Flight Sales Tracking Made Easy: Best Tools to Find Cheap Flights Anywhere in the World
Few things sting more than hearing a friend boast about snagging a flight for half the price you paid — especially when it’s the exact same route and dates. Flight prices can feel like a moving target, changing by the hour and often without warning. But these days, you don’t need to spend your evenings endlessly refreshing airline websites.
Flight sale tracking tools have changed the game for bargain-hunters. Whether you’re chasing an impulsive weekend getaway, waiting for the right price to visit family, or hoping to pounce on a once-in-a-lifetime mistake fare, these apps and websites do the hard work for you. They scan thousands of fares, spot sudden drops, and send alerts straight to your inbox or phone before the seats disappear.
The best part? Many of them don’t just track the flights you search for — they also inspire you with deals you didn’t even know you wanted. Today, we’re diving into the best platforms for finding and tracking cheap flights, from techy prediction apps to insider clubs that know about sales before the airlines announce them.
How Flight Sales Tracking Works
At its core, flight sales tracking is all about speed and precision. Airfares fluctuate constantly — sometimes by hundreds of pounds or euros within a single day — and the best deals often vanish within hours. Tracking tools keep a constant eye on prices so you don’t have to, using a mix of clever algorithms, airline feed monitoring, and sometimes even a dash of human curation.
Real-time price monitoring
Most platforms connect directly to airline and online travel agency (OTA) databases. They run automated searches on your chosen route, dates, or a broader “anywhere” option, checking for changes in fare every few minutes.
Catching error fares and flash sales
Some deals aren’t planned at all. Airlines occasionally publish fares with a typo in the price (known as mistake fares) or launch short-lived flash sales to fill empty seats. A good tracker can spot these drops and ping you before they’re corrected.
Customisable alerts
You can tailor most trackers to your travel style — whether that’s monitoring one specific route (say, London to Tokyo), keeping an eye on a whole month, or setting an “everywhere” search to see which destinations are cheapest at any given time.
Why timing matters
When a great fare pops up, hesitation can cost you. Many deals last less than 24 hours, especially on popular routes or during peak travel seasons. The quicker you get notified, the better your chances of booking before prices bounce back.
Best Websites and Apps for Flight Sales Tracking
Skyscanner Price Alerts
Overview
Skyscanner is one of the most well-known flight search engines, and its price alert feature is one of the simplest ways to track fares. Whether you’ve got a specific route in mind or you’re open to the “Everywhere” search, Skyscanner will watch fares for you and send updates when prices change.
Best for
Travellers who want flexible search options and regular updates without too much setup.
Key features
“Everywhere” search to find the cheapest destinations from your airport
Daily or instant email alerts when prices change
Whole-month or cheapest-month view for flexible travel planning
Works across flights, hotels, and car hire in one account
Pros
Free to use and easy to set up
Great for inspiration when you don’t have a set destination
Wide coverage of airlines, including budget carriers
Cons
Alerts can be less frequent for budget airlines if fares change rapidly
Doesn’t highlight mistake fares or insider-only deals
Google Flights Alerts
Overview
Google Flights is a favourite among frequent travellers for its clean interface and lightning-fast search results. Its price tracking tool lets you monitor specific routes or date ranges and receive notifications straight to your email when fares drop.
Best for
Travellers who like a fast, no-frills way to check multiple dates and track prices without downloading an app.
Key features
Calendar and date grid views to compare fares over weeks or months
Email notifications for tracked routes and date ranges
Powerful filters for airline, stopovers, and baggage
“Explore” map to find cheap flights to destinations worldwide
Pros
Very fast and reliable searches
Flexible date search shows when flights are cheapest
No account required to browse (but needed for tracking)
Cons
No push notifications — email only
Doesn’t actively find mistake fares or limited-time sales
Scott’s Cheap Flights (Going.com)
Overview
Originally known as Scott’s Cheap Flights, now rebranded as Going, this service has built a loyal following for its uncanny ability to find rock-bottom prices — often for long-haul and international routes. It’s run by a team of real people who monitor fares, spot mistake prices, and send curated alerts tailored to your departure airports.
Best for
Travellers who want human-verified deals and don’t mind booking spontaneously.
Key features
Email alerts for domestic and international deals
Filters for departure airports
Mix of economy, premium economy, and business class deals
Free tier with limited alerts, premium tier with more frequent and rare deals
Pros
Human curation means fewer false alarms
Often catches mistake fares and flash sales first
Works for both short and long-haul
Cons
Best deals often require flexibility on dates and destinations
Premium tier requires a paid subscription
Hopper
Overview
Hopper takes a predictive approach, using historical price data and AI to forecast when fares will go up or down. Instead of just showing you the current cheapest price, it advises whether to “buy now” or “wait” and sends alerts when it’s the right time to book.
Best for
Travellers with a set destination who can wait for the optimal booking window.
Key features
Price predictions for up to 12 months ahead
Push notifications when prices drop or are about to rise
Ability to “freeze” a fare for a small fee while you decide
App-based with hotel and car hire tracking too
Pros
Helps you avoid overpaying by buying at the wrong time
Mobile-first with clear, simple visuals
Good for planners who want to book months ahead
Cons
Works best for set routes — not ideal for “anywhere” trips
Predictions aren’t foolproof; rare sales can still be missed
Airfarewatchdog
Overview
Airfarewatchdog has been around since the early days of online fare tracking, and its strength lies in its combination of automated price scanning and human deal-spotting. Their team looks for promo codes, limited-time sales, and fares that may not appear in regular search engines.
Best for
Travellers who want a mix of tech and human-curated alerts, especially for North America routes.
Key features
Email alerts for specific routes or departure cities
Coverage of promo codes and sales from smaller airlines
Hotel and car rental deals included
“Today’s Top Fares” feed for quick browsing
Pros
Finds deals that search engines sometimes miss
Human curation cuts down on irrelevant alerts
Includes both domestic and international options
Cons
Focused mainly on US and Canada departures
Website design feels dated compared to newer apps
Secret Flying
Overview
Secret Flying is the go-to site for travellers chasing mistake fares and flash sales. Deals are posted in real time, and there’s no need for a subscription — just visit the site or follow them on social media to see what’s live.
Best for
Spontaneous travellers who can book and go quickly, especially for long-haul deals.
Key features
Live feed of mistake fares, flash sales, and rare discounts
Global coverage with departure city filters
Push notifications on the mobile app
Search by region or destination type
Pros
Free to use and very fast to update
Consistently finds some of the best worldwide bargains
No need to register to browse
Cons
Highly competitive — deals can sell out within hours
Little flexibility for set dates or routes
Jack’s Flight Club (UK/EU)
Overview
Jack’s Flight Club is a UK-based service sending out curated flight deals from European airports, with a heavy focus on big long-haul savings. Like Going.com, it relies on human researchers to sift through thousands of fares and send only the best.
Best for
Travellers based in the UK or Europe looking for long-haul deals and error fares.
Key features
Email alerts for international and some short-haul routes
Filters for departure airports across the UK and Europe
Free tier with limited alerts, premium tier with more frequent deals
Pros
Excellent coverage for UK and European travellers
Frequent long-haul bargains, including premium cabins
Human curation means more relevant deals
Cons
Limited value for travellers outside Europe
Best deals often require quick booking and flexibility
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Flight Sale Alerts
Be flexible with dates and destinations
The more rigid you are, the less chance you have of catching a big drop. Being open to midweek flights, shoulder seasons, or alternative airports can unlock huge savings.
Use more than one tracker
No single site or app catches everything. Pairing tools like Google Flights for general monitoring with Secret Flying or Going.com for surprise deals covers more ground.
Act fast — and be ready to book
The best deals, especially mistake fares, often vanish within hours. Have your payment details and travel documents handy so you can confirm before prices rebound.
Know your refund and change options
Sometimes you’ll book a deal you’re not 100% sure about. Check cancellation policies or book fares with free changes so you don’t get locked in if plans shift.
Clear your cookies or use incognito mode
While not as dramatic as some claim, avoiding cached searches can sometimes help you see the true lowest fare — especially on airline sites.
World Locals Tip
One of the smartest ways to take advantage of flash fares is to keep a “travel fund” or a stash of points/miles ready to go. That way, when a £200 (€230) return to Tokyo pops up out of nowhere, you’re not hesitating because of timing or budget. Think of it as a spontaneity fund — it turns flight deal alerts from “wow, if only…” into “booked it, see you there.”
Scoring a great flight deal isn’t just about luck — it’s about having the right tools and knowing how to use them. From simple price alerts on Skyscanner and Google Flights to human-curated insider finds from Jack’s Flight Club or Going.com, there’s never been an easier time to let technology (and a few travel obsessives) do the searching for you.
Set up a mix of trackers, stay flexible, and keep an open mind. Sometimes the best trip you’ll ever take starts with a surprise notification for a destination you hadn’t even considered. With the right alerts in place, you won’t just save money — you’ll open the door to more adventures, more often.
