes wrong, you'll need to contact that third party rather than talking to the hotel or airline directly. That's worth the risk, however, when I'm saving 40%.
Bottom line
These are a few of my favorite travel hacks for finding flight deals. I'm pleased to report that not only are cash prices down this summer, but I am seeing more points and miles availability this year than I have in the past several years.
I think it's going to be the summer of savings, and it's not too late to score a sweet deal, even during the busiest travel season.
Related reading:
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.