My Go-To Way of Booking Flights to the US

I get asked pretty often how I book our trips to the US. Do I have a strategy? Some kind of “secret method”?

Honestly… not really.

This has just become my go-to way of booking flights to the US after doing it so many times.

There’s no simple answer. But there are a few things I always look at. It’s more like putting together the full picture and making a call based on what matters most for that specific trip.

These are my go-to tips when booking flights to the US.

I always start with three things: the best route, a reasonable travel time, and the price.

It might sound obvious, but those are the things I look at first, and then I weigh them together to figure out what makes the most sense for this particular trip.

For me, the best route is about more than just getting from point A to point B. It’s also about how the trip feels. I try to avoid too many connections, stressful transfers, and unnecessary detours. If I can, I’d much rather book a slightly more expensive ticket with a smooth route than a cheaper one with multiple layovers and long waits. It makes a bigger difference than you might think.

Travel time matters too, especially when it comes to layovers. Booking sites can be a little too optimistic sometimes. In places like London, for example, you may have to go through security again, sometimes passport control, and maybe even switch terminals. That can take time. I personally like to have at least two hours between flights so I don’t end up stressed before the trip has even really started. Airport stress has a way of affecting the whole mood, and that’s the last thing you want when you’re heading off on something fun.

Of course, price matters too. It always does. But I’ve learned that the cheapest option is rarely the best one. Sometimes the difference is only a little more money, but what you get in return can be much better timing, fewer connections, and a smoother overall trip. In those cases, I’ll often choose that option. But not always.

Since we travel quite often, I usually try to find the best overall value. I’ll spend a little time adjusting filters and testing different options in the search engine. There are often more ways to improve a flight search than people realize. Living in western Sweden actually gives us an advantage, because we can choose between several airports. I usually start with Gothenburg, which is my first choice, but I also check Oslo, Copenhagen, and sometimes Stockholm. I do the same thing on the US side.

When I’m booking flights to New York, I usually prefer Newark, EWR, but sometimes I search all New York airports to see if the price looks better. There are more flights into JFK, which means you sometimes get more options and a better deal. If we’re flying to Nashville, I’ll often check Atlanta too. It’s only about a four-hour drive to Nashville, and it’s actually a pretty great way to add a little more to the trip.

If we’re traveling with checked luggage, I try to avoid domestic connections within the US. That’s because you usually have to pick up your bags, check them in again, and go through immigration at your first stop. That can feel stressful unless you have plenty of time.

Another thing I almost always think about is what time we leave Sweden. I really prefer early morning departures. That way, you arrive in the US at a reasonable time in the afternoon or evening, have time to settle in, grab something to eat, and get into the right time rhythm pretty quickly. It makes a huge difference for the whole trip.

But sometimes that option just doesn’t work out, especially during school breaks or busier travel periods. When that happens, we sometimes do the opposite. We take a late evening flight from Sweden, have a layover, and continue early the next morning.

And yes, we’ve actually slept at the airport more than once. You can absolutely book an airport hotel, of course, but honestly, sleeping at the airport can work surprisingly well. If you look around a little, you can often find quiet corners, couches, or even proper rest areas where you can get a few hours of sleep. And that makes the next flight feel so much easier. I’ll share more about that in another post.

In a way, it also makes the trip feel more relaxed. You break the journey into two parts instead of one long stretch, and you avoid that heavy feeling of just being in transit for hours and hours. I kind of love that.

Once you’ve decided which flight to book, all the add-ons start popping up. These days, you usually have to pay extra if you want to choose your seat in advance. I often wait and choose my seat at check-in instead, since that’s usually free. But if it really matters to you to sit in a certain spot or have extra legroom, it can be worth booking it right away.

When it comes to checked baggage, though, it’s usually more affordable to add it during the booking process or later online. Just make sure you do it before you get to the airport, because it’s often significantly more expensive there.

It’s also worth taking a good look at all the extra insurance options you’re offered while booking. I personally always skip them. Your home insurance usually includes solid travel coverage, both if you get sick before the trip and if something happens while you’re away. It often covers delayed baggage too. In many cases, it applies to everyone registered at the same address. So before adding another extra cost, it’s a good idea to read through what you already have.

So now it’s time to dive into the world of flight searches, test different options, and make your best booking. Take your time, play around with the routes, and get a feel for what works best for your destination.

See you along the road.