Flight prices are steadily climbing every year; you have to pay more to get around the world. There are different ways to save money on flights, including traveling off-season and using a virtual private network (VPN) to find cheaper flights.
A VPN allows you to change your virtual location, so you can scan websites like Kayak and Skyscanner and compare prices in different regions. Here’s how to use a VPN to get cheaper flights:
- Subscribe to a VPN. Based on our tests, NordVPN is the best VPN for flight hunting. It has fast speeds and an extensive server network, allowing you to find cheap flights all over the world.
- Download and install the VPN software on your device.
- Open the NordVPN app and log in to your account.
- Connect to a server in a different country. Generally, flights are more affordable in mid and low-income regions.
- Use a flight search engine to compare prices and find the best deal!
Continue reading the article below for a detailed step-by-step guide and more tips on using a VPN to get cheaper flights.
Flight costs depend on several factors, including location. You could be paying more for a flight than people in other parts of the world.
In recent years, flight prices have been more stable across countries, and cheaper flights are increasingly hard to find. Still, the chances are you can score a better deal if you book from a different country.
A VPN lets you change your virtual location and search for cheap flights. All you need to do is connect to servers in different countries, compare prices, and pick the cheapest flight. A VPN also prevents airlines from tracking your searches and racking up prices.
We tested 25+ of the top VPNs to find the best VPN for flights, and NordVPN takes the win! NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free and search for the best deals for your next flight. Time to book your next holiday destination!
How to Get Cheap Flights With a VPN in 2023
Using a VPN to get cheap flights is a straightforward process. All you need to do is connect to a server in a country where flights are more affordable (more about this below!).
When you connect to a VPN server and visit flight comparison sites like Skyscanner, Kayak, or Google Flights, you can see local fares and choose the best deal. It’s best to clear your cookies, browsing history, and use incognito mode to avoid tracking.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting cheap flights with a VPN.
1. Get a VPN
The first thing you have to do to find cheaper flight prices is to subscribe to a VPN provider. Below, we give you an overview of the top five VPNs you can use to book cheap flights.
Our #1 choice is NordVPN. This VPN has an extensive server network, with multiple servers in countries known to have cheap flight tickets. Also, NordVPN’s ad blocker ensures you’re not constantly bombarded with ads on flight comparison websites.
Want to get started? Here’s what to do:
- Head over to the NordVPN website and choose a subscription plan. Since NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can use the VPN for free for one month to book any flights you want!
- Create an account. This only takes a couple of minutes.
- Download the right software for your device. To use NordVPN on the go, you can download the mobile app for iOS or Android. The VPN app works just as well on a PC.
- Open the NordVPN app and log in to your account.
2. Connect to a server in another country
Now that you’ve got a VPN, it’s time to use it. To get cheap flights, connect to a server in a country of your choice.
Wondering which countries have the cheapest flights? Lower-income countries tend to have more affordable flights. We recommend checking different countries and regions. During our tests, we connected to VPN servers in countries like Malaysia, India, Portugal, Turkey, South Africa, Mexico, and Thailand.
Fares also depend on your chosen destination. Domestic flights can be a lot cheaper when booking from the same country. You may also get better prices if you book from the region your airline is based in. For example, you can connect to a Swedish VPN server to get cheaper fares with Scandinavian Airlines.
To connect to a NordVPN server in a particular country or region, click the location on the map.
3. Compare and book the cheapest flight
There are tons of websites that let you compare flights. Once connected to a VPN server, head to a booking site like Skyscanner or Kayak to compare prices.
We ran a test on a flight between Atlanta and Mumbai. When we searched from the US without a VPN, the best price was $689 on KLM. When we did the same after connecting to a NordVPN server in India, the price for the flight was $635.
The Best VPNs to Book Cheap Flights in 2023
We tested several VPNs to find the best VPN for cheaper flights. The five VPNs below are our top picks. These are some of the fastest VPNs on the market right now, and they’ve got large server networks, allowing you to compare flight prices in different countries and regions.
1. NordVPN: Best VPN for cheaper flights
NordVPN is the best VPN to get deals on flights, thanks to its extensive server network, fast speeds, and watertight encryption. We didn’t experience any issues with Nord when checking for flights and could bounce around between virtual locations quickly and easily.
With 5,500+ servers across 60 countries, NordVPN offers a wide range of servers to choose from. They have servers in some of the cheapest countries to book flights, including Mexico, Vietnam, and Romania. And, if you’re not satisfied with the price in one country, you can switch server locations with one click.
Thanks to NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature, you’re protected from trackers and hackers as you visit various websites to compare flight prices. Your data is encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption, and NordVPN blocks malware-infected websites from opening. NordVPN’s ad blocker also keeps annoying ads and pop-ups at bay, which can be rife on some flight comparison sites.
Another useful feature NordVPN offers is split-tunneling. This allows you to choose which traffic runs via your VPN. If you only want to use your VPN for booking flights without slowing down your device, split-tunneling lets you do so. With that said, you don’t have to worry about speeds with NordVPN! This VPN is super fast and runs so smoothly in the background that you won’t even notice it’s turned on.
NordVPN is pretty affordable too. It offers great discounts on long-term subscriptions and has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the VPN service risk-free.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
During our NordVPN tests, this provider proved itself time and again. It has countless useful features that will help you find cheaper flights and keep you safe while traveling.
2. Surfshark: Cheap VPN to find flight deals
When you’re looking for cheap flights, you don’t want to spend too much money on a VPN, either. Surfshark is the perfect VPN for you if you’re looking for an affordable but premium VPN.
This powerful VPN has a server network that’s smaller than NordVPN’s, with 3,200+ servers. However, Surfshark covers a much larger base in terms of server locations — you can connect to servers in more than 100 countries, including India, Pakistan, and Malaysia. The size of Surfshark’s server network also makes it one of the best streaming VPNs, so you can get much more out of it than just good deals on flights.
Like NordVPN, you won’t have to worry about privacy with Surfshark. This no-log VPN uses RAM-only servers, meaning your data is automatically wiped from its servers. Surfshark’s CleanWeb filter gets rid of ads and keeps you safe on any booking site.
Another reason we love Surfshark is that you can use one Surfshark account on an unlimited number of devices. With prices starting at $2.30 a month, this VPN will barely cost you anything if you split the bill with others. Get Surfshark with your friends today and find cheap tickets for your next group holiday!
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
This VPN is one of our absolute favorites and we’ve tested it thoroughly. You can read all about our experiences in our full review of Surfshark.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA): Huge server network to search for cheap flights
If you’re looking for a VPN with the largest server network, Private Internet Access (PIA) is the answer! Not only does this VPN have 35,000+ servers across 84 countries, it also has a great ad-blocker. This makes browsing for cheap flights a walk in the park!
With PIA, you can find cheaper flights from various locations, including Albania, India, and Egypt. The app is easy to use and lets you switch easily between servers. All the settings are straightforward and easily accessible, making it a good VPN for beginners.
PIA’s ad blocker works very well. You won’t have to worry about malicious software slipping through the cracks. We found this feature especially helpful when browsing flight comparison sites that tend to show a lot of ads. Additionally, if you’re privacy-focused, it’s great to know that Private Internet Access is a verified zero logs provider and stores data on RAM-only servers.
PIA subscriptions are very affordable, too — on par with Surfshark. Try out this VPN today. You can use its 30-day money-back guarantee to get a refund if you’re unsatisfied.
- Strong focus on privacy and security
- Good price
- Fast and stable servers
We tested PIA to see if all its features work as they’re supposed to. You can read our experiences in our full PIA review.
4. ExpressVPN: Reputable VPN for booking flights
ExpressVPN has built a great reputation for itself over the years. With servers in 94 countries around the world, you can easily find cheap flights on sites like Expedia, Kayak, Google Flights, and Skyscanner with ExpressVPN.
Your location is always hidden when you use ExpressVPN, and your data is protected with military-grade encryption and time-tested VPN protocols. The ExpressVPN app is also easy to use; you can switch between different servers with just one click and compare flight prices.
One of the downsides to ExpressVPN is that it doesn’t offer any ad or malware protection. Also, it’s not as affordable as the other VPN services on this list, with subscriptions starting at $6.67 monthly. Luckily, you can get huge discounts if you opt for a long-term subscription!
ExpressVPN is user-friendly, and it only takes a couple of minutes to install it. The company has a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you test out the service for free.
- Very easy-to-use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e., Netflix)
- 3,000+ servers in 94 countries
Read our in-depth ExpressVPN review for more information about its features and options.
5. CyberGhost: Cheap VPN with 9,000+ servers
CyberGhost has thousands of servers (9,100+) spread across 90+ countries. This makes comparing prices when shopping for cheaper flights as easy as possible.
This budget-friendly VPN gives you a lot of bang for your buck, which is an advantage when trying to save money on flights. Subscriptions go as low as $2.11 a month. On top of that, CyberGhost has a whopping 45-day money-back guarantee! This means you can use the VPN risk-free for a month and a half, giving you plenty of time to book your next trip.
Take your time finding cheaper flights, then try streaming TV shows or movies on Netflix. You’ll have plenty of time to decide if this VPN is right for you.
You can use CyberGhost’s software on seven devices at once. There’s a CyberGhost app for every major operating system, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The app is easy to use and very beginner-friendly.
When it comes to privacy, you also won’t have to worry about a thing. This verified no-log VPN uses trusted VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard.
The CyberGhost Private Browser feature has a built-in ad and tracker blocker that optimizes your privacy. It also supports split tunneling, which means you can use the VPN as you please. Are you ready to go on holiday? Make use of CyberGhost to find the best deals today!
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
Want to read more about CyberGhost? Check out our full experience in this CyberGhost review.
How Does a VPN Help You Get Cheap Flights?
The websites you visit, including airline and flight comparison sites, collect data to profile you and determine your interests. They track your IP address and install cookies on your browser.
Some airlines use algorithms to determine their flight prices. Algorithm-based pricing involves the analysis of vast sums of data.
While airlines deny collecting and using customer data to determine flight prices, many believe this happens, and that’s why flight prices increase when you search for tickets online repeatedly. Not much is known about the algorithms that airlines use, what they do with the user data they collect, and why prices increase over time when you search for flights.
Generally, the prices of online plane tickets vary based on demand and the country you’re in. In more affluent countries, for example, prices tend to be much higher than in other parts of the world.
You can use a VPN to get cheaper flights by scanning for more affordable prices in other parts of the world. A VPN hides your IP address, allowing you to spoof your location and appear like you’re anywhere in the world. It lets you compare prices from different locations and find the cheapest tickets for your flight.
Other benefits of using a VPN
A VPN isn’t only useful for finding cheap tickets. It also allows you to save money on online purchases and unlock discounts when shopping online. Using a VPN also protects your internet traffic from third parties like hackers, websites, and your internet service provider (ISP), who may try to monitor your online activities.
When you connect to a VPN, your data gets routed through a private, encrypted VPN tunnel. Here’s a visual representation of how a VPN safeguards your privacy online.
Without a VPN, your IP address is available to any website you visit, meaning they can track your behavior and identify your location. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and makes it seem like you’re located elsewhere. This is why you can use a VPN to stream Netflix and access content on geo-restricted apps and websites from anywhere in the world.
VPNs often come with great security features, including malware detection and ad blockers. When looking for flights online, you don’t want to accidentally click on a malicious link or be bombarded with ads all the time. A VPN takes care of this, ensuring you can search for cheap flights without compromising your safety!
Can I Use a Free VPN to Find Cheap Flight Tickets?
While there are some good free VPNs out there, we don’t recommend using a free VPN to find and book cheap flight tickets. You need good internet speeds and access to a vast server network to scour the web for cheap flight tickets. Unfortunately, most free VPNs don’t live up to the task.
These are some reasons why a free VPN may be unsuitable for finding cheap flights:
- Small server network: Most free VPNs have a limited server network, and often these servers are not in locations where you can get cheap flight tickets.
- Data caps: Most free VPNs have data caps. You may need to browse various websites for extended periods to find cheaper flights, and data caps prevent you from doing this.
- Risky software: Many free VPNs contain malware or may expose you to malware as they don’t come with malware protection and ad blockers like premium VPNs.
With a premium VPN like NordVPN, you get access to a massive server network, malware protection, and an ad blocker. Also, there are no data caps or bandwidth limits. And, NordVPN is quite affordable.
Keep in Mind:
In most countries, using a VPN is perfectly legal. Some countries, like China, Russia, or Iran, however, heavily restrict or even forbid the use of VPNs. You’re more likely to be flagged for using a VPN in these countries when you use a free VPN. NordVPN has obfuscated servers that mask your VPN traffic, making it difficult for anyone to detect that you’re using a VPN.
Other Tips to Help You Find Cheap Flight Tickets
It can be difficult to find affordable flights, especially as ticket prices are increasingly stable across countries. Besides using a VPN, here are some tips to help you dig up the best deals for tickets.
Clear your cookies
Cookies are pieces of data stored on your browser by the websites you visit. Booking sites and flight search engines use cookies to track and analyze your online behavior. Many believe this inevitably contributes to higher price tickets. Whether this is true or otherwise, it’s important to block this invasive tracking.
Here’s how you can clear your cookies and prevent flight sites and search engines from tracking you:
- On Chrome: Go to Menu > More tools > Clear browsing data. In the “Time range” section, select “All time” to clear all your cookies. Check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.” Then click on “Clear data.”
- On Firefox: Go to Menu > History > Clear recent history. Under “Time range to clear,” select Everything. Under History, tick the boxes next to Cookies, and click “Clear Now.”
- On Safari: Go to the menu, and click on Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Select the websites > Remove or Remove all.
Pro Tip:
To limit variation in flight prices, we recommend using incognito mode on your web browser. Keep in mind that this doesn’t hide your location (only a VPN does that!) but it will limit tracking.
Use a flight search engine or comparison site
Wondering where to buy cheap flights? We recommend using a booking comparison flight or flight search engine when searching for cheap flights, as you get an overview of the prices of flights from different airlines. Below, we’ve compiled our favorite flight comparison sites and highlighted their best features.
| Booking site | Features |
|---|---|
| Skyscanner | View flights in different currencies; it also allows you to book hotels, cars, etc. |
| Kayak | Browse and compare ticket prices for the same flight on a digital map |
| Kiwi | Filter flights by carrier, country, departure and arrival times, etc. |
| Priceline | Get good bundle deals for flights, car rentals, and accommodation |
| Momondo | A large comparison database that lets you discover cheap flight tickets |
| Expedia | Lets you bundle bookings for flights and accommodation |
Pro Tip:
Check multiple sites before booking, since different sites can offer different rates even for the same flight.
Flexible travel plans can save you a lot of money
Not bound by holidays or set on a particular travel destination? You can save a lot of money if your time, date, and destination are flexible. Here are two tips to keep in mind when looking for the cheapest flight rates:
- Travel off-season: In the off-season, ticket prices tend to be a lot cheaper than during holidays or summer. Flying at less convenient times — early in the morning or late at night — can also make a big difference.
- Don’t have a set destination: If you’d like to be surprised, most airline comparison sites have an option that shows you the cheapest location to fly to in a certain period. This can be a fun, spontaneous way to travel and save money on flight tickets!
Pro Tip:
Know when to book! There’s something known as the “Prime Booking Window” for flights. For international travel, it’s recommended you book your ticket 2.5 to 6 months in advance. For domestic flights, you’ll get the best deals between 20 to 115 days before departure.
Get Huge Discounts on Flights With NordVPN
With a VPN, you can save hundreds of dollars on flights when buying tickets online. A VPN also protects you against malicious software and blocks ads, making online shopping a safer and more enjoyable experience.
NordVPN allows you to change your location with one click and find the best discount deals on ticket prices. The NordVPN mobile app works just as well when you’re on the go. Take advantage of the NordVPN free trial and book flight deals for the next 30 days at no cost! Enjoy your trip!
You can also save money on subscriptions and score incredible discounts with a VPN. Read the articles below for more information:
- Save Money on Your Netflix Subscription
- How to Save Big Money on NBA League Pass with a VPN
- How to Save Money on Subscriptions With a VPN
- How to Get a YouTube Premium Discount and Save Money
Do you have any questions about using a VPN to find and book cheap flights? Check out our FAQ below for quick answers! Leave us a comment if we haven’t answered the question on your mind.
Airlines base their pricing on several factors, including location. As a result, flight prices tend to be cheaper in some countries. A VPN allows you to change your virtual location and find the most affordable flight tickets from anywhere in the world.
No, it’s not illegal to use a VPN to find cheaper flights. You do have to make sure that the country you’re located in doesn’t restrict or forbid VPNs. In some places, such as China or Iran, VPNs are prohibited.
We don’t recommend using a free VPN to book cheap flights. To get the best deals, you need a VPN that has servers in several locations worldwide. Additionally, you want a VPN that keeps malware and ads at bay. Free VPNs generally have a limited amount of servers, lack security features, and have a daily/monthly data cap.
A VPN offers many advantages when traveling:
- It keeps you safe on public Wi-Fi.
- It keeps your data hidden from third parties and allows you to browse the web anonymously.
- It protects you from malicious software.
- It allows you to access geo-restricted content on streaming sites and other platforms.
It’s unclear why airline prices differ. However, we know that fares are based on several factors, including your location, the distance of the flight, the time of the year you’re booking, and so much more. Some airlines are also known to target “budget” travelers.
Generally, low to mid-income countries tend to have cheaper flight tickets. During our tests, we connected to VPN servers in Malaysia, India, Portugal, Turkey, South Africa, Mexico, Thailand, and Romania to find more affordable flights.
