How to get cheaper and better flights

The cheapest ticket is not always the better flight. A 6am connection with a 40-minute layover costs you a day. Search Tuesday and Wednesday first. Add one extra night at the start if it drops the fare more than the hotel costs.

Shoulder season still has weather. It also has open restaurants and tickets that are not sold out. If you need a window seat or extra legroom, buy it when you book. Waiting until online check-in is a gamble on a full plane.

Set a fare alert, then ignore it for a week. Prices bounce. Book when the total, including bags, is a number you can live with.