Decide on where you want to go, then narrow your search accordingly. Many cheap airlines will cover short-haul only, so if you are planning to fly somewhere further from home, you will need to adjust your search. You may plan your destination according to where it is cheap to go to -- a good idea is to go on a scanning site like skyscanner.net, and search for a return flight to anywhere. You may be surprised at what is possible.
As well as the flexibility of being as student, giving you more options to travel at off-peak times, you can also get discounts for being a student, especially on long-haul flights. STA Travel offers student discounts on adventurous destinations -- if you are planning a long-distance trip, you are more likely to be able to get a student discounted flight, as opposed to a normal cheap one.
Cheap short-haul carriers are a lot less likely to offer student discounts, but with competition being fierce, prices can often be rock-bottom. There are a plethora of cheap carriers, specializing in internal U.S. flights, or short-haul flights around Europe, for example, carriers such as Ryanair or Easyjet. Be sure to check all extra possible costs when booking these flights, as there can often be extra charges such as paying to have checked luggage, or a charge to pay with your bank card. Restrictions on overweight luggage are often very strict.
The cheapest flights will be found, generally, at the most inconvenient and unpopular times to fly. Weekend flights are usually the most expensive, whilst red-eye dawn flights will often be the cheapest. Take care to budget a possible extra night in a hotel due to flight timing, or the cost of a lost day of holiday due to no sleep, in your total budget calculations. Last minute flights can often be a steal if you are flexible.
