5 easy hacks for finding cheap flights

While air travel can be expensive at any time of year, during the holidays, when it's often most important to book a trip, prices skyrocket.

With the busy holiday travel season approaching, we asked frequent flier, points expert and New York City native Gilbert Ott, who runs the air miles site God Save the Points, for his top tips on finding the best deals on flights.

Having made a career out of helping fliers use miles to get free seats in business and first class - and even once bagging a free ride on a private jet - 29-year-old Ott knows a thing or two about how to beat the system.

His wife is from London, so he's no stranger to booking a Transatlantic flight - and knows how expensive the trip can be.

Here are his top tops for finding the cheapest deal on your next flight:

1. Start simple

"I always start with Google Flights, which is the simplest and easiest," Ott said. "It has some good flexibility." He then recommends checking flight comparison site Kayak.

2. Use a matrix

For a more in-depth search, Ott suggests using a matrix such as ITA's Matrix Airfare Search which allows you to search by airport code, city, or nearby airport, and even see cost per mile.

"It's the most powerful search tool, and it's accessible for anyone and free to use," he said. "You can also see the stopover rules, so you may even get a free extra destination."

3. Cross-check currencies

According to Ott, you can play with the price of the flight by changing the currency.

"When you change the city you're purchasing from, there are often locals only discounts that happens," he said.

"Between New York and London it isn't always as exciting, but between places like Bangkok and Hong Kong, you'll see a certain price on Expedia, then on the Thai version of the website, you'll often get a price difference of hundreds of dollars."

He added that even between New York and London it's possible to find small discrepancies when you change currency.

"If you book Gatwick to new York on Norwegian Airlines, you lose if you search in pounds or dollars," he said. "It always works out about $20 cheaper in your pay in krone as long as you're not paying foreign exchange fees."

4. Join the right clubs

Ott said there are some cool hacks that involve becoming a member of the right clubs.

"With British Airways, from the US you can use AARP - the American Association of Real Possibilities - to get money off your flight," he said. "Anyone can be a member, and it gives you $90 off economy flights, $100 off premium and $400 off business."

"Occasionally there will be wild sales where a business class flight will be $1,400, and with AARP you can take $400 off, so you end up boarding at economy prices. If I can find a BA flight, I always know I can take at least $75 off in any cabin."

5. Use your miles

Finally, Ott said it's important to never forget that using air miles is an option if you can't find a good deal.

"Always try to see if using your miles is cheaper," he said, adding that there are ways to rack up the miles without even flying.