With airlines consistently being put under the microscope when it comes to employment issues, safety, and customer satisfaction, it’s no surprise that ticket prices are often added to these arguments.
It’s a fair grievance, as you often find yourself paying hundreds of extra dollars for bags, seat selection, and the “why not, you’re going to pay anyway” fees that appear after selecting a multi-hundred-dollar ticket.
Prices seem to shift at the drop of a hat as well, as a particular flight path on the same airline may cost $100 in October, but $300 in December, or may see a price hike within 24 hours.
This seemingly loosey-goosy price structure has led to the belief that there are better times to book flights, outside of the standard price differences between high and low seasons. We’re here to share tips and tricks as to whether and how you can use dynamic pricing to the best of your ability.
Early, But Not Too Early
A general rule of thumb is that flight prices are at their highest within 3 weeks of the proposed flight date, but 6-12 months out can also be quite pricey. You’ll usually find the cheapest tickets within the 1-5 month range, with 2 to 3 months out being the sweet spot. However, this can change drastically depending on whether you’re hoping to travel during peaks.
Peak Months
In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s common for airline tickets to see a price increase between June and August, while the opposite goes for the Southern Hemisphere, as December-February are the busier times. Of course, any major holidays will also see an uptick in ticket costs. If you’re planning on doing some air travel during this time, it’s always best to book earlier.
Be Flexible
If you have dates in mind, be aware that traveling a day earlier or later could save you a significant amount of money. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often cited as the cheapest days of the week to fly, and Saturdays can also fit this bill.
Depending on how you schedule a trip, consider booking off an extra day or two before or after your proposed travel days so you can have this flexibility. You can always remove them once your flights have been secured.
Travel, Before Travel
Sometimes the easiest way to save money is to do a bit of traveling before you get on a flight. If you live in Canada but are hoping to travel to the States, you may find that travelling to an American city and paying for a domestic flight will still be more cost-effective than forking out an international flight fee.
One-Way vs. Round-Trip
For the sake of not having to worry about a return flight, round-trip flights are the favored way to book for most. They’re also usually cheaper, especially if you’re doing a one or two-week trip, due to the aforementioned ideal booking times.
That said, it’s always a good idea to compare one-way and round-trip tickets, as you never know what could end up being cheaper. This is especially true if you’re doing long-term or flexible travel, as booking a return flight too far in advance may put you out more than necessary.
