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One major aspect of traveling is finding cheap flights, Travel Deals, Flight Deals & Error Fares. When we don’t have enough miles to book a free flight, our go-to is waiting for an error fare or a flight sale notification from one of the sites below. Wondering how to get the best travel deals, flight deals, and hotel deals on cheap flights websites, too? Then you’re in the right place.
What Is the Best Way to Approach Cheap Flights Websites?
- Set fare alerts instead of manually searching every day
- Stay flexible on dates and nearby airports
- Follow error fare communities for instant notifications
- Use a flight comparison tool before booking anywhere
- Book refundable rates when plans aren’t fully locked in
What Is An Error Fare / What Is A Mistake Fare / What Is A Glitch Fare?
Let me start by explaining what an error/flight/mistake fare is. An error fare is a glitch, error or mistake in an airline’s system due to technical issues or human error.
This glitch or error causes a flight to show up online for a price that is significantly lower than the regular price. However, the airline can decide whether to honor the error/glitch or not.
If they don’t honor it, whatever you paid will be reimbursed; if they do honor it, then hooray!! Time to plan by booking your hotel.
When I get an alert for an error fare that catches my eye, “I Purchase It Immediately” and then figure out the logistics later. Logistics meaning, hotel, activities, etc. Error fares don’t come around too often, so when they do, I try to take advantage of them.
Two of my favorite error fare purchases have been
- Los Angeles to London on Norwegian Airlines – $12.40 for 4 one-way tickets.
- Washington, DC, to Chile on Copa Airlines – $660 for 4 round-trip tickets
Expert Tips:
- NEVER call the airline to ask about the error fare, just wait to see if you get a confirmation number or a cancellation email.
- Don’t book activities or accommodation right away, and if you absolutely have to, make sure you book refundable options so that you can cancel without a penalty.
- The rule of thumb is usually to wait it out to see what happens.
How Much Can Families Save With These Methods?
- Error fares can cut standard airfare by 80% or more
- Flexible date searches often save 20-40% on flights
- Off-peak booking windows can lower fares by 15-30%
- Combining alerts with refundable rates avoids forfeited deposits
- Annual travel insurance can cost less than a single-trip policy
Skyscanner
While waiting for an error fare notification to come to my phone, one of my absolute favorite websites to shop for tickets is Skycanner. I love Skyscanner because it gives me the option to shop for Skyscanner
While waiting for an error fare notification to come to my phone, one of my absolute favorite websites to shop for tickets is Skycanner. I love Skyscanner because it gives me the option to shop for the cheapest place to fly to in the world from my home airport.
The only way we can afford travel is to go where it is cheap, so this website is a game-changer and lifesaver for me.
Skyscanner App
Make sure that you download the Skyscanner App to find flights, hotels, and, most especially, to track flight prices so that you know the best time to purchase them. The website is great to use, but the app is even handier.
Google Flights
Google Flights is one of my absolute favorite flight comparison tools. It allows you to add multiple departure and arrival airports. It also allows you to search multiple airlines and compare them. If you aren’t sure where you want to travel to, Google Flights can offer suggestions as well
Read some of my other helpful blog posts below:
Websites That Send Flight Deals and Error Fare Notifications Directly To Your Inbox
The websites listed below are the best websites to sign up for if you want to be notified of flight deals and cheap airfare. If you click on each of the links below, you’ll be able to sign up for each of the Facebook pages that I follow.
Don’t forget to sign up for their emails as well, especially if you don’t check Facebook often. The following websites are where I get my notifications for flight deals, error fares, and much more.
I highly recommend that you follow every single one listed below, including my Facebook page, too, of course – The MOM Trotter.
Dan’s Deals and Daily Getaways don’t send out flight deals like the websites below do, but they do have posts about hotel deals and more, so you should follow them too.
Going (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights)
This is my absolute favorite resource for flight emails. The Premium plan runs $49 a year with a 14-day free trial, and members save an average of $550 on international economy flights. I have the premium version, and it is well worth it.
I have scored so many great deals, including business class flights for less than nothing. We recently flew business class from New Zealand to California directly on Air NZ because of a deal shared by Going.
Secret Flying
The Flight Deal
Travel Pirates
Travelzoo
Fly4Free USA Flight Deals & Fly4Free Europe Flight Deals
(Make sure to sign up for the push app notifications as well)
Airfare Spot
Airfare Spot
Our family has been lucky enough to score so many error fares and great deals from these websites above. For example, our trip to Chile below was an error fare for $165 round-trip per person. Can you imagine?
Our trip cost us about $1,300 for our family of 4, including airfare, lodging, etc. We walked a lot, took Uber a few times, cooked in our Airbnb or Rental Home, and visited lots of free stuff.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Flight Websites
1. How do families afford to travel so much?
Families who travel often usually combine a few habits: chasing error fares and flight deals, staying flexible on dates and destinations, and setting aside a dedicated travel fund every month. None of it requires a high income. It requires consistency, fare alerts, and treating travel savings like a recurring bill rather than leftover money.
2. What is the 50/30/20 rule?
The 50/30/20 rule is a simple budgeting framework that splits take-home income into three categories: 50% for needs like housing and groceries, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings or debt payoff. Many families carve travel funds out of the 30% or 20% portion, depending on whether other debt is being paid down first.
3. What are the best apps for family budgeting?
YNAB costs $49 a year and uses zero-based budgeting, with one subscription shared across six people. Monarch Money works well for households that want unlimited members collaborating on one shared budget in real time. Goodbudget uses envelope-style budgeting, which some families find easier for visualizing a travel fund.
4. How much should a family save monthly?
There’s no universal number, since it depends on income, debt, and travel goals. A common starting point is setting aside 5 to 10% of monthly income specifically for a travel fund, separate from emergency savings. Even a small, consistent amount in a dedicated account adds up faster than waiting for extra cash to appear.
Scoring cheap flights is half the equation. The other half is making sure the savings actually go somewhere instead of disappearing into everyday spending.
If you want the full system for funding travel without going into debt, the Family Travel Fund guide breaks down exactly how to set one up.
For the bigger picture on traveling the world as a family without blowing the budget, start with How to Travel the World with Kids on a Budget.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find the best flight deals with Skyscanner. It searches airlines and travel sites around the world so you can compare routes, schedules, and prices in one place.
Book Your Accommodation
Book family-friendly hotels, apartments, resorts, and vacation rentals with Booking.com. It’s an easy way to compare accommodations and find the right fit for your family and budget.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance can help protect your trip in case of unexpected delays, cancellations, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. Before your next international trip, check Nomad Insurance for coverage options.
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards can help you earn points and miles that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and other travel expenses. Check out my recommended travel credit card resources to start making your travel budget go further.
Need a Rental Car?
Use Discover Cars to compare rental car options and find competitive rates worldwide. It’s a simple way to compare prices and find the best option for your trip.
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Viator makes it easy to discover tours, attractions, day trips, and local experiences. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities or unique adventures, you’ll find plenty of options to enhance your trip.
Shopping for Travel Essentials?
From packing organizers and travel gear to family travel must-haves, you can find many of my favorite travel essentials on Amazon.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
If you’d like extra support planning your next adventure, explore curated travel experiences through Rooted Journeys, where we help families discover meaningful and memorable travel experiences around the world.
