Beat Airfare Increases With 11 Tips for Cheap Flights

Smart strategies to help savvy travelers keep flight costs in check

an airplane cutout filled with pennies flying over a shoreline

Combat fare increases with insider tips for finding low-cost flights, such as setting a flight price alert, comparing fares from different locations using a VPN and simply asking for an age-based discount.

AARP (Getty Images, 2)

Berit Thorkelson,

Updated March 20, 2026

AARP

Published November 03, 2025

/ Updated March 20, 2026

Key takeaways

Airfare is rising due to fuel surcharges, the recent conflict and earlier CPI increases
Seasonal demand, major events and tighter budgets add pressure to ticket prices
Despite higher costs, airline demand remains strong, especially among travelers 50-plus
Savvy travelers can still cut costs by using a VPN, price alerts, searching multiple airports and other proven booking strategies

In this story

Amid all of travel’s current uncertainty, one thing is clear: airfare costs are trending up.

Some airlines announced fuel surcharges and fare hikes in the wake of the conflict with Iran, which disrupted the global oil supply. This comes on the heels of February’s 7.1 percent year-over-year airfare increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index.

Then there are the typical price surges for spring and summer breaks, special events (World Cup, we’re looking at you) and the reality of older consumers’ fixed or shrinking budgets.

Still, we travel. Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that executives at American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines weren’t changing profit forecasts for the first three months of the year, despite higher fuel costs, because ticket sales remained strong. And AARP’s 2026 Travel Trends survey recently revealed that even as the cost of travel increases, so do the travel plans of those 50 and older. Nearly two-thirds planned to travel this year, and most of that by airplane.

We make that happen with bargain shopping, cashing in rewards and asking for AI help, in particular. But those are far from the only tactics out there. The following money-saving airfare tips draw on my own accumulated travel deal-seeking skills and those of other veteran globe-trotters. They aim to help fellow travelers stick to planned visits to see family, friends and beautiful places for the least amount of money possible, current airfare trends be damned.

1. Ask for a discount

Patti Morrow, boomer travel influencer and blogger at Luggage and Lipstick, says it may be as simple as picking a flight, then calling the airline directly to ask for a senior discount – which varies by airline. “It’s not advertised anywhere on their websites, or even on some of the websites that [aggregate] different flights,” she says. “But if you call in, you can sometimes get discounts.” When attempts have been successful, she’s saved as much as $200. The higher the flight cost, the greater the potential discount, she says.

2. Use those points

“The number of … recent retirees and not-so-recent retirees that just want to see those balances go up and not down — those miles are only going to get less and less valuable over time,” says Kyle Potter, executive editor of travel and flight deal website Thrifty Traveler. Since airlines often adjust the value of miles within their travel programs — and typically not in travelers’ favor — the longer you hold onto a mile, the less it gets you. Cash them in, Potter says. “No deal is going to be better than booking a flight for close to free.”

3. Experiment with aggregators

My first stop when trip-planning is always a flight aggregator. They compile carriers’ flight information so you can search in one place using their various tools, such as price-comparison calendars, multicity search functions, deal finders and more. The aggregator eventually sends you to the airline for booking. Among the big names to experiment with: Google Flights, Skyscanner and Kayak.

Note that these are different from online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia, Booking.com and Hopper, which aggregate flight data but also handle bookings. This means you forgo direct-booking benefits, including miles accumulation or cancellation protection. Understand the difference to ensure the savings are worth it. I’ve used OTAs to get great deals, often — but not always — without regrets. And take extra care to avoid fake booking sites.

4. Set a flight price alert

This feature, offered by flight aggregators, OTAs and other websites, provides a simple way to rest easy knowing you’re getting a great deal — no flight stalking required. Let the site know your developing plans, even if travel dates or locations are still up in the air. Then set your alert; the site will reach out through its app or via email when the price is right.

I recently used my travel credit card’s version of this before booking my flight to a destination wedding. Even as the date neared, I was comfortable following the advice to wait to buy. I was rewarded with tickets for under $200 each. My card also offers automatic price-drop protection, as do some other platforms, sometimes for a fee. So if I book and the price decreases, they auto-refund the difference. Which, I can say from experience, is really a nice surprise.

5. Invest in a VPN

Virtual private networks, a.k.a. VPNs, digitally encrypt your internet connection, making it hard to track your location and identity. One common use is to more securely tap into public WiFi. Use one when booking to obscure your location and browsing history — and any connected price hike.

Morrow uses a VPN to search flights from different cities and countries, to see if any might yield a deal. The VPN allows her to remain at home and select a different location, around the country or world, to search from. A couple of tips: If searching outside the U.S., avoid countries with greater economic wealth than the U.S., as those residents are less likely to be targeted for deals. And be prepared with a currency converter, since searching from another country returns results in that country’s currency. Once changed to U.S. dollars, determine whether the price is saving you money.

VPNs typically cost just a few dollars a month, so they could pay for themselves with one solid flight deal. But the peace of mind that comes from additional protection against hackers is also worth it.

6. Follow the “flight first” rule

“Before you start booking hotels, cruises or excursions, before you request time off from work, start by looking for flights,” Potter says. “That builds in the additional flexibility that you really need in order to get the best deal possible.” Shifting your return or departure by one day could mean saving hundreds of dollars per ticket, he says.

7. Search multiple airports

If there is more than one airport within a tolerable drive of your home, make a habit of searching for flights to and from all of them. Of course, the savings or convenience will need to offset the additional drive time. Morrow has three airports within a few hours of her home, one of which is more likely to offer inexpensive, direct flights to Europe. “It has to be worth my while to drive that distance,” she says of the further ones. “But a lot of times, it is.”

8. Travel during the shoulder season

“I don’t like the low season because there’s a reason why it’s low season,” Morrow says. Shoulder season, though, typically comes with decent weather and lower prices on flights and more, she says. Just be aware of the reason it’s not peak season, so you’re sure it’s worth the trade-off.

Morrow’s recent shoulder-season trip to Europe was cooler than she’d have liked, but she decided that paying less was worth layering up during her explorations. “There were far less crowds, and the hotels were less. The flights were less,” she says.

More savings

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9. Book in the Goldilocks zone

Can you keep track of all the rules surrounding buying on a specific day, at a certain time of day, or during a particular month? You probably don’t need to. “None of that stuff really stands up to scrutiny,” Potter says. The only timing truism, he says, is to not book too early or too late. Instead, wait until the timing is just right, “somewhere in the range of three to … nine months in advance,” he says, and remain flexible. Expedia’s “2025 Air Hacks” report says travelers booking domestic flights one to three months in advance save 25 percent, compared to travelers who wait until closer to departure.

10. Take advantage of credit card travel offers

Morrow has a go-to card but regularly signs up for new ones that offer bonus miles for opening and signing up. “I’ll keep it for a year, and I’ll use my mileage within the year, because I’m not going to pay the $150 or whatever it is to keep the card for every year beyond that,” she says. One note of caution: “You have to remember to cancel.” Mark your calendar.

11. Join a community or club

Morrow appreciates membership discounts when she books flights, through airlines’ frequent flyer programs or organizations such as AARP, AAA, WeSalute (formerly Veterans Advantage) and the National Education Association (NEA). Some travel and warehouse club membership websites offer deals and benefits, too.

Editor’s note: The story was originally published on Nov. 3, 2025. It has been updated to reflect new information.

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity

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Berit Thorkelson is a travel writer and editor for aarp.org. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens and The Minnesota Star Tribune’s travel section.

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