From “gardening airfare” to “the Goldilocks Window,” Scott Keyes has cracked the code for affordable air travel. Keyes is the founder and chief flight expert at Going, an app dedicated to helping people find cheap flights—and while the two concepts above might not sound familiar, according to Keyes it’s tricks like these that can save you real money on your next flight.
Keyes' journey began when he uncovered a jaw-dropping deal flying from New York City to Milan, Italy in 2013. Today, he runs a team of 50 experts, a testament to his passion for helping people find the cheapest flights possible. His innovative approach has helped millions of travelers maximize their experiences without maxing out their credit cards.
I recently took a deep dive into vacation inflation and was surprised to find that we are living in “a golden age of air travel,” as Keyes calls it. Compared to many other vacation costs, air fares are close to record lows on an inflation-adjusted basis—even if it may not feel that way if you’re trying to fly to Hawaii for winter break.
Keyes sat down with Fortune to share the methods he uses when booking his own travel plans—by his own estimation, Going has saved its 2 million members at least $500 million on flights. Here are some of his top tips to help you jet off without breaking the bank.
Want cheaper air fares? Flexibility is your greatest ally
When it comes to vacation planning, being flexible is your secret weapon. "Think of it like an archery range,” says Keyes. “Trying to get a cheap flight from Chicago to Honolulu on May 23 is like trying to hit a bullseye. You might make it, but the odds are against you."
Instead of fixating on specific dates and destinations, Keyes encourages people to broaden their horizons. He suggests that travellers:
- Consider flying to "anywhere warm" instead of a particular beach town
- Look at an entire season rather than a specific week
- Be open to different departure airports in your region
The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to snag a deal that'll make your wallet (and your wanderlust) happy.
Timing is everything: The Goldilocks Window
If you absolutely must travel on specific dates, don't despair. Keyes introduces us to the concept of the "Goldilocks Window," or a sweet spot for booking cheap flights that's not too early, not too late, but just right.
For domestic flights, aim to book 1-3 months before your trip. For international travel, widen that window to 2-8 months. Keep in mind that peak travel times like summer and the holidays require a bit more lead time.
Flip the script: The flight first method
Instead of deciding where and when to go before checking prices, Keyes suggests reversing the process:
- Find the cheapest destinations for flights departing from your home airport
- Choose the most interesting destination from among these options
- Only then pick your travel dates
"By setting price as the top priority, that's how you can afford to take three vacations for the price you used to pay for one," says Keyes. This approach might lead you to unexpected destinations and incredible experiences you hadn't even considered before.
Group travel hack: Book one at a time
Traveling with family or friends? Keyes suggests searching for tickets one at a time. He shares a personal anecdote where he saved $270 on a family trip simply by booking three tickets at a lower fare and one at a slightly higher price, rather than four at the same rate.
Airlines often lump group bookings into a single fare bucket, potentially pushing you into a higher price tier. By booking separately, you might snag a few seats at a lower rate.
I would add a caveat here: Make sure that kids aren’t on their own itinerary. On the off-chance one of your party is involuntarily re-routed, you wouldn’t want little Susie suddenly flying on her own.
Use your travel green thumb: Gardening reservations
“You wouldn’t put seeds in the ground, do nothing for six months, and expect them to bloom,” says Keyes. The same principle applies to your travel bookings, which Keyes refers to as “gardening reservations.”
Here’s how that works: Just because you’ve locked in a flight, hotel, or car rental doesn’t mean you should stop paying attention to prices. You should carefully tend to your reservations and take advantage of price drops for stuff you’ve already booked.
If the month after you book your hotel rate drops from $200 a night to $150, cancel and rebook at the lower rate to save $350 over a weeklong stay. Similarly, airfares can and do decrease, which means you need to keep your eye on the ticket over time. If your flight decreases—say from $300 to $200—contact the airline.
“As long as it’s not a basic economy ticket, you can often rebook the same flight and pocket the difference as future travel credit,” Keyes says. Keeping an eye on price drops after booking can turn good deals into great ones.
Embrace the change: Flight swaps are your friend
"If there's an email subject line that makes my heart flutter, it's this: 'Your flight has been changed,'" Keyes admits. While most of us dread these notifications, Keyes sees them as golden opportunities.
When an airline changes your flight significantly, you're entitled to a full refund. But before you cash out, try negotiating for a better itinerary: Maybe swap that red-eye for a daytime flight or that layover for a non-stop. It's your chance to turn lemons into lemonade—or maybe even upgrade that lemonade to champagne.
Thanksgiving surprise: Consider Turkey, not just turkey
No need to break a wishbone for a great deal: Thanksgiving week is actually one of the best times for international travel. While domestic flights soar in price, international fares often plummet.
"There are fares to Paris right now over Thanksgiving week for the same $450 price that it costs to fly to Peoria," says Keyes. I have found this to be true with award tickets as well, flying my family from the East Coast to Europe in November for fewer miles than it would have taken to get to the Midwest.
So while everyone else is fighting over the last turkey leg, you could have a date in Constantinople who will be waiting in Istanbul.
The takeaway
I like to sum up Keyes’ advice as, “chase the experience, not the location”. Think about the what rather than the where and you can apply his tips easily.
Remember, the key to affordable travel isn't just about finding cheap flights, it's about changing how you think about travel altogether. By being flexible, strategic, and a little bit adventurous, you might just find yourself taking more vacations than you ever thought possible. And isn't that the real goal?
