For frequent fliers everywhere, this is the age-old question. The answer is that there are many answers. Concisely put, your booking time, the day and time of your trip, and flexibility are the biggest factors in finding the cheapest flights. The unsaid truth, however, is that flight prices fluctuate on an almost minute-to-minute basis, so setting up alerts and using apps for the dates and destination of your intended flight are excellent ways to keep up with ever-changing prices.
By simply entering your email address or phone number, you can have access to all of the upcoming deals on flights. CheapOair has multiple options regarding locations and time of travel so each customer can customize their alerts. Another great way to find cheap flights is to follow your top airline choices on social media or sign up for newsletters to receive any announcements regarding travel expenses.
When To Book Your Flight
Conventional wisdom says to book as far in advance as possible. This may not work out so well since flights booked several months in advance can often have the highest mark up of all. Perhaps this is due to everyone being told to book far in advance. Another suggested strategy is to book tickets the day before your flight. While you might get lucky and find a great price, even proponents of this method say to proceed with caution.
The actual answer is that you should book your flight about seven weeks in advance. Through statistical analysis of flight prices over time, the most optimized time to buy is seven weeks prior to take off.
What Days To Fly On
Since people work during the week and want to avoid using vacation days, they fly on the weekend. This drives up the price. If you can afford to take a few extra vacation days, you will likely be able to find cheaper flights on weekdays. Try booking your flight for early morning, late at night, or during meals as well. Most people are busy or don’t want to fly at these times.
Flexibility Matters
If you are okay with flying into a nearby airport instead of the one closest to your end destination, you might find less expensive tickets. The same can be said for travel dates and layovers. Direct flights can be a costly luxury, but you can often find great airline deals if you’re willing to stop for a connection. Having a flexible attitude to air travel is the best way to score sweet deals on airfare.
The expense of traveling is generally what prevents people from taking a trip in the first place. But with reduced flight prices, people may find it easier to fund the remaining travel expenses like lodging and excursions. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to find those tantalizingly affordable tickets. Whether you end up winning the day or not, make sure you try at least one of these methods to score the ticket price tag of your dreams. No matter where you’re looking to go, there’s no reason to be paying full price for flights.
