How to Get Cheap International Flights as a Student

Flying abroad as a student shouldn't wreck your savings, and honestly, it doesn't have to. So going on a searching spree for the cheapest international flights for students really comes down to three things. And these are when you book, how flexible you're with dates, and knowing about student discounts.

This information sounds like a theory, but what about the practical approach, let’s worry not, as here we have covered the best ways to get budget-friendly flights. So check out this guide that will help you find out what actually works, step by step, with no random hack you saw once and forgot.

Why Student Flights Cost So Much?

Ever refresh a flight search and watch the price jump overnight? Or find out your roommate paid way less for basically the same seat? Not random, there's an actual system running behind it, and once you get it, you stop guessing and start booking smarter.

Vacations and summer cost more because everyone's flying at the same time during peak season.
Most students book late and pay more.
Keep checking the same route over and over can make the airlines notice and prices can creep up just from that.
Students get stuck flying during the worst windows for price, mostly winter break and summer.
Prices shift constantly in the same seat, different price tomorrow and that's just how airline pricing works now.
Fuel costs and how popular the route is, how many airlines fly it, all of it plays into your final number.
Demand spikes right when school breaks hit, which is exactly when you need to fly.

When Should You Actually Book?

If you book too early at six, seven, or eight months out, then often airlines have not set the lowest fares that they will offer. Reserve too late and then you will end up paying whatever amount's left, which is usually not a good number and the easiest method to keep track of it is:

Set up a calendar reminder for four months prior to any planned travel.
Look for the best deal 2-3 times per week, not daily.
Use a Price Tracking tool; don't do the manual work.

Where to Actually Look for Cheap Fares?

Most students get ripped off without realizing it by checking one site, seeing a number, and booking. There's always an alternative that's better somewhere such as:

Student-Only Booking Platforms

Student Universe and Student Flights are websites which create cheap fares for verified students. Unfortunately, so many people overlook these prices since they are not available on Internet search engines.

These rates are usually only available with a school email account or a valid student ID, so please have these on hand before you begin your search.

General Comparison Tools

Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak should also be used in conjunction with students' platforms. They also hit the dozens of airlines at once which means less manual digging on your part, leading to features that are useful but not often used:

If you're vacationing somewhere but don't have a specific date in mind, Skyscanner's "Everywhere" search is the place to look.
Google Flights' price alerts, so you don't have to go looking for them.
The calendar/grid view, displaying the whole month of pricing in one view.

Airline Websites Directly

If you have a good fare on a comparison site you can compare it with the airline's website before booking it as Prices should be the same, but sometimes the airline offers a little something extra for booking a direct flight, such as extra baggage allowance, seat selection, etc.

5 Simple Habits That Lower Your Flight Price

A few minor habits also have a huge impact in addition to the choice of platform and timing. So, before you book any flight, follow these things to get a low fare on your journey:

Flexibility with travel days: The prices of departures on Tuesday and Wednesday are nearly always cheaper than the price of departure on Friday or Sunday and even one day's change of a trip can make a significant difference.
Check the airport next door: Review the airport adjacent to the one you're at and in large cities such as London, Paris and Tokyo, there are usually two or three airports available. Just weigh the trade-off if it means traveling further from a smaller city by train or bus afterward.
Take a connecting flight rather than an end-to-end flight: You have one or two hours of layover that makes your trip just a bit more interesting, and it will cost you a bit less. If you're feeling like you need a little adventure, a longer layover, six-plus hours, can even be of benefit for some airlines they offer free stopover programs that let you spend a night or two exploring the layover city. Some of those hours can turn into a mini side-trip — see our guide on what to do with a long layover for ideas.
Carry the light load intentionally: A lot of the lowest-priced tickets come with an additional personal item. Flying with a carry-on avoids bag fees entirely. If you do need a checked bag, pay for it when booking rather than at the airport — counter fees are almost always higher.
Go through your search in an incognito window: It may not be the case at every site but it's not a bad idea to protect yourself against it if you do, anyway and before you begin comparing, clear the cookies or utilize a private browser window.

Best and Worst Times of Year to Book Cheap Flights

Some months have better international rates than others to find out which are the best months to plan a trip and get low fares when booking, read these few simple tricks to plan your vacation.

Cheapest windows:

After the vacations, from late January to early March.
Immediately following a large vacation, with many people already gone back home.
The shoulder season that is just before or after peak tourist periods, often when the weather is just as nice, but the prices are lower.

Windows to avoid if you can help it:

The final week of December & first week of January.
The days directly before and after significant school vacations when needs are highest.
If you have some flexibility with your school calendar, even just a few days moved away from those busy times can really help out.

Group Discounts: Save More When You Fly With Friends

Traveling in a group isn't only entertaining, it can be affordable, too and you can do a group booking rather than booking individuals, while saving on flight booking with knowing these few simple things:

Frequently, airlines will provide rates for groups of 10 or more passengers traveling together.
Bulk student deals are sometimes available directly from the airlines for study-abroad programs and student clubs.
If the group rate isn't offered, having friends coordinate will allow everyone to ride the fare drop at the same time instead of you and your friend looking for the drop at different times and missing each other's windows.

Don't Let Hidden Costs Cancel Out Your Cheap Fare

This is the part that's often ignored — no wonder a great flight deal isn't much use if your visa isn't sorted in time. Most of the time these mistakes happen, so what are the things you need to keep in mind to make your journey stress-free:

The key to remembering visa requirements is to do so when you find out your travel dates, not the week before you leave and processing time for some visas may take weeks or months.
Verify the validity of your passport for entry in many countries have set minimum validity requirements of at least six months.
Confirm which visa you actually need — a student visa is often required instead of a tourist visa, and its processing time can be much longer. If you're unsure which type you need, our guide on visa-on-arrival vs. e-visa breaks down the difference.
Keep copies of your booking confirmation, passport, and visa documents in case any originals get lost — it'll save you a headache at check-in. Getting this step wrong can lead straight to a visa rejection, so double-check requirements well before departure.

How to Budget for Travel Costs Beyond Your Flight

Remembering to book your flight and spending all the money on it can be a big problem so, let’s avoid those mistakes while budgeting the trip other than just a flight booking:

Establish a general travel budget, and then allocate the money to the flight.
Check out student discounts for accommodation as well as many hostels and some hotels, which will discount the price if you have a student ID.
Find out what the travel costs, food costs, and activities costs will be in the country before booking your trip, as the savings on flights might be offset elsewhere.
Plan for the unexpected: fees for luggage, visa processing, last-minute changes, etc.

Packing Tips That Cut Costs and Save You Stress

Before you travel, be sure to check the size and weight restrictions of the specific airline you take with you, as they differ from airline to airline.
A portable charger and universal adapter fit in your pocket and can provide a big boost on a long international trip.
Make a capsule wardrobe of versatile pieces rather than packing for every situation.
Fold clothes less, roll clothes more, it really does fit more in a compact bag.
Always place items like documents, medication, chargers, etc., in the personal item, not the checked bag, if items are lost.

If a bag does go missing despite your best packing, here's exactly how to report lost baggage.

Flight Booking Mistakes That Are Costing You Money

Waiting for the semester to settle to book, then paying for way more than you needed to and not doing a comparison to other airlines or sites. Later, forgetting about the baggage charges when booking, and being surprised by the amount at the airport; besides this, avoid these things as well to save your money:

Last-minute visa research can become a big problem.
Avoiding the cancellation policy, which only comes into play when exams change your plans.
Making an unlawfully short layover and running through the terminal. A tight connection like this puts you at real risk of a missed connection, so always build in extra buffer time.
Assuming the first quote you find is the best instead of waiting a day or two later to find out.

Conclusion

Student travel doesn't have to be a game of chance when it comes to the cheapest international flights. Taking the time to book early, research different platforms or be flexible with your travel dates and arrange your paperwork early can all make a substantial difference in saving money. So if you know how to save money on travel, why not keep saving? Read our other student travel guides for destination, flight tips, airline discount programs, baggage-saving hacks, and budget travel ideas to help you in your journey. Before you fly, make sure you're also set up to check in online for your flight to save time at the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions ?

Does it really cost less to book directly with an airline than to compare with a site?

Not always, but it is worth checking both of these as comparison sites typically list the lowest fares first but sometimes those fares are equal to the airline's and then there is a benefit to booking direct.

Are all routes student discount?

No, they are more likely to appear on longer international flights and less on shorter regional flights you can check out for both fares and look out for which one is better.

What is the earliest a student could fly home for the vacations?

As soon as possible in your school calendar, preferably 3-4 months before and routes full up and costly quick, sometimes too soon for vacation.

Can I get a student discount while booking?

Yes, you can get a students discount while booking just put your valid school/university ID card to get the student discount in your journey.

Explore More Articles

What to Do With a Long Layover Turn Wasted Hours Into Part of the Trip

Remember when a long layover meant hours of staring at departure boards, wondering why you ever booked such a flight? However, this doesn’t h...

Read More
What's the Difference Between Visa-on-Arrival and E-Visa?

When planning an international trip, things can be complicated with visa requirements and two terms that confuse even experienced travelers are the fo...

Read More
What Happens If My Visa Is Rejected? Heres What to Do Next

As per global research and governmental data, one in every seven applicants faces this visa rejection shock worldwide. So if you are that one and curr...

Read More
How Do I Report Lost Baggage? A Simple Step-by-Step Answer

Losing your baggage when you are in a new country or a city can be a stressful feeling. But luckily to help passengers file a report for their missing...

Read More