With modern technology, booking your travel options is easier than ever and can be completed in just a few clicks of a mouse. Unfortunately, even with all of this convenience the cost of airline flights can be staggering for the modern traveler. Whether you are getting a last-minute flight for work or looking to plan a family vacation to the other side of the world, everyone should understand a few of the easiest tips that can help to cut costs, including when and how to purchase tickets.
Planning Ahead
Studies of recent flight data that have been carried out over the past few years have confirmed that there is actually a "sweet spot" when it comes to booking flights well in advance. Statistically, the absolute cheapest time to book a flight is 54 days in advance. This does not mean that passengers need to mark their calendars this far in advance, however. Excluding all other outside factors, as long as passengers book between the 29 day mark and the 104 day mark, they should be able to enjoy more affordable rates. Longer than 104 days out, most airlines have not created a set travel schedule. Within a month of the flight dates, prices are going to fluctuate relatively dramatically.
Booking and Flight Times
The cheapest day to book a flight has been proven to be Wednesday. Many times, airlines use this day to move around their airplane assignments or even give promos to those traveling for business. This often means unfilled and discounted seats. While not always desirable or even practical, finding off-hour flights is going to give passengers even bigger savings. Flying red-eyes, flying before breakfast, and accepting layovers are a few other ways for airlines to fill flights and for passengers to save money. Additionally, purchasing the tickets midweek may be able to provide some discounts as the most affordable fares tend to surface on Tuesday afternoons.
Tools for Cheap Flights
When cutting costs is an absolute necessity, it is important for passengers to get proactive about hunting down discounts. This begins with setting up alerts from both airlines and traveling companies such as Kayak. Many of the leading airlines use sources such as Twitter, Facebook, and automatic emails or text messages to alert customers of a drop in prices. Passengers simply input the timeframe that their flight will be possible, the discounts they would like to see, and then wait for results. Other great travel companies that offer automatic alerts and discounts across multiple airlines include Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia.
