You may have decided which country you’d like to emigrate to, considered the various visa options available to you, started the job-hunting process, thought about whether to take your vehicle or pet with you; maybe you’ve even looked for advice on tax-related issues but don’t want to have to pay for an expensive flight out to your new destination. Thankfully, you’ve got more than enough options when starting your flight search.

Based on feedback from travellers in over 160 cities, Norwegian was recently crowned the best low-cost airline in Europe for a second year running, with the UK’s EasyJet narrowly missing the number one spot yet again. But while cheap flights may seem like great value, more often than not, there are hidden charges and booking fees to navigate through.

With dozens of low-cost airlines offering flights to hundreds of destinations throughout the world, many people say that finding a cheap flight can often be the deciding factor in the location of their journey.

Whether you might have your new country in mind or just be searching for a cheap family holiday flight, researching the various routes will always help you get an idea of which airline flies where.

To get started, you can find out which airline flies to which city by using sites such as Which Budget for routes involving charter and budget airlines and Fly Cheapo, helps you access routes for around 50 budget airlines across Europe.

Once you’ve decided upon your intended route, you should then check the relevant airline’s websites to see if they might have any special flight offers. The likes of Easyjet and Ryanair have been known to announce flight sales offering cheaper deals on selected dates. BA.com has a low-cost flight search engine online, offering the latest travel deals by asking visitors to sign up to newsletters and offering low-fare alerts from low-cost airlines, online travel agents, airlines and travel websites. You will then get cheap flight alerts sent directly to your email inbox.

Additionally, a good newsletter to subscribe to is Travelzoo, which compiles the top 20 travel deals into a weekly e-shot.  Another very popular choice is Skyscanner, which is able to speedily track the booking cost of your chosen route and buy your tickets whilst the price is still low. Skyscanner also allows you to select the dates you wish to travel and see which destinations offer the best value for money.

Many seeking a second opinion, often prefer to consult and cross-search with the likes of Flight Centre, ExpediaLast MinuteEbookers or Low Cost Holidays for flight fares but you could also visit Skyscanner or Travel Supermarket to compare different air fares and help you find the cheapest flight. However, they won’t actually sell you the flight so you’ll have to click through and book directly online with the airline or give them a call. It’s worth noting that cheap flights from low-cost airlines usually go on sale first and prices often rise the longer they’ve been on sale. Charter airlines such as Thomson and First Choice can offer cheaper last minute deals so it’s worth checking their websites for regular special offers.

A word of warning, while many low-cost airlines may advertise cheap flights, once taxes and additional charges are added, the overall cost can work out a lot more than you would expect to pay. Every airport and airline offers different charges, so it’s important to consider the final price and while booking your flight, remember to check whether the airline adds travel insurance on top or not. Many websites offer this as standard, but if you’ve already booked your travel insurance then be sure you un-tick this option. Those without insurance can always opt out and buy your insurance before you travel.

Beware of hidden booking fee charges. Charges vary between the different websites and the cost of flight bookings by credit card has soared in recent years with many low-fare websites charging travellers for using their credit or debit cards.

PSS have negotiated special rates with our flight partners not only on flights but on many of their additional services too. Just some of these services include travel insurance, car hire and hotels which may be required during your journey or when you first arrive in your new country. Our partners are some of the leading service providers in their area and can offer you the most competitive rates. Complete this form for more information.