Cheap Flights Checklist

Our Checklist 

Finding cheap flights can be hit or miss but persistence and flexibility is key to booking the best fares. Here is our checklist of well learned tips to booking affordable flights.

Track Multiple Destinations

If you’re like us and have a travel bucket list, keep checking flights to multiple destinations around when you’re planning to travel and book the cheapest option. This also helps us learn what prices are considered low or high to various places during different times of the year.

For instance, if you plan on traveling in 3 months from now and want to go somewhere tropical, you could track flights to various tropical destinations during that time and book the most affordable option. 

Where to Search

We always begin searching on Google Flights. The search by map and calendar features make it easy to visually choose a destination and time to go. 

We also like comparing across travel search engines like Sky Scanner, Hopper and Cheap Flights. These are our go-to search engines but we often check others as well. 

Lastly, search directly through the airline’s websites. Some airlines have better routes and prices.

Know the Best Times to Travel

Have Flexible Dates and Times. Sometimes departing a day earlier or an hour later can mean saving hundreds of dollars on flights. 

Travel During the Off Season. The weather might not be “perfect” but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy your trip. We’ve often enjoyed smaller crowds, better service and made stronger connections with local culture and other travelers during the off season.  

Book the Red Eye Flight. It might not be the most comfortable time to travel, especially if you can’t sleep on airplanes, however the prices are almost always less than during mornings or mid-day.

Travel on Grim Dates. Flights are always cheaper on days like Friday the 13th or September 11th. 

Travel on Thanksgiving. If you’re flying international from the US. Domestic flights are high but international ones are usually low. 

Check Multiple Airports

Many major hubs have multiple airports. Flights to and from the smaller airport may be more affordable. Some examples are Newark vs JFK in NYC, Orly vs Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Narita vs Haneda in Tokyo or Ft. Lauderdale vs Miami in Florida. 

If you’re based between multiple regional airports, flights from one vs the other may make all the difference. 

Sometimes the best fares may be a flight away. While living in Chicago, we would often book trips out of NYC’s airports for the better fares, assuming flights from Chicago to NYC we’re also low. 

Book One Way Flights

We’ve booked one way flights to hop between destinations. In one instance, we purchased one way flights from NYC to Mexico City to Cancun then back to NYC. 

We’ve also booked one way flights to and from destinations through different airlines. We’ve purchased flights through JetBlue from NYC to San Juan, PR then returned with Spirit Airlines. 

If you do it right, either option can end up costing less than round trip tickets. 

Be Aware of Baggage Fees

We rarely check a bag however we always verify baggage fees and restrictions. They frequently change between airlines and countries. Before booking, confirm how many bags are included, what the weight/size restrictions are, if they can be carried on or have to be checked. Fees can quickly add up if you’re not paying attention. 

Book the Budget Airline

We’ve all heard or been one of the horror stories on budget airlines however not all budget airlines or experiences are bad. Though there’s usually less leg room, higher baggage fees and overbooked flights, we consider it justifiable for the cost. We’ve purchased cheap flights and had great experiences with these airlines: 

Jet Blue: $117/ticket direct roundtrip from Newark, NJ to San Juan, PR

Spirit: $114/ticket direct roundtrip from Newark, NJ to New Orleans, LA 

Level Airlines: $288/ticket direct roundtrip from Newark, NJ to Paris

Ryanair: $67/ticket direct roundtrip from Madrid to Marseille

Norwegian Air: $280/ticket direct roundtrip from JFK to Oslo

China Eastern: $540/ticket roundtrip from JFK to Tokyo with a 4 hour layover in Shanghai

Don’t Wait to Book

If you feel good about a ticket’s price, don’t wait to book it. Chances are the price won’t be available less than 24 hours later.

Lottery for First Class

Some airlines like Norwegian Air have lotteries where you can bid to upgrade your seat to First Class. After booking, you can choose to pay more to upgrade your seat. If selected, you’ll be charged for your bid then upgraded, often for much less than the cost of First Class Tickets. We’ve flown First Class from JFK to Amsterdam and Oslo. 

Volunteer if Asked

We’ve earned several hundred dollars in flight vouchers and Visa cards on multiple occasions by volunteering to take the next flight on overbooked flights. 

Buy Travel Insurance

Though it’s usually an extra expense, we typically add on travel insurance to our flights. It’s come in handy a few times, especially during 2020. 

Travel Credit Card

Sign up for a travel credit card to earn points that cover the cost of flights or other travel related expenses. We use the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. 1 point = 1.5 cents. For example, the sign up bonus of 60,000 points is equivalent to $900. The card costs $500 a year however we earn $300 back in travel credits. It also comes with a Priority Pass that offers access to various airport lounges. Any travel related expenses earn 3 points per dollar spent on the card. Over time, it adds up and more than pays itself off. 

Persistence & Flexibility

If you’ve read this far, you can tell there are many ways to find the most affordable flights. It’s often a combination of methods on our checklist, the most important of which is persistence and flexibility. Being persistent about finding cheap flights and willing to be flexible to book them is often what lands us the best fares. 

Traveling Sustainably

Our Impact 

No matter the reason for traveling, there is always a reason to do so sustainably. Traveling sustainably is a great way to minimize our negative environmental impact and help preserve the natural environment. Knowing how and putting it into practice is not difficult nor does not have to be expensive. Even some of the smallest efforts can do good. We’ve identified several ways we aim to reduce our negative impact while traveling. Everything from getting to the destination, choosing when to go and where to stay as well as the habits and activities we engage in all provide opportunities to travel sustainably. 

Ways of Travel 

Getting to the Destination . Air Travel is often the most efficient way to get to a destination but it is easily the largest contributor of emissions while traveling. There are multiple ways to help reduce or offset your emissions on a global and local scale. 

Purchase Carbon Offsets.  Carbon offsets do not reduce emissions but are designed to counteract them by investing in green energy, planting trees and funding the protection of vulnerable species and environments. A number of airlines offer ways to purchase carbon offsets separately from your tickets either on their site or through a partner company. Carbon Fund is an easy and reputable way to purchase offsets based on the number of miles flown. 

Choose Direct Flights.  The more times you take off, the more fuel is burned resulting in extra emissions. Choose direct flights whenever possible, especially for traveling short distances. 

Travel by Bus or Train.  If you’re traveling regionally, look into buses or trains. In some cases, these are often comparable in time, more cost effective and result in less emissions. 

At the Destination.  Once you’ve made it to your destination, minimizing your local impact is the goal. Here are a few ways to get around.

• Choose to bike, walk or hike. In addition to being the best way to see and experience a destination, it results in little to no emissions.

• Take public transit or shuttles opposed to taxis or renting a car.

• If you do rent a car, opt for the eco model. Many rentals also allow you to purchase carbon offsets as well.

• Depending on the destination, there may be alternative methods of travel like pedi-cabs, cable cars or electric scooters.

The Destination  

When to Go.  Travel to a place during the off season. This helps limit the strain on the environment and local community. We’ve found you’ll often have a much more enjoyable time with less crowds, better service and be able to make stronger connections with local culture and other travelers. 

Where to Stay.  Research your destination and the options available. We often stay at small and communal accommodations like hostels, eco-hotels, camp grounds, treehouses and bed and breakfasts. They typically have the least negative environmental impact and often benefit the local community. 

Stay at a Hostel.  Hostels often have a low environmental impact. They typically consume less energy and produce less waste than traditional hotels. In many cases, they’re often run by locals who care for and promote their community, culture and environment. Hostel World is a great place to book!

Book an Airbnb.  Our favorite site to search for accommodations. You can search by property types including: earth homes, cabins, huts, tents and treehouses. These types of listings are often sustainable and make for unique places to stay! 

Look for Eco Ratings.  Many hotels, whether large chains or small boutiques, may have eco ratings. There are dozens or organizations that award ratings. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) serves as a basis for many of these. GSTC sets standards that other organizations follow as well as issues their own certifications. Look for any of their approved ratings here.

What to Avoid.

• Avoid cruise ships, mega resorts and big hotels without eco-friendly ratings.

• Don’t leave the AC, heat or lights on when not in your room.

• Don’t request new/extra towels or sheets daily to avoid an extra wash and dry cycle.

Sustainable Habits & Activities 

Outside of getting to the destination and where you stay, there are number of ways to minimize your emissions, waste and negative environmental impact. 

• Participate in low impact activities like visiting museums or parks, go on a picnic, take a snorkeling lesson, go hiking, zip-lining or stargazing.

• Search for locally made souvenirs opposed to mass produced ones seen everywhere. Try visiting vintage shops, local markets and kitchenware stores. We usually bring home something small for our apartment or food items like spices, wine and chocolate.

• Participate in a beach, trail or roadside clean up. Whether on your own or with a local organization, bring a bag and collect as much waste as you can carry in it. Recycle what you can.

• Bring a reusable water bottle and metal straw. Don’t buy single-use or plastic ones.

• Avoid using cosmetics and toiletries with harmful chemicals. Research the products you use regularly.

• Wear reef safe sunblock and eco-friendly insect repellent, especially when visiting bodies of water.

• Pay attention to waste/recycling bins. Color-coded bins often differ from country to country.

• Eat more plant based and locally sourced meals. Visit a farmers market for local produce.

• Don’t waste food, always take home leftovers or give them to someone in need.

Back Home

Many of these sustainable efforts can be practiced back home and continue to minimize our negative environmental impact on a daily basis. The privilege to travel is a wonderful thing, doing it sustainably helps ensure that the natural environment as well as the cultures and species it supports have a better chance at being preserved.

Traveling During Covid

Lockdown 

Early during the lockdown, I remember looking into the sky and not seeing a single airplane for weeks. The pandemic, travel bans and lockdowns seemed to cause the world to stand still. Our flights to Hawaii, Mexico, Japan and Morocco were all canceled. With the spare time, we started Afar Atlas as a way to remember and relive out past travels. 

Eventually as lockdowns eased, we managed to take a couple regional trips to view wedding venues and get away during the winter. Though it wasn’t advisable to travel, we wanted to share the precautions we took and the considerations we made. 

Travel Precautions & Considerations 

Keep up to date with entry requirements.  Many states have mandatory quarantines as well as ways to test out. Before traveling, we have gotten PCR covid tests with in 72 hours of traveling, had to fill out contract tracing forms and have quarantined from 3 to 14 days depending on the location. 

Keep up to date with local lockdowns.  Knowing what to expect before traveling and planning how to safely follow local mandates is key to enjoying your trip. Requirements change almost daily and differ from place to place. Some we encountered are mask mandates, occupancy limits, social distancing, contact tracing surveys, stay at home orders, curfews, alcohol bans and business closures. Follow the rules put in place in order to keep yourself and others safe.

Read up on airport procedures.  Many airports limit terminal seating, ask travelers to distance themselves in lines and have control points set up on arrival by the National Guard to verify if you’ve been tested or not. Some airports also offer onsite rapid and PCR testing. 

Read up on airline procedures. 

Most airlines have HEPA filters installed inside their airplanes and re-circulate filtered air every 3-5minutes. Many have also adapted advanced cleaning methods, fogging the airplane with disinfectant after passengers deplane and before boarding. Many also offer wipes to clean your seat, window and tray table. 

We flew Delta, which spaced out every other seat. We also flew Jet Blue, which did not. At the time Jet Blue did have free cancelations and re-bookings with no questions asked. 

Our Daily Precautions 

• Whenever in transit, we wore KN-95 masks and sanitized our hands frequently. Bring extra masks and sanitizer.

• We tracked our temperature, monitored for symptoms and checked our blood oxygen level with a pulse oximeter each morning and night. 

• We only dined outdoors at restaurants with social distanced and open air seating.

• We walked whenever possible or had the windows open/cracked whenever in a taxi, even when it was cold or raining. 

• Because requirements differ so much from place to place, we would often defer to stricter guidelines and follow CDC advice. The main advice we followed and strongly encourage are wearing a mask, social distancing, sanitizing and getting tested. 

Alternatives to Traveling

There are plenty of alternatives to traveling that we’ve engaged in over the past year. These are our 5 favorite: 

Airbnb Virtual Experiences.  Airbnb rolled out virtual experiences for people to connect with other cultures around the world. We’ve taken multiple cooking classes to experience the food and culture in other countries. 

• Balinese Cooking Class.  We cooked Gado-Gado, vegetables with peanut sauce and Nasi Goreng, Balinese fried rice then toured the home of our hosts.

• Okonomiyaki Cooking Class.  We cooked Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake with a home cook in Osaka, Japan

• Paella Cooking Class.  We cooked paella and made sangria with a chef at a cooking school in Sevilla, Spain.

Experiences go further than cooking classes to local tours of neighborhoods, dance classes, drag shows and history lessons. 

Start a Travel Blog.  We had been wanting to start a travel blog for years. The spare time and loss of being able to freely travel gave us the perfect opportunity to start Afar Atlas. Pick out a Squarespace template and start blogging!

Plan Future Trips.  Think about the first place you want to travel to after the pandemic ends and start researching the destination! 

Go Near.  Explore your own backyard, walk down the road less traveled, go on urban hikes or visit nearby nature sights & parks. It’s fun to reacquaint yourself with your local surroundings. 

Travel on Google Maps.  Choose a random location on the map and tour the streets of a foreign city or countryside, popping into places with photo sphere views. Start here and explore St. Helena.

Post Covid Travel  

Until the pandemic officially ends, be smart and safe about how you travel and why. Though there’s still a ways to go, we look forward to society beating this pandemic, being able to travel to far out places, experience different cultures and interact with other travelers. 

LGBTQ+ Travel Safety

LGBTQ+ Travel Safety

Traveling as a same sex couple is an incredible way to explore the world, but it often requires an added level of awareness to plan confidently and stay safe while traveling. While many destinations are becoming more LGBTQ+ friendly and recognizing the rights of the queer community, others still have restrictive laws or lower levels of social acceptance.

The Statistics

As of 2026, more than 60 countries still criminalize same sex relationships, making it important for LGBTQ+ travelers to understand the legal environment before visiting a destination. In some places, same sex relationships can result in serious penalties including fines, deportation, imprisonment, forced anal examinations or even death sentences. Many countries do not recognize same sex marriage or nonbinary gender markers on identification documents, which can create additional challenges when passing through immigration. 

Our Experience 

In our travels as a same sex couple, we’ve visited many welcoming places as well as some that were less accepting. That doesn’t mean you should avoid destinations that are more challenging, but it does mean being informed and prepared. Even in LGBTQ+ friendly places, situations can arise. Through our experiences, we share recommendations and resources to help LGBTQ+ travelers navigate destinations respectfully and safely. 

Do Your Research

As travelers in a marginalized group, it’s important to research the laws, cultural norms and general attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people before visiting a new destination to avoid unexpected challenges. Legal protections, religious beliefs, and social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals can vary widely from country to country. Taking time to research your destination, including any layovers, in advance is one of the most important steps LGBTQ+ travelers can take to plan a safer and more informed trip. Here are some of the resources we reference before and during our travels.

Equal Dex. A valuable resource for understanding how a country or region currently compares in terms of LGBTQ+ equality. The Equality Index tracks the status of LGBTQ+ rights, laws, and freedoms, along with public attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people around the world. 

Amnesty International.  An international organization dedicated to preventing and ending human rights abuses worldwide. They publish current articles and reports on human rights issues across the globe, making it a useful resource for finding the most up-to-date information about a country.

IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association).  An organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ tourism and promoting equality worldwide. They offer LGBTQ+ tailored travel guides, safety recommendations as well as highlight events, tours and accommodations that are welcoming to the community.

Western Governments.  Many Western countries provide detailed and up-to-date guidance for LGBTQ+ travelers. We often review multiple sources before a trip to compare perspectives and gather the most current information.

• US Department of State 

• UK Government Guidance 

• Government of Canada

• Smart Traveller Australia 

Precautions for Unfriendly Destinations 

When traveling as a same sex couple to destinations that may be less accepting, especially in places where being gay is criminalized or punishable by law, we have taken a number of difficult but necessary precautions before and during our trips to help maximize our safety.

Review Accommodations.  Book stays with well reviewed hosts or at international hotel chains. Make sure accommodations have separate beds or multiple bedrooms. This raises less questions and prevents assumptions. Make sure both beds or bedrooms look utilized. 

Expect Personal Questions.  Expect people to ask personal or insinuating questions. Plan responses and rehearse them for times when it could be dangerous to share the truth. If traveling as a  same sex couple, decide who responds to avoid answering at the same time. Here are some common questions we’ve been asked and the responses we’ve given:

• Question 1. “Are you gay?” 

• Response 1. “No” Respond firmly and seem insulted. Quickly change the subject, end the conversation or remove yourselves from the situation. 

• Question 2. “Are you married?” 

• Response 2. “No. I prefer to be single.” This answers the question and redirects the conversation away from related follow up questions. 

• Question 3.  “Are you a couple?” 

• Response 3.  “No. We’re step brothers.” This answers the question and creates slight moment of awkwardness for the person asking. It helps explain why you seem close, look different and have different last names.

Never Volunteer Information. We enjoy meeting people while traveling, but in certain places it’s important to keep your distance and be careful about what you share. Avoid volunteering personal information, as there is a risk of entrapment, miscommunication or someone overhearing.

Have A Code Word.  When traveling as a same sex couple, we often use a code word or phase to quietly raise our alert or let the other know we’re uncomfortable in a situation. Choose a phrase that can be easily woven into conversation. Often, we would say something related to “ice cream.” Some examples being, “I’m craving ice cream.” or “Let’s find somewhere to get ice cream.” 

Avoid PDA. Avoid all displays of public affection such as standing too close to one another, making long eye contact, holding hands, kissing, using pet names, etc. 

Manage Your Appearance.  Remove wedding rings or leave them at home before traveling. Dress modestly, either try to blend in or look like the average tourist. Avoid wearing shorts, most of the world wears pants. Don’t wear anything with rainbows or LGBTQ+ symbols. 

Social Media.  Make social media accounts private and log out before entering or exiting immigration. Avoid sharing profiles with strangers. Avoid tagging locations if posting while in the country. 

Stay In Contact.  Maintain contact and communication with close family or friends back home. Share your itinerary and travel documents before traveling and send daily updates with selfies while traveling. 

Register With Your Embassy.  Register your travel plans with country’s embassy or consulate prior to traveling. Save their location and keep their contact information accessible during your travels. 

Purge Devices. Remove photographs together from home and lock screens. Hide or remove photos and certain apps. Turn off fingerprint and Face ID. Lock devices and apps with a passcodes. Turn off devices when transiting immigration. Do not completely wipe your devices. All of this helps if your device is lost, stolen or confiscated. 

Have A Burner Phone.  Purging devices takes a lot of work. The easiest alternate is bringing an old phone with minimal information stored on it. 

Final Thoughts… 

We’ve learned not to let who we are keep us from exploring the world and experiencing new cultures. Safety is always a priority when we travel, especially in destinations that may be less accepting. These precautions have helped us many times, but ultimately it comes down to your own judgment and comfort level. To quote Anthony Bourdain, "Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that's okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind."

Why Travel is Important

Our Perspective

Travel is important for so many reasons. It cultivates connections, builds empathy, makes us more worldly and appreciative of other cultures. Traveling becomes a part of our own self discovery. 

On our first international trip together, to Foz do Iguacu in Brazil, we met another gay couple from Peru on a city bus tour. They didn’t speak English and our Spanish wasn’t the best but we kept chatting as we toured the city. We ended up spending the entire day together, laughing, enjoying meals and becoming friends before going our separate ways. The following year, they invited us to visit them in Peru. During the week we visited, we stayed at their home, with their relatives, toured Lima where they live and explored the Peruvian coast visiting numerous towns by bus. To this day, that week is one of our most memorable of times. You can read more about our adventures along the Peruvian Coast here.

These types of connections that are so important to make while traveling. Our first two trips together have driven our passion for travel, exposed us to new ideas, allowed us to welcome unique experiences, given us the opportunity to make friends abroad and celebrate our cultural differences and diversity. 

Responsible Travel

Our Perspective

As a citizen of the world, a level of responsibility comes with traveling to different destinations. You should be open-minded to other cultures, peoples, ways of living and perspectives. Travel allows us to step outside of our comfort zone, build empathy and expand our world view. In our opinion, it’s what makes every trip so memorable.

Responsible Travel Tips

Below are some things we’ve learning while traveling. We hope they’ll be useful to you on your adventures.

• Remember that you’re a guest in a foreign land, be respectful of local customs, laws and traditions. 

• Read up on local customs, foods and phrases. Having an understanding of the culture before arriving will make your experience more authentic. 

• Knowing a few phrases in the local language or dialect always goes a long way. Saying hello, thank you, good-bye shows locals you have an interest in them and their culture. 

• Often, many people in the tourist or hospitality industries will enjoy conversation and practicing speaking with you. Be patient and open to the conversation. 

• Always be cautious when taking photographs of sights and people, you should ask first if you’re unsure.

• Get cultured. Visit museums and learn about your destination’s history, art and heritage. 

• Support local businesses. Whether a corner cafe, a hostel, a solo tour guide, a boutique, etc… Locals often thrive on a healthy level of tourism.

• Try to visit off the beaten path places to avoid over tourism or consider traveling to trendy destinations during the off season.

• Know if you need a Visa or not before entering a country.

• Recycle, compost, and manage your personal waste responsibly. Pollution is a serious issue around the world and we can all do our part to reduce it.

• Be open to new perspectives. Many cultures live differently than you might. Our differences are what makes us all so unique. Use these opportunities to learn.

• Always have your host country’s currency on hand. Many places don’t accept credit, especially when you’re in remote areas.

• Know the value of the local currency compared to yours. It helps with budgeting, spending and tipping. 

• Know if it’s acceptable to tip after meals or drinks. Research how much to tip.