Timing can be key to getting the best deals. Last-minute deals can be attractive, but you’re not guaranteed to get one and, generally, flight prices start to go up three weeks before the departure date.  Booking in advance makes sense to most people, with a lot of international airlines offering tickets up to eight months in advance. However, this isn’t necessarily the cheapest time to book. According to a survey by CheapAir.com the cheapest flights are between three weeks and four months before the departure date.

However, the survey also notes that you’ll only pay a little more by booking between four and six months in advance, which will give you more peace of mind.

If you can move your holiday by a few days and travel on less popular days, then you can save a lot of money. Also consider when you’re traveling: having a weekend stay often saves money compared to flying only during the week. Typically speaking, Sunday flights are the most expensive, so try and avoid that day.

Changing airports can save you money, too, particularly for big cities. For example, flying into JFK and out of La Guardia in New York might be cheaper than using just one airport. When picking different airports, make sure the ones you pick are good for your connecting flights. Also, check out average transport times and costs to your chosen airports to make sure any flight savings aren’t offset by on-the-ground transport costs.

Flying direct may be easier but it’s often more expensive particularly on less frequent routes, such as from the UK to the Maldives. Flying indirectly can save you cash. Flight comparison sites, such as Expedia and Skyscanner let you search for flights with multiple hops, helping you compare the price against the direct option. These engines make it easier to find the cheapest days to fly on, too.

Most flight search engines will try and book you on multiple flights with the same carrier or, at least, those that codeshare (that is share routes with other airlines). The main reason for this is that if you have delays or problems with any of your flights, you’ll get help from the airline to complete your onward journey.

Booking with different airlines for each hop can save money. But, if you miss a connection for any reason - you’ll need to pay for a new flight. Kiwi, the cheap flight search engine, can help you find the cheapest overall flight by using different airlines and it offers a paid-for guarantee where the company will rebook you on alternative flights and even ground transportation to a new airport if needed. It’s worth checking this out in detail before you book to make sure you have the protection you need.

Look to book your hotel at the same times as your flights, as this can often work out cheaper overall. You can do this with most comparison sites, but the airlines such as Virgin Holidays and BA Holidays. have their own holiday sites for flights and hotels that can give you good deals too.