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Recommendations for buying and managing an airline ticket

Buying an airline ticket at the best possible price today requires more than simply choosing a destination and date. In addition to traditional methods, there are digital platforms and artificial intelligence–based tools that analyze millions of flight combinations, identify pricing patterns, and alert travelers to real savings opportunities.

Airfares change constantly depending on demand, the airline, the route, how far in advance the ticket is purchased, flight schedules, connections, and fare type. As a result, the price of the same flight may vary several times in a single day.

Lower fares are often subject to restrictions that should be reviewed carefully before purchasing:

- non-refundable tickets,
- no changes or cancellations allowed,
- checked baggage with additional fees,
- paid seat selection,
- use of secondary or more distant airports.

When to buy

There is no single rule that guarantees the lowest price. Buying far in advance or at the last minute is not always cheaper. The most effective approach is to monitor prices over several days or weeks and take advantage of automatic alerts when fares drop.

Tools such as Google Flights and Skyscanner allow travelers to activate price alerts for specific routes and receive notifications when prices increase or decrease.

In general, traveling during low season and avoiding school holidays and long weekends tends to offer better fares, although this varies by destination.

Flexibility

Flexibility with travel dates and airports is one of the factors that most strongly influences ticket prices. Shifting departure or return dates by one or two days can result in significant savings.

Platforms such as Google Flights, Skyscanner, and KAYAK offer price calendars that show which days are cheaper within a selected range.

Tools to search for flights and compare prices

Today, there are search engines that use advanced algorithms and automated analysis systems to identify flight combinations that may not be immediately obvious to users.

Some of the most commonly used tools include:

Google Flights: allows travelers to compare airlines, view price trends, set up automatic alerts, and quickly determine whether a fare is high or low compared to typical values.

Skyscanner: ideal for flexible travelers. It allows searches by entire month, open destinations (“anywhere”), and combinations of different airlines.

KAYAK: includes price prediction features that suggest whether to buy now or wait, based on historical data and market behavior.

Hopper: uses artificial intelligence to analyze fares and send personalized alerts, indicating when to buy and when to wait.

These platforms do not always sell tickets directly, but instead redirect users to the airline’s or agency’s official website. Once a good fare is found, it is often advisable to complete the purchase on the airline’s official site.

If the itinerary includes multiple cities, multi-city or “open-jaw” flights (for example, arriving in one city and departing from another) can be more economical and efficient.

Things to consider

Not all cheap fares are truly convenient. It is important to review schedules, connection times, and arrival airports.

A lower-priced flight may involve long layovers, overnight schedules, or airports far from the city center, which can lead to additional transportation or accommodation costs.

Always verify whether the displayed price includes taxes and mandatory fees. Some search engines show base fares that increase during the checkout process.

Checked baggage is one of the most common additional charges. Many low fares include only carry-on luggage, with strict size and weight limits. For short trips, traveling light can represent significant savings.

Review carefully before confirming

Some airlines offer multiple fare types for the same flight, each with different included services. In many cases, choosing the basic fare and adding only essential services is more cost-effective.

During the booking process, many optional services are preselected by default. Review each step carefully and deselect anything you do not need, as these extras can significantly increase the final price.

Before completing the purchase, verify the final amount and review the full breakdown of charges. Many travelers end up paying more simply by not reviewing this final step carefully.

After completing the purchase

Once the purchase is confirmed, you will receive an email with your itinerary and a booking reference. Although this information is usually sent by email, it is advisable to save a copy, take a screenshot, or print the confirmation as a backup.

Manage your boarding pass

With your booking reference, you can complete online check-in, usually between 24 and 48 hours before departure, depending on the airline.

If you are not checking baggage, the digital or printed boarding pass allows you to proceed directly to security and document control. Even so, having a printed copy as backup is always recommended.

If you need to check luggage, you must go to the check-in counter or use self-service kiosks available at some airports.