What's the best way to find cheap flights between the US and UK?

Hi, I'm just curious if anyone has any tips for getting the cost of air travel down. Thanks.

I usually use Kayak.com to find the best price in flight.

We've usually sat down and checked with a few, including Opodo, Just the Flight, Priceline, etc, and see which one offers the best rate. We've also found that going before June or after August can be quite a bit cheaper. Also, the farther in advance you are able to book, the better. We try for at least four months if possible.

I saw recently -- I think it was a magazine article -- that you can actually get better deals from a travel agent than going online yourself    But where do you find a travel agent?

I saw recently -- I think it was a magazine article -- that you can actually get better deals from a travel agent than going online yourself    But where do you find a travel agent?

The Frugal Traveler for the NY Times wrote an article about it a couple of months ago. http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/is-the-best-travel-search-engine-around-the-corner/

As far as cheaper fares, there's no one place to always find it. It helps to be flexible with dates and even airports and to search around. If you're a student or under 26, try sta.com and studentuniverse.com. Otherwise, kayak, vayama...also, be patient, check often and have a "strike price."

As far as cheaper fares, there's no one place to always find it. It helps to be flexible with dates and even airports and to search around. If you're a student or under 26, try sta.com and studentuniverse.com. Otherwise, kayak, vayama...also, be patient, check often and have a "strike price."

So true. Last time around I ended up finding the cheapest flight on the US travelocity site for a UK to US return ticket - go figure!

Bring back the charter flights of $395 round trip! Where is Freddy Laker???

My age is showing.

Bring back the charter flights of $395 round trip! Where is Freddy Laker???

My age is showing.

Those were the days, eh? 

As far as cheaper fares, there's no one place to always find it. It helps to be flexible with dates and even airports and to search around. If you're a student or under 26, try sta.com and studentuniverse.com. Otherwise, kayak, vayama...also, be patient, check often and have a "strike price."

I agree with being flexible with airports. O'Hare is my *preferred* airport, but to get a good deal we will use others. We end up somewhere else as often, if not more often, than O'Hare.

It pays to take the time (and sometimes frustration) to search several sites.

The Frugal Traveler for the NY Times wrote an article about it a couple of months ago. http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/is-the-best-travel-search-engine-around-the-corner/

Thanks for that link.  For the past few years, I've had good luck with STA, but my fun there will come to an end before I know it (Unless I become a student again!).  Has anybody found a reliable travel agent, either in the US or UK??

Thanks for that link.  For the past few years, I've had good luck with STA, but my fun there will come to an end before I know it (Unless I become a student again!).  Has anybody found a reliable travel agent, either in the US or UK??

The travel agent method works for a lot of destinations because they cater to an immigrant enclave/community somewhere. Like Russians in Brighton Beach (NY) or Chinese people in Chinatown. The language skills of the But there's less of a discernible British enclave anywhere in the States or American enclave in the UK. I'm not sure where you'd find a good travel agent specializing in US-UK transatlantic travel, although I'd certainly be interested to hear suggestions.

I like www.flightfox.com. Other people search for the cheapest fare for you in return for a $25 finders fee. You have to pay the fee up front, but if you can find cheaper yourself, you can get the fee refunded. Last time it saved us a few hundred £.

I've had luck the last few times with cheapoair.com I've checked all the other sites and cheapo always seems to beat them. You have to watch the flights though...one flight I looked at was fantastic but had a 12 hour overnight layover in Heathrow! Then of course you have the ones that have an airport change, ie...you land at Gatwick and take off from Heathrow

I use Cheapoair, however, be aware that the flights are non-refundable, non-transferable tickets! I'm currently having to cancel a flight I paid 1300$ for to go visit England for 6 weeks. Now I'm going to pay a fee (200+) to change the dates! Total FML moment

I use Cheapoair, however, be aware that the flights are non-refundable, non-transferable tickets! I'm currently having to cancel a flight I paid 1300$ for to go visit England for 6 weeks. Now I'm going to pay a fee (200+) to change the dates! Total FML moment

Oh yes...most definitely. But then again, most tickets are now a days unless you pay the higher fares.