Travel expert shares tips for finding the cheapest flight tickets

Travel authority Abdullah Al-Mulhim has offered practical advice to help travelers secure more affordable airfare. The expert emphasized the necessity of comparing airline websites and different search engines when hunting for lower prices. Al-Mulhim explained that certain airlines provide special deals directly on their websites, while search engines permit users to compare prices across multiple carriers.

He also mentioned that some travel agencies may secure cheaper tickets by using servers located outside of Saudi Arabia. By searching for flights departing from various locations, travelers can uncover notable price disparities. For instance, Al-Mulhim cited an example where booking a trip to the United States through Cairo and Riyadh proved cheaper than a direct flight from Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, certain promotions are only available for limited time periods. Al-Mulhim illustrated this point with a business class ticket from Jeddah to London via Riyadh, which cost about 4,000 riyals, while a direct flight from Riyadh would have cost around 15,000 riyals. To capitalize on these deals, travelers must continuously search for better prices, as exceptional deals can appear unexpectedly and expire quickly.

Al-Mulhim addressed the misconception that repeatedly searching for the same flight increases its cost. He clarified that search engines may retain information from previous searches. To avoid this, he advised travelers to switch platforms, browsers, or even use a different server to circumvent being influenced by prior search results.

The expert underscored the importance of planning travel in advance, particularly during peak seasons. He recommended starting searches about three to four months before the trip to secure more reasonable prices. During the summer months, a longer planning period may be necessary due to high demand and the rapid sale of the cheapest ticket categories.