When it comes to booking flights, timing and tools can make all the difference. A $500 ticket might drop to $250 within hours—or rise to $800 the next day. But with the right flight comparison tools, you don’t have to guess. You can track trends, monitor prices, and book smarter without overpaying. Here’s how to make the most of the top platforms, plus a strategy to earn cashback when you book.

Google Flights: Fast, flexible, and reliable

Google Flights is one of the best search engines for speed and simplicity. It aggregates prices from multiple airlines and OTAs (online travel agencies), shows historical price trends, and allows you to view the cheapest dates on a calendar. You can also filter by airline, flight duration, stops, and even carbon emissions.

For flexible travelers, its “Explore” feature is excellent—you can set a budget, origin city, and see where you can fly affordably around the world.

Skyscanner: Ideal for price-sensitive explorers

Skyscanner is another great tool for flexible travelers. You can search for “Everywhere” as a destination, or choose entire months to find the best deals. It pulls from major airlines, budget carriers, and third-party booking sites, and includes filters for stopovers, departure times, and layovers.

Skyscanner also offers price alerts, notifying you when fares drop for your selected routes.

Hopper: Predict prices with data-backed forecasts

Hopper doesn’t just show you what flights cost today—it predicts when to buy for the best rate. Using machine learning and historical data, Hopper forecasts whether prices are likely to rise or fall. It can recommend whether to wait or book immediately and lets you “freeze” a price for a small fee.

It also offers cashback opportunities on bookings made directly in-app, especially during promotions.

ITA Matrix: A tool for advanced fare hunters

The ITA Matrix isn’t beginner-friendly, but it’s a powerful tool used by travel pros to uncover hidden city fares, open-jaw tickets, and flexible routing combinations. You can’t book directly through it, but it’s ideal for researching before using another booking engine.

If you’re comfortable with multi-city itineraries or want maximum control, ITA Matrix is worth learning.

Pro tip: Stack your deal with cashback

After using one of these tools to find your flight, you can earn cashback with a Delta Airlines gift card when booking directly through the airline using Fluz. This approach is perfect for travelers who prefer direct bookings (for perks like seat selection and easier customer service) but still want a cashback reward. The same applies if you plan to fly Southwest—just buy a Southwest Airlines gift card with cashback through Fluz.

Even if your chosen airline isn’t supported directly, you can still get cashback when booking through OTAs like Hotels.com or Expedia when bundled with accommodations or car rentals.

For more options and instant rewards, visit Fluz and explore their full store list.

Conclusion

The smartest travelers don’t just look for low prices—they know when to book, where to book, and how to get rewarded when they do. Whether you’re planning a last-minute weekend trip or mapping out a complex itinerary, flight comparison tools combined with cashback apps can lead to serious savings.