Getting the best airfare depends on many factors - time of year, destination and length of stay are just a few of the major ones. The formula for getting the best price for your flights can indeed seem complicated. Although the challenging task of getting a great ticket price likely won't change, there are a number of strategies that may help in your pursuit for the best airfare possible.
1. Finding the Low Season in High Season
If you need to travel over a holiday period, ask if any of the days are considered low season. If you are willing to travel on these dates you will likely save some money.
When preparing for air travels, you may be concerned with whether you are getting the best value possible.
Getting the best airfare depends on many factors - time of year, destination and length of stay are just a few of the major ones. The formula for getting the best price for your flights can indeed seem complicated. Although the challenging task of getting a great ticket price likely won't change, there are a number of strategies that may help in your pursuit for the best airfare possible. The following tips consider just a few of the factors that may help you find your fare.
Finding the low season in high season
Traveling during peak times is more expensive. This may be stating the obvious, but there is a way around peak times sometimes. For example, over Christmas many airlines treat specific days as low season (and therefore less expensive) rather than high/peak season. During the December holiday travel period, December 25th and January 1st are usually treated as low season, with December 26th sometimes treated as low season as well.
What can be concluded from this? If you need to travel over a holiday period, ask if any of the days are considered low season. If you are willing to travel on these dates you will likely save some money.
2. Flights During a Holiday Period Require Planning
For travel during holiday periods, it is very risky and potentially astronomically expensive to try and book at the last minute. Flights will fill up in advance.
Holidays during a holiday period require planning
If you are traveling during a holiday period and you have set travel dates, book early. For travel during holiday periods, it is very risky and potentially astronomically expensive to try and book at the last minute. Flights will fill up in advance. More difficult still is if you are traveling to a point where few airlines go, flights will sell out and you may find yourself without the flights you wanted.
If you need to travel during traditional holiday periods book as far in advance as possible.
3. Before Sunrise, After Sunset - Time of Day Discounts
The time of day that you embark on your air travels can sometimes affect the price of your airfare and depending on your travel plans there may be times of day that are less expensive.
Before Sunrise, After Sunset - Time of Day Discounts
The time of day that you embark on your air travels can sometimes affect the price of your airfare and depending on your travel plans there may be times of day that are less expensive. In terms of international travel, the jet lag that occurs for air travelers seems to equal no discount for those red-eye flights, but domestically you may see a difference.
The last flights of the night, and the earliest morning departures are flights to look for in terms of finding an extra discount. Many airlines will discount these less popular travel times, so it is worth checking into.
4. Some Days are Cheaper than Others
The day of the week that you travel can certainly affect the price you pay for your ticket - some days simply tend to be cheaper than others for flights.
Some Days are Cheaper than Others
The day of the week that you travel can certainly affect the price you pay for your ticket. The day of the week factor is one that can entirely depend on your flight plans.
For travel to an international destination, Fridays and Saturdays are usually more expensive for the flight out, whereas Saturdays and Sundays tend to cost more for the return.
For domestic travel, a Saturday may be one of the less expensive days for travel. So it pays to ask, as a day may make a difference in the price you pay. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often cheaper for flights.
5. More Time Can Mean More Money - Length of Stay
The length of your trip can affect your ticket price. If you are planning a long trip that reaches beyond the maximum stay of a very discounted ticket, you will likely fork over more money for your air travels.
More Time Can Mean More Money
The length of your trip can affect your ticket price. If you are planning a long trip that reaches beyond the maximum stay of a very discounted ticket, you will likely fork over more money for your air travels.
Some airfares are set up as weekend fares, therefore if you exceed the maximum stay you won't be eligible for the often heavily discounted weekend fares.
The same is true for other types of airfares. Many seat sales limit you to 21, or 30 day stays. When you travel internationally, you will likely pay more to stay longer (prices often rise after staying longer than 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, etc.). And a ticket that is valid for a stay of more than one year is exceedingly rare.
Tweaking your flights to match your airfare needs can mean implementing a plan that considers day of the week, or time of day. Airlines will not always tell you the very best price options so when it comes to getting the best airfare it often saves to ask.
source: about.com
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