✈️ National Cheap Flight Day: The Real Tea (and How to Score Your Next Adventure on the Cheap)
Hey fellow wanderlusters, Megan & Shelby here 👋 — your friendly neighborhood globe-trotters, camera-clickers, and unofficial cheerleaders for any excuse to pack a bag.
Today we’re talking about National Cheap Flight Day (yes, that’s a thing), whether it’s real, and our favorite sneaky tricks to help you nab your next getaway for less — so you can spend more on the important stuff (you know…gelato, museum tickets, and questionable roadside souvenirs).
🗓 What Even Is National Cheap Flight Day?
Mark your travel calendars — every year on August 23rd, the internet goes wild over “National Cheap Flight Day.” It’s not like airlines have confetti cannons and half-off flash sales ready to go (although…airlines, if you’re reading this, we’d be into it).
Instead, it’s more like the unofficial start of the “shoulder season” — that magical time between sweaty, crowded peak summer and pumpkin-spiced everything. Airlines know demand dips, so they sometimes drop fares to fill seats.
💡 Key takeaway: It’s not a one-day miracle, but it is a great moment to start stalking flights for fall and winter trips.
🕵️♀️ Do Airlines Get Sneaky if You’re Looking?
We’ve all been there: you search for a flight once, and suddenly it’s $40 more the next time you check. Cue the “Are they WATCHING me?!” paranoia.
Here’s the deal — most experts say it’s less about airlines tracking you and more about algorithms reacting to demand and inventory. But some travelers swear by using incognito mode, clearing cookies, or even checking prices from a different device.
Do we do it? Oh yeah. Do we also feel like secret agents when we do? Absolutely.
🪄 Our Favorite Cheap Flight Tricks (National Cheap Flight Day or Any Day)
1. Set up fare alerts
We love Google Flights and Skyscanner for pinging us when prices drop. It’s like having a little travel fairy whisper, “Book now!”
2. Flex those dates
Flying midweek (Tues/Wed/Sat) can save big bucks — plus airports are less “Hunger Games” chaotic.
3. Try nearby airports
A quick train or shuttle can save hundreds. Bonus: more scenery to photograph.
4. The 24-hour rule
If you find a great fare, book it, then keep an eye out for a better price within 24 hours (most airlines let you cancel for free in that window).
5. Be ready to pounce
The best deals don’t last long. If your gut says “Yes,” listen to it. (Your gut knows things.)
🤔 Should You Book Today or Wait?
If you see a dreamy deal today: Book it. Then go celebrate with a glass of something bubbly.
If you’re planning fall travel: This is prime booking season. Waiting too long can mean higher fares.
If your trip is next spring/summer: Put flight alerts on now and aim to book 1–4 months ahead for domestic, 3–6 months for international.
📸 Final Boarding Call
National Cheap Flight Day isn’t magic, but it is the perfect excuse to start trip dreaming (and scheming). Whether you book today or next week, the goal’s the same: get out there, see the world, and fill your camera roll with the kind of moments that make you smile for years.
And hey, if you find a ridiculously cheap ticket to somewhere fabulous — we’re free. Just saying. 😉
Happy travels & happy clicking,
Megan & Shelby
