How to fly while spending less

Flexibility on dates and times

Moving your departure even a single day, or choosing a flight with one stopover instead of direct, can significantly lower the price. Tools like Google Flights calendar view or Skyscanner "search the whole month" show at a glance which days of the week cost less on the same route, without having to check dates one by one.

Secondary airports, sometimes farther away but more economical

Many low-cost airlines operate from secondary hubs with lower operating costs, which is reflected in ticket prices: Bergamo instead of Milan Linate or Malpensa, Treviso instead of Venice Marco Polo, Beauvais or Charleroi instead of Paris Charles de Gaulle. The savings on the flight should be compared with the time and cost of transfer to the destination city center, which sometimes offsets part of the advantage.

Low season and days of lower demand

On domestic and European routes, periods with less demand, typically January, February and mid-autumn weeks far from holidays and school breaks, offer on average the lowest fares of the year, not just on flights but also on accommodation and airport parking.

Organize the trip in advance

Booking flight, accommodation and parking at different times, each at the last minute, almost always leads to paying the highest available price on each item. Choosing the right type of parking in advance, for example, leaves savings margins that a last-minute purchase no longer allows you to take advantage of.

Set up a price alert on Google Flights or Skyscanner for the route you are interested in: the notification arrives automatically when the fare drops, so you book at the right time without having to check the price every day.