I have never paid full price for a flight. That's not a boast — it's a philosophy. After 10 years of flying out of London on a budget, I've developed a set of rules that consistently cuts the cost of almost any trip by 30–60%. Here they are.
1. Use Google Flights Explore
If you don't have a destination in mind, Google Flights' Explore map is the best tool ever made for spontaneous travellers. Set your departure airport to LHR or LGW, leave the destination blank, and browse the map for prices. You'll find sub-£80 return flights to destinations you'd never have considered.
2. Book on a Tuesday or Wednesday
Airlines release fare sales on Monday nights. By Tuesday and Wednesday, aggregators have indexed them and competition has kicked in. Prices tend to be 10–15% lower mid-week than on weekends. It's not a magic trick — it's just how airline revenue management works.
3. Set Fare Alerts on Skyscanner
Skyscanner's 'Watch this route' feature sends you an email when prices drop on a specific route. Set one for every route you're considering and forget about it. Prices often drop 6–8 weeks before departure and again 3–4 days before. Both dips are worth catching.
4. Be Flexible on Airport
London has six airports. LHR and LGW get all the attention, but STN (Stansted), LTN (Luton), and SEN (Southend) are often significantly cheaper for European routes. A £25 train to Stansted can save you £120 on a Ryanair fare. Do the maths.
5. Use a Rewards Credit Card
The Amex Avios card earns 1 Avios per £1 spent. Used on BA or Iberia, Avios can knock £50–£200 off a return European flight. The annual fee pays for itself within a few months if you use the card for your normal spending. Don't go into debt for points — but if you're spending anyway, make it work.
6. Check Hidden City Ticketing (Carefully)
Sometimes a ticket to a further destination — with a stopover in your actual target city — is cheaper than a direct ticket to that city. This is called 'hidden city' ticketing and it's technically against most airlines' T&Cs. Use it sparingly, only on one-way trips, never check luggage, and never on airlines you use frequently.
7. Fly on Christmas Day or New Year's Day
Everyone avoids the 25th of December. That means fares are often dramatically cheaper than the 23rd or 26th. If your family is flexible, book Christmas Day travel, celebrate on the 24th or 26th, and pocket the difference. I once flew to New York on Christmas Day for £180 return. The flight was half empty and the crew were in a brilliant mood.
