The 3 flight booking hacks that will actually save you money.

Well, winter is more than coming. It's here. It's cold, and we are all thinking about creative ways to escape. I recently booked flights overseas (don't hate me) and I learnt some absolutely game-changing hacks that can actually save you money.

So when you're saving money on flights, you can allow that additional budget for accomodation, outfits, restaurants… the possibilities are endless.

Watch: Modern Etiquette: travel. Post continues below.

The cache and cookie-avoiding hack.

Ever noticed how flight prices mysteriously climb the more you search? That's not just bad luck. Those sneaky booking websites are tracking your every move with cookies and cache, watching how desperate you are for that dream holiday.

When they see you coming back for the fifth time to check that Melbourne to London route, they think "gotcha!" — and sometimes, they'll jack up those prices. It's their little trick to make you panic-book.

Image: Bitrebels / EBMUSLI

Go incognito.

Slip into private browsing mode like you're some kind of digital spy. This stops websites from seeing your search history and treats you like a fresh-faced, first-time visitor every time. For my fellow techno-phobes, here is a step-by-step guide on how to browse in incognito mode.

Clear your digital footprints.

Regularly wipe those cookies and cache clean, especially before hitting "search" on that tropical escape. Think of it as a clean slate each time you hunt for flights. Another guide for my techno-phobes.

Device-hop.

If prices suddenly jump, switch to your phone or another browser. Sometimes just this small change can magically reset those inflated prices.

Mix it up.

Don't put all your eggs in the incognito basket. Combine this trick with booking in advance, being flexible with your travel dates, and setting up alerts for when prices drop.

The Google flight hack.

Google Flights game-changer. Image: going.com

Sure, we all know about flight comparison sights like Skyscanner and Cheap Flights, but have you tried Google's little flight-finding gem?

Google Flights is like that super-organised friend who knows all the shortcuts to finding the best deals.

Just enter your starting airport and travel dates (end date optional), but leave the destination blank. Google will show you a world map with the lowest prices to destinations everywhere. It's really handy when you're flexible about where to go — you can even use the price filter slider to narrow down options that fit your budget.

More reasons we (now) use Google Flights:

• It instantly compares prices from hundreds of airlines and sites (so you don't have to open 57 browser tabs).

• Shows you a handy calendar of when it's cheapest to fly (hello, affordable Tuesday departures!).

• Sends you alerts when prices drop for your dream trip (like having your own personal flight stalker, but in a good way).

• Lets you check multiple airports at once, because sometimes flying from that slightly-further-away airport can save you a small fortune.

• Displays those addictive price trend graphs so you can feel smug about booking at exactly the right time.

• Has a map feature showing where you can fly cheaply from your city (perfect for when you just need to go somewhere warm).

Right time and place.

Sometimes being a bit sneaky with your booking strategy can save serious dollars.

The 'Greek Islands trick'.

Book a round-trip to a nearby city, then grab a different, cheaper flight (with a different airline), or a train or ferry to your actual destination. It's called the 'Greek Islands trick' because, well, it works brilliantly for hopping around on the cheap.

Airline speed dating.

Don't feel you need to commit to just one airline for your entire journey. Playing the field with different carriers for your outbound and return flights can seriously slash your costs.

Timing is everything:

Sunday is the magic day for booking, saving you about six per cent on domestic and a whopping 17 per cent on international flights. And if you can fly mid-week (Wednesday or Thursday), even better — that's when it's cheapest to fly.

So what are you waiting for? Take the trip. Book the flights. You only live once.

Feature Image: Pinterest @tessydinner / @jordjajduroux02