The short answer
The biggest savings usually come from moving your dates, comparing nearby airports and checking the total price including bags, not from any single trick. Work through the eight steps below and compare like with like before you pay.
What decides the price of a flight
Airlines sell the same seat at many different prices. The fare you see depends on how many seats are left on that flight, how close you are to the departure date, the fare type (with or without a bag, changeable or not) and how much competition there is on the route. You cannot control most of that, but you can control your dates, airports, route and fare type, and that is where the savings are.
1. Be flexible on your dates
Moving your trip by a day or two can change the price noticeably, especially around school holidays, bank holidays and religious festivals. Search a few departure dates either side of your ideal one, and do the same for your return. If you can, avoid travelling on the busiest days of a holiday period.
If your dates are fixed, flexibility elsewhere matters more. That is where the next steps come in.
2. Compare nearby airports
Do not search from only one airport. London has several, and regional airports such as Manchester and Birmingham can be cheaper or more convenient depending on the route. At the other end, a country's second airport can be cheaper than the capital's, for example flying into Abuja instead of Lagos if your plans allow either. Our guide to flying from Manchester, Birmingham or London explains how to weigh the trade-offs.
3. Compare direct and one-stop flights
Connecting flights are often cheaper than direct ones, but they take longer and carry more risk if the first leg runs late. Look at the total journey time, the length of the layover and whether your bags are checked through to the final destination. A saving of a small amount is rarely worth an extra eight hours with young children.
4. Avoid peak dates where you can
Demand for popular routes rises around the UK school holidays, Easter and the Christmas and New Year festive season, when many people travel to Africa for family occasions and events. If you must travel then, book earlier and be ready to pay more. If you have a choice, a trip just before or just after the peak is often noticeably cheaper.
5. Check the total price, not the headline fare
A low fare can exclude checked baggage, seat selection, meals and the ability to change the booking. Compare fares that include the same things. A table helps:
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Checked baggage | Some fares include none; adding a bag later can cost more than choosing the right fare first |
| Hand luggage size and weight | Airlines set their own limits and enforce them at the gate |
| Change and refund rules | Cheapest fares are often the least flexible |
| Layover length and airport changes | A short connection risks a missed flight; a long one costs you a day |
| Booking fees | Ask for the full price including all fees before you pay |
6. Compare return and one-way prices
A return ticket is often the same price as a one-way, or cheaper, but not always. If your plans are open, price a one-way and a return and compare. Our guide to one-way and return flights covers when each makes sense.
7. Book at the right time for your trip
For peak dates, book early because the cheaper seats sell first. For quiet periods you have more room to wait. Nobody can predict fares perfectly, so the safest approach is to set a price you are happy with and book when you see it. We cover this in detail in when to book flights.
8. Ask a person for complex trips
Multi-city itineraries, family bookings with children and infants, and trips with several stops are hard to price on your own. A travel consultant can compare options side by side and explain the rules. You can search flights online and a consultant will confirm the live price, or call 0800 007 4114.
Comparing options side by side
The cheapest-looking fare is not always the best one once you compare like with like. Imagine two return options for the same two weeks in the school holidays. This table is an illustration of the questions to ask, not real prices.
| Option A | Option B | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Direct from a London airport | One stop from a regional airport |
| Journey time | Shorter | Longer, with a layover |
| Checked bag | Check what the fare includes | Check what the fare includes |
| Getting to the airport | Check cost and time | Check cost and time |
| Change rules | Check before booking | Check before booking |
Fill in both columns with real figures before you decide. The option with the lower ticket price often turns out to cost more once bags, transport and time are counted.
Tips for families and groups
- Count everyone correctly. Adults, children (2 to 11) and infants (under 2) are priced differently, and the ages are measured on the travel date.
- Ask about seats together. Airlines may charge to choose seats, and children usually need to sit next to an adult.
- Check infant rules. An infant normally travels on an adult's lap, with limits on how many infants one adult can accompany.
- Book everyone together so the group is on the same booking and the same flights.
Check who you are buying from
Before you pay anyone, check you can reach them by phone or email, that the full price is shown before payment, and what protection applies if the airline cancels or changes your flight. The UK Civil Aviation Authority publishes information for air passengers. If a deal needs payment immediately by bank transfer to an individual, treat it with suspicion.
A quick checklist before you pay
- Dates and airports are correct, including the return.
- Names match each passport exactly.
- Baggage and change rules are clear and acceptable.
- The total price includes every fee.
- You have checked entry requirements and arranged travel insurance. The government's guide to foreign travel insurance explains what cover to look for.
Flight booking terms explained
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Fare class | The pricing group a seat is sold in. Cheaper classes have fewer conditions and sell first |
| Layover (or stopover) | The time between connecting flights |
| Open-jaw | A return ticket that flies into one city and home from another |
| E-ticket | Your electronic ticket, normally sent by email as a booking confirmation |
| Codeshare | A flight sold by one airline but operated by another |
| Checked baggage | Bags you hand over at check-in and collect on arrival |
| Hand luggage | The bag you take into the cabin, with size and weight limits set by the airline |
If any term on a quote is unclear, ask for it to be explained before you pay.
Mistakes to avoid
- Names that do not match the passport. Enter each traveller's name exactly as it appears on their passport.
- Ignoring entry requirements. Check passport validity and visa rules for your destination on the official GOV.UK foreign travel advice pages before you pay.
- Booking a very tight connection to save a little money.
- Forgetting travel insurance. Arrange cover when you book, not the night before.
Fares, baggage rules and entry requirements change. Always confirm current details with the airline and the official sources linked above before you travel.