How to Find the Cheapest Airfares on Any Route
The cheapest fare on any given route depends on the airline, the fare class, the day of the week, how far in advance you book, and whether you're traveling in peak or off-peak season. FareOptic compares all of these variables simultaneously — showing you not just the cheapest published fare, but the cheapest available fare across budget carriers, full-service airlines, and loyalty award redemptions in one place.
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Types of Cheap Airfares — Which Is Actually Cheapest?
Not all cheap fares are the same. Understanding the differences between fare types helps you choose the genuinely cheapest option for your specific travel needs.
Basic Economy
Lowest Fare ClassAirlines
Delta, United, American, JetBlue
Basic Economy is the lowest published fare on most full-service airlines — typically $20–$60 cheaper than standard economy. Trade-offs include no seat selection at booking, no changes or cancellations, and limited or no carry-on bag allowance. Best for carry-on-only travelers with fixed plans.
Best For
Short domestic routes, travelers with no bags, fixed-date trips
Wanna Get Away / Light Fares
Budget Carrier Best FaresAirlines
Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant
Budget carriers publish their lowest fares under names like Wanna Get Away (Southwest), Bare Fare (Spirit), Basic (Frontier), or Lite (Allegiant). These are the cheapest published fares available — but typically include no included bags. Perfect for short trips with a backpack.
Best For
Domestic leisure travel, carry-on-only, short trips
Saver Awards
Miles & Points Best ValueAirlines
All Loyalty Programs
Saver-level award redemptions are the cheapest way to use loyalty miles — requiring fewer miles than standard awards for the same route. Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, American AAdvantage, and Alaska Mileage Plan all publish saver-level award rates that can deliver Business Class travel at Economy mile costs.
Best For
Loyal frequent flyers; long-haul Business Class travel
Off-Peak Travel Fares
Best Timing for Lowest FaresAirlines
All Airlines
Fares are consistently lowest during off-peak travel periods: January 6 – February 28, post-Labor Day September, and early November. Flying midweek (Tuesday–Wednesday) in off-peak months delivers the absolute lowest available published fares on most routes worldwide.
Best For
Flexible travelers; anyone who can shift dates
Error Fares
Rarest — Highest SavingsAirlines
Various — Unpredictable
Error fares are accidental airline pricing mistakes — Business Class at Economy prices, or international fares loaded in the wrong currency at exchange rate. These fares are rare, disappear within hours, and are often honored when booked before the error is corrected. FareOptic tracks and alerts on confirmed error fares as they appear.
Best For
Flexible travelers who can book and travel quickly
Consistently Cheap Routes — Best Value US Flights
New York (JFK/EWR) → Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Spirit & Frontier compete heavily — fares regularly under $50 one-way.
Los Angeles (LAX) → Las Vegas (LAS)
One of the highest-frequency routes in the US — consistently under $60 round-trip.
Chicago (ORD/MDW) → Orlando (MCO)
Spirit and Frontier keep fares competitive — families save significantly vs. peak summer.
Dallas (DFW) → Cancún (CUN)
American and Southwest compete for Mexico leisure routes — under $150 round-trip regularly.
Atlanta (ATL) → Miami (MIA)
Spirit dominates; Delta competes — one of the cheapest Southeast leisure routes.
Boston (BOS) → Philadelphia (PHL)
One of the shortest US air routes — check train vs. flight for total journey time comparison.
6 Proven Strategies to Find the Cheapest Airfares
Tuesday Afternoon Is the Best Time to Search for Cheap Fares
Airlines release sale fares Monday–Tuesday mornings. By Tuesday afternoon, all airlines have matched competitor pricing and the full picture of available cheap fares is visible. Tuesday afternoon through Thursday is consistently the best time to search for and book cheap flights.
Book 3–6 Weeks Out for Domestic Cheap Fares
The sweet spot for cheap domestic US airfare is 3–6 weeks before departure. Too early and airlines haven't released their lowest fares. Too late and cheap seats sell out. FareOptic's price trend tool shows whether fares on your route are rising or falling so you know the right moment to book.
Compare Nearby Airports for Every Search
Always compare airports within 50–100 miles of your destination. Flying into Fort Lauderdale (FLL) instead of Miami (MIA) can save $50–$100 on the same trip. BUR and LGB are often cheaper than LAX for Los Angeles arrivals. FareOptic's multi-airport search shows all options at once.
Use Incognito Mode When Searching for Cheap Fares
Some booking sites track repeated searches and may show higher prices to returning visitors. Always search for cheap flights in an incognito or private browser window to ensure you see unbiased real-time pricing from every airline.
Flexible Dates Show the Cheapest Day in Any Month
FareOptic's flexible date calendar shows fares across an entire month at once — making it easy to spot the cheapest departure and return dates for any route without manually checking every combination.
Mix Airlines for Cheaper Round Trips
Booking two separate one-way tickets — on different airlines — sometimes beats a standard round-trip fare from a single carrier. This is particularly effective on competitive routes where budget carriers offer asymmetric one-way promotions.
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about finding the cheapest airfares on any route
What is the cheapest way to book a flight?
The cheapest way to book a flight is to: (1) Use a comparison site like FareOptic to see all airlines simultaneously; (2) Be flexible on dates — flying Tuesday–Thursday is typically cheapest; (3) Search off-peak months (January–February, September, November); (4) Compare nearby airports; (5) Consider budget carriers (Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant) for carry-on-only travel.
What day of the week are flights cheapest?
Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest departure days for most domestic US routes. Airlines release sale fares Monday–Tuesday, and the cheapest published prices are typically available Tuesday afternoon through Thursday. Departing on Friday or Sunday is almost always more expensive.
How far in advance should I book for the cheapest fare?
For domestic US flights: book 3–6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares. For international flights: book 6–8 weeks ahead for the best transatlantic prices, and 3–4 months ahead for peak travel periods (Christmas, spring break, summer). Booking too early (3+ months out) rarely saves money — airlines don't release their lowest fares that far in advance.
Is Basic Economy the cheapest ticket available?
Basic Economy is the cheapest published fare on full-service airlines like Delta, United, and American. However, budget carriers (Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant) often publish fares even lower than Basic Economy rates for the same route — without the full-service airline's network reliability. Always compare both on FareOptic.
What are error fares and how do I find them?
Error fares are airline pricing mistakes — Business Class seats priced at Economy rates, or international routes loaded in the wrong currency. They appear briefly (minutes to hours) before airlines correct them. FareOptic alerts users when confirmed error fares appear on popular routes. To take advantage: have flexible travel dates, be ready to book immediately, and wait for your confirmation email before making other arrangements.
Are cheap flights actually cheap after adding fees?
On budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier, the advertised base fare excludes carry-on bags ($40–$70 each way), seat selection ($10–$30), and printing fees. Always calculate total cost including your specific bag and seat needs before comparing. Southwest is unique in including 2 checked bags at no charge — making it often the true cheapest option for bag-carrying travelers even at higher base fares.
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