Best Travel Hacks That Seem Fishy but Actually Save Money

September 15, 2025

Let’s be honest: some travel hacks sound totally fake. Book flights in incognito mode? Fly somewhere just to skip the last leg? Use a sketchy third-party site in a different language? Yeah, okay. But here’s the truth: some of the best travel hacks do sound kind of fishy—until you try them. Then you realize, “Oh wow, I just saved $200 and still got where I wanted to go.” If you’re cool with bending the rules a little, here are the weird, kinda sketchy, but 100% real tricks that actually work—and won’t leave you stranded or broke.

1. The “Hidden City” Flight Trick

This one’s infamous—and it works. You book a flight that continues past your actual destination, then just get off at the layover city. Example: Want to go to Miami. But the flight to Miami is $400. The flight to Panama City, with a layover in Miami? $200. You book that and just get off in Miami. Is it allowed? Technically no. Can you get in trouble? Not unless you do it constantly. Just don’t check bags, and don’t use your frequent flyer number. It’s a classic for a reason—it can cut the cost in half, especially for business class flight tickets.

2. Mix and Match One-Way Flights

Old advice says round-trips are cheaper. That’s not always true anymore. You can save real money by booking two one-way flights on different airlines. One airline might have a deal for the way there, and another has a deal for the way back. Combine them, and boom—hundreds saved. Also? If you’re aiming for a cheap upgrade, sometimes the return flight has discounted business class flight tickets. Treat yourself on the way back.

3. Search in Incognito (Yes, It Still Helps)

No, it’s not a conspiracy theory. Booking sites track what you’re searching for. Check a route too many times, and the price mysteriously jumps. Talking about best travel hacks, use incognito mode or clear your cookies. It won’t save you thousands, but hey—if you save even $40, that’s your airport snacks covered.

4. Use Foreign Versions of Booking Sites

This one feels shady, but it’s legit. Go to the foreign version of the airline’s website—like the Thai, German, or French version—and sometimes you’ll see lower prices. Exact same flight, way cheaper fare. Why? Currency differences, regional promos, local taxes. Whatever it is, it works. Use Google Translate if needed. And if you score cheap business class flight tickets doing this? Even better.

5. Free Stopovers = Two Vacations in One

Some airlines let you add a stopover in their hub city for free. Most people skip right over it. But if you’re smart, you can turn one trip into two top travel destinations without paying a dime more. Example: Flying to Bali with a layover in Tokyo? Stretch the layover into two days and explore Tokyo while you’re at it. Boom—double vacation. Icelandair, Emirates, Qatar Airways—they all offer this. It’s one of the most underrated travel hacks out there.

6. Use Budget Airlines—But Strategically

Talking about best travel hacks, nobody likes budget airlines. But if you play it right, they’re money savers. Use them for short legs or intra-Europe flights. Fly to London on a deal, then hop around Europe for the price of dinner back home. Just read the fine print. Bring a backpack. Don’t pay $50 for a soda. It’s not luxury—but it gets you where you’re going.

7. Actually Talk to a Human

This one sounds old-school, but when’s the last time you talked to an actual travel expert? Online booking engines don’t always show consolidator fares or special deals—especially for premium cabins. If you want to get creative or hunt down discounted business class flight tickets, contact us with our experts. We’re humans. We know how to dig. Sometimes, five minutes with someone who actually knows the game can save you a few hundred bucks and a massive headache.

Final Thoughts: Sketchy ≠ Scammy

Some travel tricks feel wrong because they break the “normal” booking routine we’ve all been trained to follow. But normal is expensive. And honestly? It’s often not even better. The best travel hacks? They work. You don’t have to be shady—you just have to be smart. So yeah, clear your cookies. Use foreign sites. Hop off a layover. Book the weird one-way combo. Stretch a layover into a bonus vacation. Travel’s not cheap—but it doesn’t have to drain your savings either. Want help pulling off any of this? Contact us with our experts, and we’ll help you figure it out. Have a look at our website to know more. ALSO READ: Which Airlines Offer the Best Business Class for the Price?