Flight booking is often the most consequential decision in trip planning - it sets your dates, determines your budget, and shapes your entire experience. Yet most travelers approach it with insufficient strategy, leaving value on the table or creating unnecessary stress.

Smart flight routing considers factors beyond just price: connection times, airline reliability, airport convenience, time of day, and the impact on your first and last days. It also considers alternatives - positioning flights, nearby airports, and whether a slightly different route might offer significantly better value or experience.

In this topic, we'll explore how to think strategically about flights - from when to book to how to route complex multi-city trips, and everything in between.