Have you ever wondered why your friend sitting next to youcan get airplane ticketsto travel abroad for half the price, even though you travel around the same time?
The answer isn't luck but rather a "trick of using applications" effectively. Nowadays, you don't have to watch your screen waiting for airline promotions anymore, because flight search appshavefeatures that automatically scan for the cheapest ticket prices.
Thairath Online has compiled essential tips on setting up alerts and flexible travel date selection that will turn you into a professional deal hunter, booking the cheapest tickets of the month with ease.
Let the app act as your 24-hour radar for cheap tickets. Instead of manually checking ticket prices multiple times a day, use the "Price Alert" feature in popular apps like Skyscanner, Google Flights, Traveloka, or Hopper.
To use it, search for your route and dates of interest, then tap the "bell" icon or the "track price" button.
The app’s algorithm monitors ticket prices from all airlines on that route 24/7. Whenever airlines drop prices, launch flash sales, or prices start to rise, the app sends an alert or email immediately, allowing you to book before the deal expires.
The first mistake of travelers paying high prices is locking in exact travel dates from the start. If your leave dates are flexible, try searching tickets by "whole month" or "calendar view" to see a monthly price overview on one screen.
Look for the option to select "whole month" or specify a month instead of a specific date in the date field. The app then displays prices for all 30 days of that month in a calendar or bar graph with color codes (green = very cheap, yellow = moderate, red = expensive). This clearly shows which days are cheapest to fly, for example, Tuesday to Thursday may be 30-50% cheaper than Friday to Sunday. Just shifting travel dates slightly can save you thousands.
If you have days off but are undecided where to go, the "Everywhere" or "Explore" feature is the perfect solution.
To use it, enter your departure city (e.g., Bangkok), then select "Everywhere" or "Explore all" in the destination field.
The app sorts countries and cities worldwide with the cheapest tickets available at that time, listing them from lowest to highest price. This method often leads you to discover unexpected travel spots with prices so low you'll be amazed.
Modern apps like Google Flights or Hopper have intelligent AI systems that analyze past price trends to predict future fares.
After searching for a route, the app shows an analysis bar indicating whether the current price is "cheaper than usual," "average," or "more expensive than usual," along with advice such as "This price is a good deal, book now" or "Wait to book; prices may drop by X amount within two weeks." This helps you make precise decisions without regretting booking before a price drop.
1. Use Incognito Mode or clear cookies: Repeated searches for the same route may cause the system to raise prices based on demand. Searching in incognito mode helps reveal the most accurate prices.
2. Check for multi-city or split tickets: Sometimes booking the outbound flight with airline A and the return with airline B can be cheaper than booking round-trip with one airline.
Make finding cheap flights easy by setting up alerts and keeping travel dates flexible. Let technology do the work, so you can save money for eating, traveling, and shopping on your trip.