Is there really a best time to book flights?

Is there really a best time to book flights?

News agencies regularly claim to share the best time to book flights. Is there something like that and if so, when? We ask an expert for answers

When it comes to the best time to book flights, Peter and I make very little strategy. We simply look online and book the first decent offer we see.

In the early days we sacrificed time to save money, but when we got older and financially more stable, we moved in the other direction. We will still endure an 18-hour stay if we save hundreds of pounds (as we did in Singapore this year), but we will no longer spend the night at an airport to save just ten pounds (as we did in Chile three years). before).

To find a final answer, we spoke to Michael Green*, who trained cabin staff for a large airline after working as a crew for a decade. In addition, we spoke to Kyle Bernard, senior editor at the flight specialist Justfly, for his insight into the best time to book flights.

Use flight comparison pages

This is a child's play, but it is always worth mentioning. Travel agencies advertise with special tariffs, but most only use flight comparison websites, says Michael. Therefore, you are welcome to book your flights directly.

alt = “Travel agencies use comparison pages to find the best flights”> Dream time travel agencies use comparison pages to find the best flights

Some travelers advise you to search for flights in an incognito window of your browser to prevent price increases based on your search history. However, there is no evidence that this actually happens. Airlines say that they don't do this and we at Atlas & Boots have not experienced it personally. However, this additional step can certainly not harm.

book as early as possible

It was generally reported that buying a ticket 70 days in advance is the best time to book flights. However, Michael advises travelers to book as early as possible: "Outside of sales, prices are seldoming, so book early. Don't wait until the last minute. It has no value to wait."

alt = “Airlines will be overbooked to fill flights”> Dream time Airlines overbook flights to fill the aircraft

Michael says that the 70-day benchmark is an average that varies depending on the route and season in which you want to travel.

"Airlines make as many strategies as you can fill a flight," he explains. "You will overbook to fill flights". Your chances of receiving a last-minute deal for empty places are therefore extremely small.

kyle adds that two months before their departure date are a good guideline, “they should always take into account the seasonal dependency. Tickets usually cost more if they are booked in times when people are normally free (e.g. holidays).”

... unless you can wait for sales

Airlines usually offer special offers twice a year: from the 2nd Christmas Day to the end of the year and then on the Easter weekend.

Michael points out a marketing trick that was often used during this time: "If you see" only two places left ", be careful. There are various ways to measure this, and companies are pushed into more clarity to stop hard sale. ”

10 % are a good deal

Some travelers expect high discounts, but that is unlikely, says Michael: "It is worth mentioning that 10 % is a good sales price. This is usually the biggest discount that airports offer.

The search for bargains is worthwhile, but Michael warns against playing "Flexi offers", a kind of ticket that you can buy a cheap flight outside the season and later rebook it into the high season without additional costs: "Sometimes airlines have an embargo on certain data or with low availability. can. ”

Book

Some publications have claimed that Tuesday is the best time to book flights, but that is largely accidental. The type of ranking means that a certain day comes first in the list. This does not mean that it is the best time to book your flight.

If there is no unpredictable event, prices usually do not fluctuate greatly during the week, so that you do not have to wait until Tuesday by booking your flight.

they fly on certain days of the week

When it comes to the day you fly, there is a difference. As with many things, this depends on your route.

alt = “The best flight time depends on your travel destination”> dream time The best flight time depends on your travel destination

Michael says: "Flying into the Caribbean on a weekend will be expensive because most people go on vacation from weekend to weekend. Conversely, it can be expensive to fly to a city on a day of the week - New York, Boston, Washington - because business travelers fly there. If people say that it is always cheaper during the week."

kyle adds: "The booking of flights that come later a day correlates heavily with savings." The best time to fly is then against the stream of the other passengers and as late as possible.

stop at an unusual airport

Depending on where you are going, the installation of a stop can reduce the costs. It is interesting that the decision to stop at an unusual goal can reduce the costs because the airport taxes are lower.

alt = “Install a stopover to reduce the costs. Best time to book flights”> Dream time Connect a stopover to reduce flight costs

"A flight with Finnair to Asia with a stopover in Helsinki is a good option because the airport taxes in Helsinki are relatively low." says Michael. "SAS with stop in Stockholm is also a good option for Asia."

He warns that you will probably have to change and thus go a greater risk of lost luggage and the like, but the savings can be significant: "For an individual, this may be relatively small, but for a family of four, it is definitely worth it."

be faithful

"If you are a loyal customer of a specific company, you will get used to the patterns when you grant discounts and when not," says Michael. This helps to determine the best time to book flights to this airline.

Faithfulness to an airline or alliance also helps collecting flight miles that can secure upgrades and preferred treatments such as preferred boarding and access to premium lounges.

accept voluntary cancellations

As already mentioned, airlines tend to overbook flights to fill the plane. This may amaze the normal customers, but Michael explains that no-show is more common than we suspect: "There are various reasons why people miss flights. They may not appear for health reasons, but they do not warn the airline; instead they simply go through insurance."

Of course there are opportunities in which everyone appears where the airline normally asks for volunteers for the next flight.

"Take these offers if you can," says Michael. "You get your money back and come to your goal."

If you like it, book it!

Michael's last advice: "If you see a good offer, don't wait too long. Unrecitioned travelers will want to sleep a few days on the following or say that you will book it tonight when you come home. If something feels like a lot, snap it."

alt = "If it feels like a deal, book it and go! Best time to book flights"> Dream time If it feels like a deal, book it!

So the best time to book flights in a nutshell: booking 70 days in advance is good; It is great even earlier, unless you know that there will be a sale. Do not expect much more than 10 % discount, book on any weekday, but fly on certain days. If possible, if possible, be a stopover, be loyal and accept voluntary cancellations if possible. Finally, if you like it, book it.

good luck and see you out there!

*We have changed the name of this conversation partner, otherwise he needs an official permission from his employer to speak publicly about his job.

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