Flights to popular destinations during holidays and peak summer travel are often more expensive. That’s why being flexible with your destination and date can help you score a great deal on your next getaway.
You can save money by booking flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays rather than during the weekend. Prices also tend to drop after school gets out and before spring break.
Book Early
Booking flights early is one of the best ways to secure cheap tickets. Prices tend to increase as the departure date approaches, especially during peak travel seasons. Booking early allows you to lock in those low fares before they rise, and often provides better availability as well.
Companies like specialize in flight booking services, offering customers easy access to flight options, competitive prices, and tailored travel solutions. The agency often provides additional services, such as holiday packages, ensuring a comprehensive travel experience for both business and leisure travellers.
It’s also important to book your flight tickets early to avoid being priced out of a particular destination or route. This is particularly true for flights to popular festivals and events. For example, fares to Dublin during St Patrick’s Day or to China for Chinese New Year will spike in advance of the celebration.
In addition to saving money, booking your flights in advance allows you more time to focus on other aspects of your trip. You can plan your accommodation, research activities, and make reservations for restaurants or car rentals – all of which will enhance your overall travel experience.
While some reports suggest that the cheapest time to book is January, others indicate that it depends on your destination and holiday. For example, a recent study found that booking airfares 38 days in advance is best for spring break flights, while 52 days is the sweet spot for Thanksgiving flights. You can also set up fare alerts on many of these sites, and they will notify you when the cheapest fares are available.
Fly Off-Peak
Flights are usually the most expensive part of a trip, leaving travellers with less money for things like tasty street food or epic adventures. That’s why it’s essential to know how to find cheap flights. With a little planning, flexibility and the right tools, you can save big on airfare and use those extra funds toward other perks of travel like souvenirs or a room upgrade.
Luckily, it’s possible to secure great airfare deals year-round. The secret is understanding the best time to book flights, which varies depending on your destination and travel dates. Flying off-peak can dramatically lower your airfare, allowing you to spend more money on tasty meals and unforgettable experiences.
For international flights, experts say that you can find the best deals by booking a few months in advance, but not too early. A good rule of thumb is to buy tickets 1-3 months in advance for domestic trips and 3-6 months in advance for international destinations. However, the exact number of months that you need to wait varies, so it’s important to be flexible and always check prices regularly.
The day of the week and season can also impact flight prices. For example, you can score major savings by flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays or during off-season months like November and December. And by using fare comparison apps and rewards credit cards with travel benefits that include free cancellations, you can monitor prices over time and cancel fares when they drop to save even more.
Another important tip is to be flexible with your destination, as AA offers discounted award flights to many popular locations around the world. You’ll see the lowest rates for trips to places like Athens, Greece (ATH), Berlin, Germany (TXL), or Dubrovnik, Croatia (DBV). And if you’re looking for an amazing adventure, consider going to Peru during off-peak season for a once-in-a-lifetime trek to Machu Picchu.
Be Flexible
Having flexibility when it comes to your travel dates is one of the best ways to secure cheap flights. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible but if you can afford to be flexible you can make huge savings. If you are able to be more open to changing your dates slightly, or even adding a day on either side, this can result in some massively reduced flight prices. You can also take advantage of tools like fare calendars or “whole month” searches to help you spot these deals.
In addition, being flexible with your departure and return times can mean that you avoid peak travel times which can push up fares. This is particularly important if you are looking to fly during popular festivals, such as St Patrick’s Day in Dublin or Chinese New Year in China. It is also worth bearing in mind that fares for the first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August tend to be much cheaper than during summer peak.
Finally, being flexible means that you can book flights last minute without having to pay crazy date change fees and airline penalties. This is a huge plus if you are looking to book a trip quickly and don’t have a lot of time to plan.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that that old recommendation about booking on a Tuesday isn’t actually true. However, there are still some good days to book, such as Tuesdays and Wednesdays, or in the run-up to major holidays, such as Christmas or Easter. This is because airlines often offer discounted fares in the run-up to these events to encourage more people to book.
Don’t Be Afraid of OTAs
For starters, they let you compare prices and options from various airlines in one place. They also have customer reviews and ratings, which can help you choose the right airline for your trip.
OTAs may also have cheaper rates than airlines, thanks to their bulk purchasing power and special deals with carriers. They can also combine flights from different airlines to create more cost-effective itineraries. Another advantage is that they usually have fewer hidden fees than airlines, including fees for luggage, seat selection, and other services.
However, OTAs can be hit or miss with their customer service, especially smaller ones. They tend to have outsourced and minimally-staffed call centers, and they can be more difficult to reach during times of travel disruptions or other problems. Additionally, they don’t always honor the 24-hour rule, which lets you cancel your ticket without penalty if you change or cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking.
And while some OTAs do access your IP address to track your location, this is mostly done to ensure that the website is showing you prices in your local currency and language. And if a price increases between two searches, that’s likely just a coincidence — or maybe due to a lag in the OTA’s system updating the prices. Also, if you’re planning to book a flight with an OTA, it’s important to make sure that they are licensed by a recognized body such as the IATA and the ATOL. You can verify this by searching for the OTA’s name and ATOL number.
Look For Error Fares
Flight prices can fluctuate dramatically, sometimes in a matter of hours. This is especially true for routes to popular destinations where there’s a lot of competition between airlines and when there are holiday events or other factors that influence demand. This is why it’s important to always check price trends daily and to be ready to book if you see a significant drop. If you’re able to be flexible with your travel dates then it’s also worth signing up to cheap flight alerts. These services are designed to find mistake fares (often called “sneaks”) and share them with their subscribers. You can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars off international flights using this method.
The only drawback to error fares is that they can disappear very quickly. You’ll often only have 24 hours to book before the airline realises what has happened and cancels the offer. This is why it’s always important to only book with airlines you trust and to use a site that offers fee-free cancellations.
If you’re willing to take a risk then it’s definitely worth considering error fares. But don’t rely on them as your main strategy for saving on flights. Instead, focus on the tips above and you’ll be well on your way to booking a bargain trip.
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