While exploring flight options for an upcoming trip to the city in April, one traveler stumbled upon a shocking deal that she didn't quite expect. Kristine Villarroel, writing for Business Insider, detailed her experience of comparing various airline prices, hoping to find a convenient and budget-friendly option.

As she embarked on her search for flights, Villarroel kept her options open, prioritizing lower-priced airlines. Among the budget carriers she considered were Spirit and Frontier, both of which she had previously flown with and had satisfactory experiences. This familiarity gave her confidence in choosing these airlines for her upcoming travel.

To streamline her search, Villarroel implemented specific filters on Google Flights. Chief among her criteria were the departure and arrival times, as she needed to ensure that her travel plans would not interfere with her work commitments. The earliest she could depart on a weekday was 7 p.m., while the latest she could arrive was 7 a.m. This narrow window of availability necessitated a focused search for flights that fit her schedule without causing disruption.

As she navigated through the various options using Google Flights' comprehensive sorting and filtering tools, Villarroel was taken aback when a flight deal caught her eye. A one-way ticket from Miami to Newark was displayed at an astonishingly low price of just $10. However, she quickly realized that if she opted to book directly through the airline's website, the total cost would actually rise to $20. Despite this slight increase, the fare still represented an incredible value compared to typical flight prices.

The flight was scheduled to depart from Miami at 9:51 p.m. and was set to arrive in New Jersey at 12:59 a.m. This timing aligned perfectly with her work schedule and travel preferences. Eager to secure the best possible deal for her return journey as well, she decided to hold off on booking her return flight until a later date. She planned to purchase the return trip as another one-way ticket, aiming to maintain flexibility in her travel plans.