Cheap Flights Guide: Money Saving Ways to See the World – When’s the Best Time to Book
Some of us can just be spontaneous – going away last minute, booking a flight without giving it a second thought, even doing next-to-no research on the destination prior to swiping out the good old credit card and booking our trip.
And whilst we all like a bit of spontaneity, for most of us when
it comes to holidays, it is not always that simple. Whether it is booking up a
flight when there is a sale, or being organised and sorting it out a year ahead,
or perhaps booking the flights once you have secured the accommodation – we do
what works best for us (or at least what we think does).
However, there are certain times which are best to book a flight.
So, whether you want to save a bit of money or just get the best picks of
flight times and seats, then you may want to read on:
Book in advance: Whilst it is great to be organised
and prepared, if you book too far in advance, thinking that will help you save
some money, you may be wrong. According to SkyScanner,
you should book any domestic trip around 2-3 weeks in advance and if you want
the best deal and for an international journey look to book around 5-6 months prior.
Get your timing right: If you want to ensure you are getting the best deal available,
then 5am is apparently the best time to snap up a plane ticket. This does mean
setting your alarm early, but it’s worth it for the saving you might get.
The times to avoid booking a flight is said to be between 7-10pm.
Maybe that’s because more people are browsing for plane tickets at that time,
who knows- just try and book your ticket nice and early.
Book mid-week: The best day to book a flight is mid-week. This is because
airlines see a drop in the number of tickets sold during this time, so they
have somewhat of a mini-sale. They often announce it Monday evening and then
Tuesdays and sometimes Wednesdays are sale days. This is when you should get
the best saving on domestic and international flights. What’s more, once one
airline decides to have a sale, a lot of other major airlines join in, in a bid
to rival the others. This competition gives you more options to pick from and
who knows, you could save more than you even anticipated and get a better deal.
Flight sales: Flights, accommodation and package deals are often on sale
throughout the year. However, there are months when they host major sales, normally
January, February and August.
If you are looking to arrange a holiday for some point throughout
the year then booking a flight in January is probably your best bet. According
to a study done by Opodo, the
cheapest time to book a flight is on any Sunday in January. Their data shows
that in January the average flight price is around £241 for trips leaving from
the UK, compared to July when the price increases to around £288. Do bear in
mind there are more factors to consider such as destination, flight duration,
seasonality and weather, however the overall trend identifies January as the
best month if you are after the best deal.
Understandably the August sale may not be for everyone. You may
not want to leave it till a week or two before you are due to fly off on your
summer holiday to sort your plane tickets, especially if you have kids – they’re
stressful enough! However, if you are looking for a quick couple’s getaway,
then you may be in a fortunate position whereby you can go away with little
notice and therefore take advantage of the sale providing you can be flexible
with departure and return dates.
Consider which month to book: Besides from sales, there is
research to show depending on the type of holiday and destination you’re after,
some months may be better than others to book a flight. Opodo’s study shows
that for domestic flights, September is the best month to book, where the
average price is around £145, considerably lower than months such as July. For
long-distance travel, for example Europe, January and February definitely have
the lowest fares. However, if you want to visit America then September is the
month to snap up a bargain. As for exotic destinations, January seems the best
time to book and July the worst time, as prices skyrocket. This is not the same
for all exotic destinations, for example if you fancy Eastern Asia then
September tends to offer great discounts.
It can all get a bit complicated, so the best thing to do is once
you have picked your destination then do some further research and find out
when the discounts are anticipated to be at their best.
Do keep in mind that with the current Covid-19 pandemic, some
holidays and flights may be discounted heavily as the market tries to make up
for financial losses. Do your research before you book, look at whether you
have to self-isolate on your return and the number of coronavirus cases – just
be aware. Booking a flight right now does come with an element of risk, so
ensure you have a travel insurance that provides the right cover. At
Holidaysafe, we offer coronavirus cover which is on every Single Trip or Multi-Trip policy. This
includes cover for the following:
Cover if you need to cancel your holiday if you or anyone named on your
policy tests positive for COVID-19 up to 14 days prior to travelling.
Reimbursement on any pre booked excursions or events which you cannot
recover from any other source.
If you or anyone named on the policy is prevented entry at the airport
on your inbound flight due to showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Cover if your airline goes into administration due to the pandemic.
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If you are the intrepid and adventurous type looking to see the world, our Backpacker & Longstay range of policy are ideal for students on a gap year, backpackers and adventure seekers.
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