Finding low airfares is a priority for most travelers. I rely on Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) to uncover sale fares to domestic and international destinations on major airlines. The service constantly scans for discounted departures in economy, business, and first class from my preferred airports. As soon as a great deal is published, Going sends an alert straight to my inbox with instructions for booking it.
Thanks to Going, I’ve scored half-price economy or business fares to Finland, the Azores, Iceland, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Panama, and Malta, for example.
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Fare Options
Going prides itself on finding and publicizing only great deals— typically 40-90% off the usual fare. And you don’t have to drop everything to take advantage of them. The prices are typically valid for travel 2-6 months out on full-service airlines.
But if you’re OK with last-minute travel, you can choose to receive deal alerts for upcoming weekend getaways, too. Additional options include discounted purchases with points/miles and “impossibly” cheap mistake fares.
(Mistake fares are tickets offered at exceptionally low prices in error, e.g., $49 instead of $490. They are rare and quickly corrected— but the airlines typically honor them. Going offers online tips for dealing with this unique type of fare.)
How It Works
Going offers three levels of membership— the free “Limited” plan, and the paid “Premium” and “Elite” levels. For all three programs, travelers specify their preferred departure airports and opt to receive domestic and/or international deals.
Email alerts specify the fare, airline(s), available airports, dates available, predicted duration of the deal, and purchase instructions. Going prioritizes nonstop and one-stop flights. The alerts often include destination guides and airline reviews to help you decide. Travelers book directly at the airline’s website.
Membership Levels
‘Limited” members may choose up to five preferred departure airports and receive— at no cost— domestic and/or international deals in economy class. A $49 upgrade to “Premium” adds weekend getaway deals and mistake airfares from your preferred airports only.
For $199 a year, “Elite” members get the previously mentioned benefits for an unlimited number of departure airports. They also receive deals for business and first-class tickets as well as economy fares, and alerts about discounted awards using points/miles.
Note that Premium and Elite members receive email alerts as soon as a deal is identified. Limited members are notified 1-2 days later.
The benefits assigned to each level of membership change from time to time, so verify current program details at Going’s website.
Explorative Travel
Going’s Elite membership has two features that are ideal for explorative travelers like me.
The online “Deals” page lists all current sale fares from your preferred airports in one spot for easy comparison. Or enter just your ideal destination to isolate deals presently available for that one location.
There’s also a “Feeling Adventurous” option that prompts Going to suggest a sale destination for you. Going then displays a price history and other data to show why the fare is a great deal.
How To Sign Up
To learn more about Going and to sign up for a free or paid membership, click here. And if you, too, find a low airfare with Going, let us know in the comments section!
And now that you’re ready to fly, check out my list of packing essentials for overseas travel.
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