With a nod to national “Cheap Flight Day” today (Aug. 23), CheapOair.ca, whose self-proclaimed mission is “to educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in both planning their travel accommodations and staying current on the most popular destinations,” has come up with a list of tips designed to help find savings on future flights.

The online travel agency says Cheap Flight Day originated from the consumer trend in which airfares drop in price following the higher-priced summer travel season, historically prompting airlines to attract travellers with attractive Fall and holiday deals.

“As ambassadors for Cheap Flight Day – and given the similarity to our name – we are happy to promote this travel ‘holiday’ with Canadians who are looking to get more out of their hard-earned money,” says Daniel Hayter, Sr. Product Manager for CheapOair.ca.

Here are some CheapOair.ca insider tips to consider:

• Layovers: Often more affordable than flying direct. A change in route could add another city (and some perhaps extra sightseeing) to a traveller’s itinerary.

• Pick your airport: Many destinations have multiple airports and search engines often miss these smaller ones. ‘Nearby airports’ may save time and money through cheaper flights that are available from different airports.

• Save with loyalty programs: Travellers can often save on flights and fees by using loyalty programs.

• Pick flexible dates: Airline ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week or time of the year. Christmas and summer long weekends are popular travel times and ticket prices may rise. Flexibility and flying off-season can save hundreds of dollars.

• Try unexpected destinations: Research alternate flights for the region to be explore. Flying into a nearby city with a cheaper flight from the departure point and connecting to the desired destination through local transportation can save money – and may add an exciting element to the journey.