Travelers can save significantly by booking flights for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to Dawn Morwood, director of the UK-based cheap flight company Cheap Deals Away. Fares typically surge on Saturdays as many people aim to maximize their weekends. Airlines often adjust prices on Monday evenings after assessing weekend sales. By Tuesday, competing airlines generally match those adjusted prices.
However, there's no guaranteed formula for securing the cheapest fares. The most effective strategy remains comparing prices from multiple sources and booking promptly upon finding a suitable price. Morwood also advises flexibility with departure dates and comparing daily fares for the most economical option.
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Passengers booking flights via a mobile app. Photo: flyoaj |
Passengers booking flights via a mobile app. Photo: flyoaj
The notion that booking far in advance guarantees lower fares isn't always accurate, Morwood notes. She has observed travelers booking 10 months ahead only to find prices drop by over 200 USD a few weeks before departure. This is because many airlines use dynamic pricing models that adjust based on market demand.
Booking too close to the departure date is also unwise. Travelers might face inflated prices, limited choices, and potentially subpar accommodations due to availability issues.
For short-haul flights, Morwood suggests booking 6-8 weeks in advance. For long-haul flights, the ideal booking window is 8-12 weeks prior to departure.
Experts also recommend flexibility with flight times and destinations for cost savings. Early morning and late-night flights are often cheaper due to lower demand.
Many online booking systems allow travelers to select alternative airports or adjust travel dates. Traveling through smaller airports or accepting multiple layovers can lead to significant savings. In the US, cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, and Houston have multiple nearby airports with varying fares. Shifting travel dates by a few days can also reduce costs.
Besides choosing the booking day, experts highlight January to March as the best months to find vacation deals. August is a month to avoid, as it's a popular time for family vacations with children on school break. Holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and spring break also see price increases.
Anh Minh (Express)
