Spending hours on-line searching for that cheap flight, you know you've been there seen that special offer but can't find it.

Most are disguised as a (from) fare to get you onto the site and It makes little difference which site you choose most use one of three main search engines therefore offer the same fare the only difference being the booking fee or credit card charge.

Ways to Save on Your Next Flight

From weekday flights to midnight bookings, tips to help you cut your traveling costs.

1. book flights online midweek, late at night.

Most airlines post fare changes just after midnight, be online after hours if looking for cheaper fares. (On the other hand, most deals expire at midnight,  if you see a fare that  is reasonable, don't hesitate book it or you may lose it.)

2. Fly on a Tuesday or a Thursday.

Two days that see the fewest passengers, and in many cases you'll find the lowest fares. 

3. Fly on a holiday.

The most expensive fares are on the days and weekends either side of  major holidays and when children break up for school the least expensive can be on the holiday itself. 

4. Look at other airlines other than Easyjet or Ryanair tourists coming into the UK know they are there and book seats quickly pushing up the price.

If you can book in advance then Easyjet is worth a look but leave it to late and you will end up paying more than some scheduled airlines.

A number of airlines such as British Airways have some low cost fares again if you can book in advance. 

We searched for the best deals on cheap flights and with the mass of airlines offering what they describe as cheap flights it was a difficult task however we came out with a mix of low cost operators and scheduled airlines.

Why scheduled airlines you may ask well they are now offering some very good fares on some routes taking on the low cost operators which honestly are not always that cheap these days.

We found a number of scheduled airlines offering fares lower than both Easyjet and Ryanair on some routes book early and both these may offer the best deal.

If you have children then you will be looking for the most direct route however if you are a couple and don't mind an extra 90 minutes to your journey then an indirect route could save you money.

Spain Via Dublin - Berlin or Geneva / Greece via Poland - Berlin or Rome.

Air travel isn't that easy now though.

Can you get an affordable seat ? 

What is the time you need to be at the airport before your flight ?

How many check-ins does your airline have?

How many carry-on's can you take ?  

How long does security take ? 

So just how do you find the best deal.

Most people book travel within a week or so of their travel date.

Its all down to the simple fact that modern life is too complex, too unpredictable for most people to know with any certainty when they are going to be able to drop everything and go, can you purchase a ticket 6 months from now when you don't even know if you'll have a job by then,  booking well in advance yes for annual family holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year  when most people are sure to have a few days off.