Forget the myths
You may have heard that fares are cheapest if you book on a particular weekday or at a particular hour. In practice, airline pricing responds to demand for each individual flight, and those patterns are not reliable enough to plan around. What does matter is how far ahead you book relative to how popular the flight is likely to be.
It is also worth remembering that prices can go down as well as up. Airlines sometimes release sale fares on routes that are selling more slowly than expected. That unpredictability is exactly why it pays to focus on the factors you can understand, such as dates, demand and your own flexibility, rather than trying to time the market to the hour.
Popular dates sell early
Flights during school holidays, around Christmas and New Year, over Easter and on long weekends tend to fill up early. Seats to sunny destinations such as Palma, Faro or Heraklion in summer, and to cities with popular winter markets such as Vienna or Prague in December, are often in high demand. For these dates, booking well in advance usually gives you more choice of times and fares.
Major events, from trade fairs to concerts and sporting finals, can also push up demand for specific weekends. If you are going for an event, book as soon as you know your plans.
Quieter times are more flexible
Midweek departures, mid-morning or early afternoon flights and shoulder-season months often see less demand. If you are travelling outside peak periods, you can generally afford to book a little later without losing much choice. That said, leaving it to the last days before departure is rarely the cheapest option, since remaining seats are often in higher fare categories.
Signing up for fare alerts or newsletters is a simple way to hear about sales without checking prices every day.
Balance price and certainty
Booking early is only a saving if your plans hold. If there is a chance you will need to change dates, a more flexible fare may cost more up front but save money and hassle later. AeroVista's Flex fare, for example, allows free rebooking and a refund up to 24 hours before departure, while Lite and Classic fares are better suited to firm plans.
Consider the whole trip too. Hotels and rental cars at popular destinations also book up, and a Flight + Hotel package can sometimes be a convenient way to secure both at once.
Good to know
- Book school-holiday and festive travel as early as your plans allow.
- Set up fare alerts instead of checking prices daily.
- Choose a flexible fare if your dates might change.