Flying to a summer destination could be a whole lot more expensive this year, thanks to the ongoing conflict in Iran and recent demise of Spirit Airlines.
The price of crude oil was more than $105 per barrel as of the time of publication, and dozens of international airlines have cut flights or added fuel surcharges as a result. Meanwhile, domestic airlines seem to be taking a different approach to covering their costs, namely by increasing baggage fees.
Additionally, Spirit Airlines announced recently that it had gone out of business. This could have an upward impact on fares since airlines often had to ease prices to compete with the budget carrier.
While travelers should brace themselves for higher costs, there are still ways to save. One of the easiest is to use an app that will help you find cheap flights by using strategies such as booking at the right time, snagging a “mistake” fare or flying into a different airport.
The best flight apps offer features that will alert you to price drops, let you search for cheaper travel times or help you find special pricing not easily found elsewhere.
Try one of these nine discount airfare apps and services that frequent flyers say work for them.
— Going
— Skyscanner
— Dollar Flight Club
— Google Flights
— Hopper
— Kiwi
— ExpertFlyer
— myRiva
— Your favorite airline’s app
[Read: How to Actually Find Cheap Flights]
1. Going
A good flight alert program can simplify the process of finding a deal. Going, a favorite source for flight alerts, sends emails or notifications whenever discounted airfare is available to selected destinations.
The company notes that deals can be as much as 90% off normal prices and most members save an average of $550 on economy flights.
“(It) is one of the best apps to use when searching for cheap flights,” Alex Miller, CEO of UpgradedPoints.com, says. “It can narrow down what city you’re located in and then alert you when a qualifying airfare, based on criteria that you set, is found.”
Users can choose from three tiers of service:
— Free limited accounts receive alerts about deals on continental U.S. flights.
— Premium plans cost $49 annually and include international and domestic economy flights, mistake fares and points and miles deals.
— Frequent globetrotters may want to spring for the elite plan, which costs $199 per year and provides alerts for premium economy, business and first-class flights.
2. Skyscanner
Skyscanner has a free flight app that is compatible with both Apple and Android devices and provides pricing alerts when a good deal becomes available. The app is easy to use and allows you to set alerts for specific dates or routes.
Travelers can also use Skyscanner’s calendar and charts to compare hundreds of flights for both international and domestic destinations. The app highlights flights that emit less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, lets users mix and match flights from different carriers and offers a search option that allows travelers to find the best prices for flights originating from their chosen airports.
When you find a flight you like, Skyscanner will direct you to a third-party booking app to make the purchase. In addition to flights, users can search for hotels and car rentals using Skyscanner.
3. Dollar Flight Club
Dollar Flight Club is similar to Going but structures its plans differently.
Free accounts get alerted to deals from one departure airport, while premium members can choose four departure airports and 10 dream destinations for deal alerts on domestic and international economy flights. Premium membership costs $69 a year. There is also a Premium Plus+ membership that runs $99 per year and includes premium economy and business class deals.
The service says members get access to deals of up to 90% off airfare from their home airport and savings can be up to $2,000 per vacation.
[READ: A Look at Gas Prices Around the World]
4. Google Flights
While not currently available as an app, Google Flights offers a simple online interface that allows you to search for flights to specific airports and then see a calendar view that shows when flights will be cheapest. It also has a price graph that shows pricing trends over time.
“You can plug in your start city and then let Google Flights make suggestions on where to fly from there based upon the cost of airfare,” Miller says. That’s a useful tool for travelers with flexibility.
Once you find the right airfare, you’ll need to find and book it directly with the carrier or through a third-party booking service.
[READ: Does Google Flights Really Save You Money?]
5. Hopper
The Hopper app offers various tools to help you find and lock in the best price. It is free to download and use, although some features, such as price freezes and the ability to cancel a flight for any reason, require a fee. However, one of its core services is predicting future travel prices, which helps travelers decide whether to book now or wait for a price drop.
That’s one reason it’s among the best flight apps, according to Kevin Raposo, founder of KnowTechie. He used it to book a vacation to Saint Lucia and says it couldn’t have been easier. “You can do it all at the push of a button,” he says.
For those just browsing on the app — which is available for Apple and Android devices — Hopper will color-code flights using green, yellow and red to indicate high or low prices.
6. Kiwi
Compatible with Android and Apple devices, Kiwi promises its app will provide travelers with exclusive offers and prices. It searches for the best rates from all available airlines to piece together the lowest-cost itinerary.
The free app also allows users to search for all deals from a specific airport, which can be handy for those who are ready to take a vacation but don’t have a particular destination in mind. Within the app, users can get price alerts, access mobile boarding passes and view airport maps.
The Kiwi.com Club is a free loyalty program that provides members with the opportunity to claim vouchers worth up to $580. There is also special promo pricing available to club members and free refundable options for those who complete at least four qualifying trips per year.
[What Is Skiplagging and Should You Do It to Save Money?]
7. ExpertFlyer
If you are a frequent flyer, ExpertFlyer can help you find your preferred seat at the best price possible. It also makes it easy to find seats for upgrades and award redemptions.
“ExpertFlyer is another great tool, though admittedly, it’s for the more advanced flyer,” Miller says. “Rather than perform ordinary searches to uncover good airfare deals, you can set alerts and search by specific inventory on flights.”
That means that this service is intended for those who know where, when and with which airline they want to fly. If you have a specific route that you travel frequently, ExpertFlyer can help you find discounted fares.
A free version provides seat alerts while paid subscriptions, which start at $5.99 per month, come with additional features such as the ability to search for awards and upgrades.
8. myRiva
Airfare apps aren’t only for those booking vacations. Business travelers and their employers are often searching for a good deal as well. That’s the niche myRiva fills.
“We’ve built a platform to bring everything in one place so you don’t have to hop from site to site,” says myRiva founder and CEO Vajid Jafri.
While other apps may allow users to book from multiple companies, they typically serve as digital travel agencies. With myRiva, bookings are made directly with an airline or other vendor through the app’s platform, which the company says can provide 20% savings. For added convenience, myRiva also provides customer service.
The app brings together travel options from more than six million hotels and 800 airlines. Then, it uses artificial intelligence to learn user preferences and make recommendations. Designed for businesses, you’ll have to request a demo to get pricing information.
9. Your Favorite Airline’s App
Don’t overlook your favorite airline’s app when searching for cheap flights. Booking direct can sometimes be the best option, according to Sandra McLemore, a travel industry expert and TV host.
“While these (third-party) apps may feel convenient and more user-friendly than other online booking options, buyer beware,” McLemore says. If you buy your tickets through that third-party app, you may find it difficult to receive customer service should any issues arise.
“An airline will send you right back to the app or online booking engine to receive service,” McLemore points out.
Also, by focusing your spending with a specific airline, you may find it easier to accumulate frequent flyer miles, which you can redeem for free flights and therefore save more money in the long run.
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9 Best Apps for Finding Cheap Flights originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 05/04/26: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
