Cheap flights

 If you want to know whether it's worth leaving it late, the Hopper app is for you. Just enter where you'd like to fly from/to, and it'll show you when prices are likely to rise and fall, based on the prices of millions of flights over time. Ideal!

 Last-minute flights aren't always cheaper – and last-minute skiing trips are almost never cheaper. Check out our guide to saving money on skiing trips for more tips.

 Many promotional price points come with hidden costs and they're not a welcome surprise. From air taxes to baggage fees or seat selection – there's a whole host of things that may increase the price.

 Make sure you always check what's being included in your purchase before clicking your pennies away. Check if your ticket includes any unnecessary extras – if so, look for cheaper flight tickets that suit you better.

 And try to travel light if you can. Hand luggage is usually* free. But don't get stung by weight and dimension specifics – weigh and measure your bag before arriving!

 Also, there are loads of tricks you can use to keep the cost of your ticket down. For example, you could wear multiple clothes and carry things in your pockets.

 Of course, budget flights can still be good value, even with some added costs. But, just don't get too excited straight away. Consider all the potential costs, and make sure you don't get charged extra at the airport.

 *Ryanair changed their policy and you now have to pay to take a small wheelie suitcase on board. However, a backpack is still free if it fits the required dimensions. Check to see if the airline you're flying with has a similar policy.

 Staying as anonymous as you can while searching for tickets is one of the key ways to get cheap flights.

 Flight prices fluctuate depending on demand. Airlines use data on how many people are searching for, and buying, tickets to work out how to price them.

 So, you might find that when you've had your eye on a particular flight and have been checking back, the price increases. The airline knows you're likely to buy it, so they're trying to squeeze a few more bucks out of you.

 To avoid this, try deleting your search cookies. Then, see what happens to the price once your browser history has been wiped.

 Another option is to search in an incognito browser (the option is there when you go to open a new tab or window). This way, your location and identity are concealed from airlines, so shouldn't affect the prices displayed.

 Taking out a credit card as a student comes with risks, so do plenty of research if you're thinking about getting one.

 If you do decide to get one, it's worth keeping in mind that credit cards offer Section 75 protection. This means that, if you've made a purchase that costs over £100 and up to £30,000 and something goes wrong on the seller's side, you can claim your money back.

 Debit cards don't offer quite the same protection. So, as long as you can pay it off in full and on time, it could help to use a credit card to book holidays.

 Credit cards can also be better for spending abroad and might offer better exchange rates than debit cards. Again, do lots of research before deciding on a card to use.

 Plus, you can earn air miles with certain credit cards, and many offer you cashback on your flights. This means if you spend a bit more on your flight, you might see some return.

 When booking long-haul flights it will nearly always prove cheaper to book a flight with a connection somewhere rather than a direct one. While this will increase your travel time, you'll most likely save money.

Cheap Flights

 Be aware of the risk involved here, though. If one of your earlier flights is delayed, this could result in you missing a connecting flight. Some cheap student travel insurance should cover you in case something goes wrong.

 It's also a good idea to search by country on comparison sites rather than cities. Main city airports are usually more expensive, and the periphery airports normally specialise in budget airlines. Opening up your search to these alternatives could save you money on the flight.

 If you're not in a rush to get where you're going, it might also be worth considering a layover to help keep costs down. Try searching for connecting flights individually to see if it would be cheaper to spend a day or two somewhere else en route. Just think of it like another mini holiday!

 Use Compare the Market for your travel insurance and get 2-for-1 cinema tickets for an entire year out of it.

 Package holidays are often a great option for students. They're cheap and not just for the 50+ crowd. If you've ever watched Coach Trip, you'll agree.

 Book a package holiday and you're likely to get discounts on flights as well as accommodation, airport transfers and activities like bus tours while you're there. We've listed some great summer holiday package deals if you need any inspiration.

 As holiday companies book in such large quantities, they tend to get the biggest discounts. Sometimes you can even get an entire holiday for less than the cost of a regular flight.

 As holiday companies book in such large quantities, they tend to get the biggest discounts. Sometimes you can even get an entire holiday for less than the cost of a regular flight.

 However, this might not be a good option for you if you enjoy exploring and eating out a lot on holiday. As food and drinks are included in the price, you'll save a ridiculous amount of cash by eating all your meals at your hotel.

 This might sound like an obvious one, but always check whether you can get a student discount when booking flights.

 This applies to both airlines and holiday companies alike, for anything from domestic to round-the-world trips. A good place to start is our own directory of student discounts on travel.

 The last thing anyone wants is spam in their inboxes, so signing up to travel company newsletters might not sound too appealing. However, this is often the best way to discover top deals. Travel companies and airlines are particularly good at rewarding newsletter subscribers.

 For example, Ryanair is likely to notify its subscribers of big sales early on. As seats are always limited in these instances, it does pay off to put up with the emails.

 It's also worth considering joining a secret flight deals service, like Jack's Flight Club or Secret Flying. Both are free to join, but Jack's Flight Club also offers a paid premium membership if you're keen to receive extra deal alerts.

 You can also sign up for our student deals newsletter and Telegram group. We'll let you know about any great travel deals we come across. Also, keep an eye on our student travel deals section which we update most days.

 We've all experienced the tiresome, repeated searching when trying to book the cheapest possible flights to any given destination. With endless search engines and continually fluctuating prices, the approach to frugal flight booking is overwhelming. Here's some key tips that will save you time, frustration and most importantly money when booking your next flight.

 Don't miss our other guides on How to Find Airline Mistake Fares, How to Get Free Extended Layovers to Hack One Trip Into Two, and Round the World Tickets: The Ultimate Guide!