How to search for and book a flight 

Tips to bag a bargain flight
​Quick Links

Skyscanner and Google Flights are my favourite flight finding tools BUT they need to be used with caution (see below).  Both offer the option to put in your starting location and the destination you want to travel to and the dates you want to travel.  Both also give you the option to put in a month rather than a specific date and a whole country rather than an airport to give you more options.  You can make a booking through both sites or identify which airline(s) give you the best price/options and go to their website(s) and book direct.​ Popular destinations will throw up lots of options so use the information below to make a decision which suits you best.​

Flight search essentials

• Confirm the price on the booking page

You must select the flight you want and follow it through to the actual booking page to be assured of the price. Headline prices are often slightly wrong and sometimes really wrong.  

• Include all passengers in your search

Looking for the price of one seat when you need more may give you an incorrect price, as airline pricing structures mean only a certain number of seats will be sold at a certain price and when these are sold a different price will apply.​  Also children under 16 flying from the UK do not pay departure tax at the same rate and therefore their flights will be cheaper.  Long haul flights often offer children under 12 a reduction so again these flights will be cheaper.​

• Where is your airport?

Check out exactly where your departure and arrival airport is - I know this sounds a little crazy but some airlines are very flexible with geography!  For example Venice Marco Polo Airport is on the edge of Venice but Venice Traviso Airport is a good hour away by bus.  Know where you are going and work out how you are going to get from the airport to your accommodation. ​ Transfers cost time and money so factor them in.

• Baggage and extras often cost loads

Hold luggage can sometimes cost more that a seat on a plane so think about what you need to take and check the airline website for hold luggage allowances.  Some are really generous while others are not and if you get caught over the limit you can be heavily charged at the airport. You can always book luggage at a later date if you're not sure but don't leave it to the last couple of days to book online as prices often rise.  Definitely don't leave it until you get to the airport as it always costs way more.​ Seat selection can also get expensive.  Whether you choose it or not is completely down to personal choice and whether you want to sit in a specific place in the plane or if you are booking as a group and it's important that you all sit together.  Airlines have different policies about how close children should be seated to their parents so it's worth investigating this if you have young children.

• What times do your flights depart and leave? 

I've actually grown to really love leaving very early to travel to Europe.  Yes it's painful getting up in the middle of the night but the drive/taxi to the airport is always really easy with no traffic.  You also have a whole day to get to where you're going so you arrive in the light, with supermarkets open and there's a chance to check out the beach/pool/local bar!  But of course it all depends on your personal preferences and practical things like how you're planning to get to the airport (there are no trains at 3am!)  Just look at the options available and figure out what will work best for the prices on offer.​
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• Is direct or indirect best?

For short haul journeys it is almost always better to fly direct.  There's nothing more frustrating that sitting in an airport slightly out of your way waiting for the next leg of your journey to begin.  For long haul flights going indirect can save hundreds of pounds so is really worth considering.  On the plus side breaking up a long flight, especially if you have younger children, will give everyone a chance to stretch their legs and move around.  You may also have the bonus of spending a couple of days somewhere interesting en route (check with the airline directly for details of layovers).  Always check the overall hours the flight will take and think about cost vs hanging around an airport. 

Cala Figuera, Mallorca

Corsica, France

Pisa, Italy

Mirleft, Morocco

Porto, Portugal

Cortina, Italy