How to Set Up Flight Fare Alerts That Actually Work
Set up fare alerts on Google Flights, Scott's Cheap Flights (Going), and Secret Flying for your routes 2-8 weeks before you want to travel. Use flexible date ranges and nearby airports to catch the best deals when prices drop.
- Budget
- Free to $49/year for premium services
- Duration
- Set alerts 2-8 weeks before travel
- Best Time
- Tuesday afternoons and late Sunday nights see most price drops
- Visa Required
- Check requirements before booking any deal
Step by step
Choose your alert platforms
Sign up for Google Flights alerts (free), Going premium ($49/year), and follow Secret Flying on social media. Google catches most deals, Going finds mistake fares, Secret Flying spots flash sales.
Set up Google Flights alerts
Go to Google Flights, search your route with flexible dates (+/- 3 days), click the alert toggle. Set up separate alerts for different date ranges if you have multiple possible travel windows.
Configure Going alerts
Set your home airport and up to 3 nearby airports. Choose your regions of interest (Europe, Asia, etc.). Enable both premium economy and economy alerts - premium economy deals are often better value.
Add airline-specific alerts
Sign up for sale notifications directly with your preferred airlines. Budget carriers like Southwest, Ryanair, and AirAsia often don't appear in third-party search engines.
Set realistic price expectations
Research normal prices for your route first. Set mental price targets: 20% below normal is good, 40% below is excellent. Don't wait for unrealistic deals.
Act fast on good deals
Book within 24 hours of getting an alert for international flights, within 4 hours for domestic. Use the airline's 24-hour cancellation policy as insurance while you decide.
Questions people ask
How far in advance should I set up fare alerts?
2-8 weeks for domestic flights, 1-4 months for international. Earlier alerts catch planning deals, later ones catch last-minute drops.
Why am I not getting any good deals?
Check that you're including nearby airports, have flexible dates enabled, and aren't setting unrealistic price expectations. Some routes rarely have major sales.
Should I book immediately when I get an alert?
Research quickly first. Check the total cost including baggage and seat selection, verify the dates work, then book within hours if it's genuinely good.
Do fare alerts work for specific dates?
They work best with flexibility. If you must travel specific dates, set alerts anyway but expect smaller savings and fewer deals.
Budget
Fare alert services: Free (Google Flights) to $49/year (Going premium). Expect to save $100-400 per international flight when alerts work, $30-80 on domestic flights.
Packing
- Smartphone with airline apps installed for quick booking
- Credit card with no foreign transaction fees ready
- Passport validity checker bookmark
- Flexible travel dates written down
- Backup airport codes list