Cheap flights

Travelling by air used to be a luxury that few could afford. Now there are budget airlines and low-cost flights to destinations all over the world, from France and Spain to New York and Hong Kong. Here are just a few ideas of how and where to find the cheapest flights…

Who flies where?

Budget airlines now fly from the UK to most places in Europe and the number of destinations is increasing all the time. Airlines include the usual suspects such as Ryanair and easyJet, as well as many more providers from airports around the country. No-frills airlines now also operate more flights to far-flung destinations such as the US, Thailand, Hong Kong and Canada. It’s worth finding out who flies where before you begin searching for flights so that you can compare prices and deals yourself. You can do this by checking out www.flightmapping.com. Go to 'Destinations' and it gives you comprehensive listings of practically anywhere in the world with an airport, from Andorra to Zambia. Not only do these include routes to and from the UK but also between other countries in case you want to split your journey into several legs. For details of forthcoming and updated routes simply go to www.flightmapping.com and you’ll get the latest news, too.

Where shall I go?

Many people now search the deals and take advantage of a cheap flight to explore a country they might not have thought of visiting before. Flight providers and travel agents often have destination guides to give you an overview of a destination. Or you can gather inspiration from newspaper travel sites such as www.guardian.co.uk/travel/cheapflights.

Who are the cheap flight providers?

A quick search for 'cheap flights' reveals a host of providers who operate as either independent travel agencies or direct links to budget airlines like BMI Baby and FlyBe, which operate from the UK and other countries. Popular travel agent options with cheap flights include www.cheapflights.co.uk, www.justtheflight.co.uk and www.cheaponlineflights.com. You can also take advantage of search engines like www.kayak.co.uk that search hundreds of travel sites to give you the widest choice of flights and prices. The results have links through to travel agents and flight sites and you can choose from whom you want to buy. Some sites also have a fare-watch service that alerts you to deals to your favourite destinations.

What about long haul?

Cheap flights to destinations around the world are becoming more common. Check prices to a range of long-haul countries at www.airline-network.co.uk – you can pick up some great deals here to New York with reputable airlines such as BA and Virgin. For specific locations, Air Sahara provides budget seats between Heathrow and Delhi at www.airsahara.net and Zoom is first choice for cheap flights between the UK and several Canadian cities at www.flyzoom.com. South Africa and South America are also tipped to have cheap flight options soon. Of course you have to remember that cheaper airlines means less legroom and fewer perks, but still the same amount of flight time. If you have a family, for instance, this may not be ideal for you.

Are there any added costs?

No-frills airlines have been criticised recently for adding on more and more surcharges or tricking customers into paying for things they don't want or need – extra luggage charges or insurance, for example. Some even tick boxes and you have to untick them to ensure that you don’t get any hidden extras, so make sure you double-check the small print. You can compare these 'extras' on a handy table at www.cheapflights.co.uk/travel-tips/airline-extras.html. If you know you're going to want extra legroom, extra luggage or food in-flight, make sure you add the costs on first to get a realistic idea of the total cost of your ticket.

What about the environment?

Cheaper flights mean more airlines, more flights and an increasing number of airports, too. If you're worried about carbon emissions from air travel, try to keep your flights to a minimum – you don't have to take advantage of every 1p seat that comes up. And offset your own carbon emissions either through your travel agent or at a site such as www.carbonneutral.com. You can also book flights through Responsible Travel – it searches travel agents like ebookers and STA Travel and calculates your carbon emissions at the same time. It then offers you the opportunity to offset them through www.carbonresponsible.com.

Does booking ahead help?

It can certainly help to book ahead, especially if you want cheaper flights to long-haul destinations. You then also stand the chance of getting a cheaper seat on a good airline, with more comforts and perks. Last-minute holiday bookings could also throw up some cheap seats but you may then have to be flexible with your date and destinations. Another tip is to pick up a bargain package holiday and only use the flights. These often appear as last-minute deals.

Taking a cheap flight doesn't mean you should scrimp on travel insurance – without it you could end up paying a lot more than you bargained for. However, you could get a good deal better on travel insurance from Direct Line for weekend breaks, annual holidays or longer trips. Get an online travel insurance quote today and see how much you could save.

Related information:

Last minute travel – read our guide to finding the best last minute holiday deal

Travel safely – airport protocol – the airport security measures you need to remember before your holiday

Is your passport lost or stolen? – what to do should the worst happen to your travel documents