13 Smart Ways to Get Cheap Flights for Family Vacations

Flying with kids or a large family can often feel like a financial challenge. The cost of airfare alone can sometimes eat up a huge chunk of your vacation budget, leaving you scrambling to find ways to save. But guess what? It doesn’t have to be that way!

Ways to get Cheap Flights?

In this post, I’m sharing 13 smart ways to get cheap flights for family vacations. These practical tips are designed to help you snag the best family flight deals, save money, and still enjoy that long-awaited vacation without breaking the bank. Whether you’re flying across the country or to an exotic destination, these strategies will ensure that your next family getaway is budget-friendly from start to finish.

1. Book Early — But Not Too Early

One of the most important tips on how to get cheap flights for family is to understand the sweet spot for booking. You don’t want to book your flight too early, but you also don’t want to wait until the last minute.

Experts suggest booking about 6-8 weeks in advance for domestic flights and around 3–6 months for international travel. This is when airlines typically release tickets at the most competitive prices. However, keep in mind that prices can fluctuate, especially during peak seasons like summer holidays or Christmas.

For example, when we booked our family trip to Tokyo during the summer, booking early helped us save nearly $200 per ticket. But when we booked a spontaneous spring break getaway, the prices had already spiked, so we had to adjust our travel dates.

Pro Tip: Try booking flights during shoulder seasons (spring and fall) for better deals, as they tend to be cheaper than peak travel times.

2. Use Flight Comparison Sites (Like Skyscanner or Google Flights)

Flight comparison sites are a game-changer when it comes to finding cheap airfare for families. Websites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak allow you to compare fares across different airlines and booking platforms in just a few clicks.

These tools let you filter results based on your preferences—whether you’re looking for nonstop flights, flexible dates, or even the cheapest day to fly.

For example, when searching for flights to Orlando for a family of four, I used the Skyscanner calendar view, which showed me the most affordable dates to travel, saving us about $150 over our original travel dates.

Pro Tip: Set up price alerts on these platforms so you’ll be notified when fares drop for your desired dates. This can help you book at the perfect time!

3. Set Price Alerts and Be Flexible With Dates

Flexibility is key when it comes to finding affordable family flights. Being able to shift your travel dates by just a few days can lead to significant savings. Try flying on Tuesday or Wednesday, as these midweek flights are often cheaper than weekend departures.

For example, I once saved $200 by flying from New York to Los Angeles on a Wednesday rather than a weekend, even though we had planned to leave on a Saturday. While this flexibility might mean adjusting your travel schedule a bit, the savings are often well worth it.

Pro Tip: If you have flexible dates, use the “Flexible Dates” feature on Google Flights or Skyscanner to quickly see which days offer the lowest prices.

4. Look at Nearby Airports

When flying with a family, every penny counts. Sometimes, flying into a nearby airport instead of the main hub can save you a ton of money. For instance, if you’re visiting Manila, flying into Clark International Airport (about 2-3 hours from Manila) might cost you 50% less than flying into Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the city.

By flying into smaller regional airports, you can take advantage of lower fares. Keep in mind that this may require renting a car or using public transport, but often, the savings are well worth the extra travel time.

Pro Tip: Check airports that are just a short drive away. You might be surprised at how much you can save by flying into smaller airports.

5. Consider Budget Airlines — Carefully

Budget airlines like AirAsia, Ryanair, and Frontier can offer incredible deals, especially for short-haul flights. But be careful—many of these airlines charge extra fees for things like luggage, seat selection, and even snacks. It’s easy to think you’re saving big, only to find hidden fees that push the price back up.

For example, when flying from San Francisco to Las Vegas on Frontier Airlines, we snagged tickets for just $49 each. However, adding checked bags and choosing seats ended up costing us an extra $100 per person. So, while budget airlines can be affordable, always factor in these additional costs when comparing prices.

Pro Tip: If you choose a budget airline, make sure to weigh the cost of extra fees before booking. Often, a more expensive airline with fewer hidden fees can end up being the better deal.

6. Use Family or Group Discounts

Some airlines offer family or group discounts for larger parties traveling together. These discounts might not be advertised widely, but it’s always worth asking when booking.

When my family of five flew to Disneyland, we saved 15% on our tickets by booking as a group. You can also call the airline directly to inquire about group rates for larger families or specific discounts for children.

Pro Tip: Group booking discounts often apply to flights with more than 10 passengers, but you might also get better deals if you call and ask for special family packages.

7. Use Travel Rewards or Points

Travel rewards can be a lifesaver when flying with a family. Many credit cards offer miles or points that you can redeem for free or discounted flights. For example, I used my Amex points to cover my son’s ticket when we flew to Hawaii last summer, saving us over $400.

To maximize rewards, consider applying for a travel rewards credit card that earns miles or points with every purchase. After a few months of regular use, you’ll have enough points to book a flight, often covering a substantial portion of the total cost.

Pro Tip: Use travel points to cover one ticket, and pay for the others with cash. This will reduce your overall travel expenses.

8. Avoid Weekend Departures

While weekends might seem like the most convenient time to travel, they’re often the most expensive. If you can, try to fly on Tuesday or Wednesday, when fares are usually lower. This is because airlines know most people prefer to travel over the weekend, so they price those flights higher.

For example, when we flew from New York to Orlando for a family vacation, booking a Tuesday morning flight saved us $150 compared to a Saturday flight.

Pro Tip: If you have to fly on the weekend, try booking your return flight for a weekday to save money.

9. Book One-Way or Mix Airlines

Sometimes booking a one-way ticket on different airlines or mixing carriers can save you money. This might sound like an unconventional strategy, but it’s worth checking. Websites like Kayak allow you to explore flights that mix carriers for both your outbound and return trips.

When my family and I flew from Chicago to Paris, we mixed airlines to save nearly $250 each. We flew with one airline for the outbound flight, and a different carrier for the return leg. It wasn’t as convenient, but the savings were significant.

Pro Tip: Use Kayak’s “Mix and Match” feature to explore different airline combinations for the best deals.

10. Sign Up for Airline Newsletters

Signing up for airline newsletters is a simple but effective way to access exclusive deals and flash sales. Airlines often send out special promotions and discounts to their subscribers, giving you early access to some of the best airfare deals.

For instance, we booked a flight to Australia after receiving an exclusive sale notification from Qantas via email. By acting quickly, we saved $300 on four tickets.

Pro Tip: Create a dedicated email for travel deals, so your inbox doesn’t get cluttered, and you never miss an important sale!

11. Use Incognito Mode When Searching

Airlines track your search history and may raise prices when they see you’ve been searching for the same route repeatedly. To avoid this, always use incognito mode or private browsing when searching for flights. This ensures that your cookies aren’t used to hike up the prices.

Pro Tip: Always clear your cookies or use a browser’s private mode when searching for flights to avoid inflated prices.

12. Pack Light and Avoid Extra Luggage Fees

Luggage fees can add up quickly, especially when flying with a family. Instead of paying for checked bags, try to pack light and stick to carry-on luggage. Some airlines allow you to check in a small bag for free, and if you’re traveling with small children, they may allow extra luggage without charging.

Pro Tip: Use a shared luggage strategy by having family members combine their clothes into fewer bags to save on luggage fees.

13. Use Travel Apps That Track Discounts

Lastly, use travel apps that track flight discounts, such as Hopper, Kiwi, and CheapOair. These apps let you see when flight prices are likely to drop or when the best deals are available.

I used Hopper to track prices for our trip to Thailand, and thanks to its predictions, I booked at just the right time, saving over $200 on tickets for the whole family.

Pro Tip: Set up price alerts in these apps to get notified when prices drop.

Conclusion

Flying with a family doesn’t have to cost a fortune. By planning ahead, staying flexible, and using a few savvy strategies, you can secure cheap flights for your family and spend more on experiences instead of airfare. Start incorporating these tips into your travel routine today, and watch your family vacations become even more affordable.

Ready to start booking? Try using some of these strategies for your next family trip and make it one to remember—without breaking the bank!

Happy travels!
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