Gone are the sleepless nights waiting for flash sales. No more juggling dozens of tabs on Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Kayak to compare prices.
Casper Opala, a Chicago-based resident in the United States and the owner of the social media account Casper Capital with over 8 million followers, has demonstrated that a laptop, a few precise prompts, and ChatGPT are all it takes to save tens of millions of VND on each long-distance flight.
Casper Opala, also known as Casper Capital, shares with his millions of followers how ChatGPT helps him hunt for cheaper flights through 7 steps. He highlights a fact that many overlook: popular flight search tools miss about 28% of available flights.
These overlooked flights often belong to smaller airlines or fall under "hidden routes"—itineraries not publicly advertised and sometimes only visible on internal booking systems.
While Google Flights or Skyscanner only access data from their partners, ChatGPT scans and aggregates information from multiple sources, suggesting options beyond the scope of traditional platforms.
A travel expert reveals the best days of the week to fly for the lowest prices. Casper likens ChatGPT to a "non-stop travel agent," always available, unbound by commercial contracts, and capable of discovering lesser-known routes. According to Casper, you just need to input 7 prompts to turn ChatGPT into a flight-hunting expert.
1. Find the cheapest way to fly from [City A] to [City B] next month, including hidden routes and alternative airports.2. "Which budget airlines operate this route but don't appear on Google Flights or Skyscanner?"
3. Suggest cost-saving layover cities, even if it means booking two separate tickets.
4. Search for error fares, flash promotions, or unusual deals from the departure airport.
5. Compare prices across all platforms and identify the cheapest one right now.
6. Monitor prices for the next 4 days and notify when they drop below the desired level.
7. Check if two one-way tickets are cheaper than a round-trip.
Casper acknowledges that the tool is most effective when users are flexible. Switching departure airports, accepting layovers, or shifting travel dates by a few days can significantly reduce costs.
He often asks ChatGPT to find affordable yet interesting layover destinations, transforming a long flight into a multi-city adventure. Additionally, he applies the "ticket splitting" rule—familiar in the UK rail industry—by purchasing segments separately to lower the total expense.
Casper is not alone in this view; travel professionals agree. Dawn Morwood, co-director of Cheap Deals Away (UK), notes: "Flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays is often cheaper than weekends, as most travelers opt for Fridays or Saturdays to maximize their vacations."
She also cautions that booking too early isn't always wise: "I've seen prices drop by up to £200 just weeks before departure, even though many people booked 10 months in advance."
Why does this method work?
AI is not limited in data access and draws from more sources than traditional tools. Moreover, it can uncover lesser-known routes operated by local carriers, which often offer softer prices.
More importantly, AI can automatically track prices, eliminating luck from the equation. It also optimizes itineraries across multiple variables: dates, airports, stops, and ticket types.
Casper's story serves as a reminder that AI doesn't just answer questions—it can fundamentally transform how we purchase services. For those who know how to leverage it, ChatGPT not only finds cheap tickets but also designs complete journeys, optimizing both costs and experiences.
In a flight market that fluctuates daily, this approach could be a "lifesaver" for those eager to travel far on a limited budget. And if done right, saving hundreds of USD per flight is no longer a dream—it starts with... a simple query to AI.
