Air fare pricing by airlines has come a long way and there are today a lot of factors that affect the price you pay for your flight tickets. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the person sitting next to you on the flight has paid a much cheaper price than what you shelled out. What are these factors that affect air fare prices and are there any tips and tricks that travellers can use to book cheap flights? Let’s look at some of the ways to avoid burning a hole in your pocket when booking your air travel.
Book your tickets early
Air fares get expensive as the departure date draws closer and there is no better way to get cheaper flights than to book well in advance of your travel. Airlines follow dynamic pricing relative to availability of seats which means fewer the seats higher the price. As a general rule you are likely to get cheaper fares if you book your international tickets at least 4-5 months in advance.
Avoid weekend flights
Weekends are the most preferred days for all of us to fly to add more days to our vacation; but it is absolutely not a great idea as airfares usually go up on Fridays and then start dropping down on Mondays and Tuesdays. Flying midweek always proves to be good, for you save a lot as airlines lower fares to encourage off-peak booking.
Go for red-eye flights
Booking red-eye flights is quite in trend due to their cheaper prices than the ones at other times! If you wish to score flight discounts and do not have any problem sleeping during a flight, red-eye flight in a great option for you. Other than saving money on booking, you do not need to pay for accommodation as well by taking an overnight flight.
Look for connecting flights
If you opt for connecting flights than the direct ones, you save a lot on your airfare; and savvy travellers have also known about this trick for a while. Those who are not in a hurry to get to their final destination should avoid non-stop flights and book a connecting flight. You can filter flight itineraries on the search engines by non-stop, one stop or multiple stops.
Set price alert
Most of the times we end up booking flights at high prices even if it’s an early booking. Setting price alert on travel search engines in advance will certainly help you in booking a flight at a relatively cheaper price. By doing this you will receive an email every time the ticket prices increase, decrease or remain the same and you can book your flight as soon as you get a notification of a decrease in the airfare.
Opt for a different airport
The airfares for different airports at a particular destination may vary due to the applicable taxes. It is advised to choose a smaller airport for your departure as these may entail less taxes as compared to the major hub airports. Taxes on flight tickets to depart from London Gatwick for a number of destination and airlines is cheaper compared to London Heathrow.
Be flexible with dates
Air fares are dynamic and wouldn’t be the same on all days so it is wise to be flexible with your travel dates. Most online travel agencies offer an option in their booking engine which allows you to compare prices for a range of dates before and after your preferred date of travel. So it’s easy to book more economical fares.
