Flights
Search live fares and book your flights with Trip.com. Compare dates, airlines and cabins in one place, then book at the price you see.
Why Trip.com
I used to flick between a dozen tabs to book a flight. Trip.com pulls it into one search. Here is why I rate it for flights.
Trip.com pulls live fares from full-service and budget airlines in a single search, so you see the real cheapest option without checking five sites.
The flexible-date calendar shows fares across a whole month. Shift your trip a day either way and you often save a good chunk for nothing.
The fare in the search includes fees, so there is no nasty jump at the end. Pick free-cancellation fares if your plans might still move.
24/7 customer service in English and a price-match guarantee. If a fare drops or a flight changes there is a person to call.
How to save
Midweek flights on a Tuesday or Wednesday are usually cheaper than weekend ones. Use the calendar view to compare a whole month at a glance.
Roughly four to six weeks ahead for short-haul, two to three months for long-haul. Book too early or too late and you tend to pay more.
Early-morning and late-night departures are the cheapest slots and often the emptiest flights. Worth the early alarm.
A second airport an hour away can be far cheaper. Add it to your search and weigh the saving against the extra transfer.
Good to know
For short-haul flights book around four to six weeks ahead. For long-haul aim for two to three months out. Midweek departures on a Tuesday or Wednesday are usually cheaper than weekends, and early-morning or late-night flights cut the fare further. Use the flexible-date view in the search above to see the cheapest day to fly.
Yes. Trip.com is one of the largest online travel agencies in the world, listed on the Nasdaq, with 24/7 customer support in English and a price-match guarantee. I book my own flights through it and recommend it for flights here.
Be flexible on dates and use the calendar view to spot the cheapest day. Fly midweek, include nearby airports in your search, and book in the sweet spot of four to eight weeks before a short-haul trip. Compare one-way fares against return, and try moving your trip a day either side.
The price you see in the search already includes Trip.com's fees, so there is no surprise jump at checkout. You can also choose fares with free cancellation or flexible changes if your plans might move.