Flight prices in India can feel random. The same route can cost very different amounts depending on the day you fly and the day you book, and the headline sale fare rarely seems to match your dates.

The good news: most of what decides your final price is in your control. When you book, which fare type you pick, what you add at checkout, and which card you pay with all make a real difference. Here are 12 ways to pay less, starting with the free ones.

Part 1: Before you book

1. Be flexible by a day or two

The single biggest lever is your date. Use the fare calendar on the airline or booking site, which shows prices across a week or month, and shift your trip by a day if it saves real money. On busy routes, early-morning or late-night flights, or flying on a weekday instead of a Friday or Sunday, can be cheaper.

2. Don't leave domestic flights to the last week

Domestic fares on popular routes often climb as the date gets closer and cheaper seats sell out. There's no magic booking day, but booking a few weeks out usually beats booking a few days out, especially around long weekends and festivals.

3. Set fare alerts instead of checking every day

Google Flights and many booking apps let you set a price alert for a route and date. You get a notification when the fare drops, instead of refreshing the app every day.

4. Hold a fare while you decide

If you've found a good price but can't confirm yet, some airlines let you lock it for a small fee. IndiGo's 6E Fare Hold, for example, starts at ₹99 on its website and app. That's cheaper than watching the fare jump while you wait for leave approval.

5. Check nearby airports and connecting flights

A connecting flight or a nearby airport can be noticeably cheaper than the obvious non-stop, especially on international routes. Just add the extra travel time and cost of getting to that airport before you decide.

Part 2: Discounts you might already qualify for

6. Pick the right fare category

Many travellers skip the fare-type dropdown on airline websites, but it's where the category discounts live. IndiGo, for example, offers:

Air India and Air India Express run their own student, senior citizen and armed forces fares too, so check the options on whichever airline you're flying. Two things to know: these discounts apply to the base fare, not taxes and fees, and if you can't show valid ID at the airport, you can be charged the regular fare (or, for defence fares, denied boarding).

Part 3: Pay less at checkout

7. Compare the airline website with booking apps

Booking sites and airline websites don't always show the same final price. Compare the total after convenience fees, not the headline fare. Airline sites sometimes have web-only fares; booking apps sometimes stack coupon and bank offers on top.

8. Look for bank and card offers on the booking

Booking sites and airlines regularly run instant discounts for specific bank cards, especially during sale seasons. If you hold more than one card, check which one has an active offer on the site you're using before you pay.

9. Skip the add-ons you don't need

Seat selection, meals, priority boarding and travel insurance can add a lot to a cheap fare. If you're flying a short sector alone, a free auto-assigned seat and a meal from home might be fine. If your card already includes travel insurance, check its terms before paying for another policy.

10. Abroad, pay in the local currency

When a card machine or website abroad offers to charge you in rupees, say no. That's dynamic currency conversion, and the conversion rate is usually worse than your card's. Pay in the local currency, and check your card's forex markup before you travel so you know what each spend abroad really costs.

Part 4: Let your card pay for part of the trip

11. Earn rewards on the booking itself

Many cards pay just their base rate on flights. The lifetime free CheQ AU Credit Card pays its top rate on travel booked in the CheQ app: 12% as CheQ Points on flights and hotels booked on CheQ Travel, which works out to about 6% in value.

12. Pay for your next trip with points

The savings stack when you use those points on your next booking. CheQ Points can be redeemed on CheQ Travel at 2 points = ₹1, and CheQ says you can pay for a booking entirely with points.

How CheQ Travel works

CheQ Travel is the flight and hotel booking section inside the CheQ app, available to CheQ AU Credit Card holders.

• Earn: bookings on CheQ Travel with the CheQ AU Credit Card earn 12% as CheQ Points (24 points per ₹200).

• Redeem: CheQ Points are worth ₹1 for every 2 points on CheQ Travel, so 10,000 points take ₹5,000 off a booking.

• Price: CheQ Travel offers a lowest fare guarantee, and says it will match a lower price you find elsewhere. Check the conditions in the app before you claim.

• Everyday spends count too: points from the card's other categories (12% on Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, BigBasket and utility bills paid on CheQ, 5% on 10,000+ other brands) can all go towards your next trip.

What that looks like on a ₹20,000 booking

Things to know before you use it

• CheQ Travel is only open to CheQ AU Credit Card holders.

• The 12% rate shares a cap with the card's other 12% and 5% categories: 12,000 points per statement cycle, roughly ₹1 lakh of 12%-rate spending.

• Points are earned on transactions of ₹200 or more and are valid for two years.

• The best value is on CheQ Travel and gift cards (2 points = ₹1). Redeemed against bills, points are worth half as much (4 points = ₹1).

• The card has a 3.49% forex markup and no lounge access, so factor that in for spends abroad.

Quick checklist before you hit "Pay"

• Checked the fare calendar for cheaper nearby dates

• Selected the right fare category (student, senior, armed forces)

• Compared the total price, including convenience fees, on at least two sites

• Checked for bank or card offers on the booking

• Removed add-ons you don't need

• Booked on CheQ Travel with the CheQ AU Credit Card to earn 12%, and used CheQ Points if you have them

• For international trips: checked your card's forex markup, and will always pay in local currency

Not sure which card to book your next trip with?

Ask Wisor, CheQ's AI credit card expert, in the CheQ app. It looks at your real spends across your cards, tells you which card to use for a booking and which live bank offers apply, and points out where you're missing rewards or paying hidden fees.

FAQs

What is the cheapest day to book a flight in India?

There isn't one fixed day. Prices move with demand, so flexibility on your travel date matters far more than the day you book. Use fare calendars and price alerts to spot drops.

How far in advance should I book a domestic flight?

Booking a few weeks ahead usually beats booking in the last few days, especially for long weekends, festivals and popular routes, when cheaper seats sell out first.

Do students get discounts on flights in India?

Yes. IndiGo's student fare gives students aged 12 and above up to 10% off the base fare on domestic flights booked on its website or app more than 7 days ahead, plus 10 kg extra baggage. Air India and Air India Express run student fares too. You need a valid student ID at check-in.

Is it cheaper to book on the airline website or a booking app?

It varies. Compare the final price after convenience fees, and check for bank offers, which are more common on booking apps.

Can I book flights with CheQ Points?

Yes. CheQ AU Credit Card holders can redeem CheQ Points on CheQ Travel at 2 points = ₹1, and CheQ says a booking can be paid for entirely with points.

How much do I earn on CheQ Travel bookings?

12% as CheQ Points with the CheQ AU Credit Card (24 points per ₹200), which is about 6% in value when redeemed on CheQ Travel. It shares a cap of 12,000 points per statement cycle with the card's other 12% and 5% categories.

Does CheQ Travel guarantee the lowest fare?

CheQ Travel offers a lowest fare guarantee and says it will match a lower price found elsewhere. Check the conditions in the app before booking.