You’ve probably heard the old adage: if you want to find the best airfares, you have to wake up in the middle of the night, between Monday and Tuesday.
But is this really the key to saving money?
Spoiler: not really!
Between contradictory advice and articles that mysteriously quote “certain sources” (without ever saying which ones), it’s easy to get lost.
One thing’s for sure: we all want to find the best way to pay less for our flights.
But instead of relying on vague, unsourced tips, it’s better to understand how airlines set their prices.
We take the mystery out of it, so you can travel smart!
The best time to buy airline tickets
We’re bound to disappoint you, but the reality is that there’s no clear consensus on an ideal time to buy airline tickets.
On the other hand, it is possible to understand how airlines work, to make the most informed choice possible.
Why do prices fluctuate?
Price variations are rather attributed to a yield management system. Yield management is a complex fare-setting method used by airlines, which adjusts prices according to a number of factors, including :
- Demand: the price changes in real time according to the number of searches made for a given flight.
- Load factor: the fuller the aircraft, the higher the price, as each row of seats has a specific code and fare.
As soon as a group of seats is sold, the next price band is applied. - Competition: airlines also monitor their competitors’ fares and adjust their prices accordingly.
The impact of traveler indecision
Frédéric Pilloud, marketing and e-commerce director of online travel agency MisterFly, explains that booking a plane ticket is often a stressful process.
Passengers sometimes take several days to make up their minds, during which time prices can rise.
Should I book a plane ticket in advance or at the last minute?
The advantages of booking in advance
According to Frédéric Pilloud, it’s important to book several months in advance.
Indeed, when airlines open their sales, often between 6 and 12 months before the departure date, they generally offer attractive fares on a limited number of seats.
However, booking too far in advance is not always the best option, as airlines can lower their fares according to demand.
Liligo recommends adjusting the delay according to the type of flight:
- 3 to 5 months in advance for domestic flights,
- 5 to 6 months for a medium-haul flight,
- 8 months for a long-haul flight.
The other way around, Expedia recommends booking this type of flight between 70 and 78 days before departure.
Last-minute opportunities
Last-minute bookings can be interesting, as airlines sometimes cut prices to fill a plane.
All-inclusive packages can also be offered at attractive rates.
The real criterion seems to be not to be too demanding and to be flexible especially when it comes to travel destinations.
Days of the week when plane tickets are cheaper
What day should I buy my plane ticket to save money?
Business Insider reports on Wednesday, JetCost on Tuesday, while Expedia cites Sunday, which offers savings of between 10% and 25%.
According to Frédéric Pilloud, the time and day of booking have no direct impact on the final price.
Booking at night or on certain days does not systematically influence rates.
Flight booking periods to avoid
As a general rule, avoid booking or traveling at weekends, on public holidays or during school vacation periods. These are times when people have time to book their vacations and therefore increase demand.
Now let’s talk not about booking periods, but about when to travel.
The impact of seasons and vacations on airfares
It’s pretty obvious: if a lot of people are traveling at the same time, fares tend to be higher.
High season VS low season
Air ticket prices fluctuate considerably depending on the time of year, influenced by the tourist seasons.
High season corresponds to periods when large numbers of people travel, such as school vacations or various national holidays.
Conversely, the low season sees a reduction in the number of travelers, which translates into lower fares.
However, the distinction between high and low season varies from destination to destination. destinations.
Example : Strasbourg’s high season includes the month of December, thanks to the famous Christmas market.
Example : in India, the low season corresponds to the monsoon season, from June to September, whereas in Switzerland it’s high season.
How to avoid price hikes during the school vacations
Travelling during the school vacations is always going to be more expensive.
However, there are strategies to avoid excessive price rises.
First and foremost, avoid leaving on the first day of vacation Instead of leaving on Saturday morning, which is the most popular day, consider moving your departure to Friday afternoon or another less busy day.
Then, choose less popular times with very early or very late flights.
What’s more, travel on special special dates can make a big difference.
While many of us travel during the Christmas holidays, very few of us travel on December 25.
As a result, some dates are overlooked by the majority of travelers, such as New Year’s Day, or dates that superstitious people believe bring bad luck (such as Friday 13th or September 11th).
Finally, not all school vacation periods are equal in terms of demand.
For example, winter vacations are less popular than summer vacations for visiting Rome or Florence.
Tips for monitoring air ticket price variations
Use price alerts for your destinations
These tools enable you to track price changes and be notified when the price of your flight decreases, without having to manually check prices every day.
Many travel services, such as Google Flights and Skyscanner offer personalized alerts.
In Switzerland, platforms such as Swiss or KAYAK Switzerland are popular for tracking flight fares.
Follow the social networks of airlines and travel sites
They sometimes advertise exclusive promotions reserved for their subscribers.
Some companies, such as easyJet or Swiss International Air Lines are known for offering flash sales through these channels.
Put an end to computer tracking
Travel websites and airlines use cookies and algorithms to monitor your searches and adjust prices accordingly.
For example, if you return to the same site several times to check a specific ticket, the site may increase the price according to the perceived interest in that flight.
To get around these practices, a few simple strategies can help you obtain fairer prices:
- Use a private browsing to prevent the site from tracking you through cookies.
- Clear your browser’s cache and history regularly to erase all traces of your searches.
Mistakes to avoid when buying airline tickets
Don't rush without comparing rates on different booking sites
This is perhaps best strategy. Take the time to compare.
For this, flight comparators are essential tools.
Platforms such as Skyscanner, Google Flights or even Kayak allow you to consult the offers of numerous airlines and online travel agencies at a glance.
What’s more, some sites, such as Momondo or Liligo include information on price trends, which can help you choose the best time to buy.
However, once you have identified an interesting offer via a comparator, it is also a good idea to check directly on the airline’s website.
Yes, sometimes companies offer more competitive fares or special offers not available through intermediaries!
Don't forget to check for hidden charges
Although the rates shown may seem attractive, various additional charges may be added during the booking process.
One of the most common concerns checked baggage. These are often charged extra by low-cost airlines.
Booking the hold baggage option in advance can save you money, as these fees are generally higher if you wait until you arrive at the airport to pay them.
Likewise hand luggage may also incur charges if you don’t comply with the height and weight limits imposed by the airlines.
These vary from airline to airline, and there is no such thing as a standard size or weight, so be extremely careful!
Some airlines, especially low-cost carriers, are particularly strict, charging high fees for minor overruns.
The application fee are another trap to avoid.
Some companies or travel agencies include these fees at the end of the booking process, often without clearly announcing them at the outset.
Don't forget to reserve your parking space at the airport
Parking Cointrin is a private service ideally located only three minutes by shuttle bus Geneva airport.
This parking lot offers several advantages, including the possibility of book online for all its spaces, unlike the official Geneva Airport parking lots, where only certain spaces are available for reservation.
In addition to competitive, sliding-scale rates, Parking Cointrin guarantees continuous surveillance, making it a secure and cost-effective solution, particularly for long stays.
Additional services further enhance the user experience.
Free shuttles provide transfers to the terminal, a service not offered by some official parking lots such as the more remote P51.
In addition, customers can take advantage of options such as the valet parking cleaning vehicle cleaning or even covered parking for maximum comfort.
In conclusion, to optimize the cost of your plane tickets, it’s important to understand that it’s not just the day, time or even month of purchase that influences the price, but rather the times of your flight.
To travel at lower cost, it’s often a good idea to choose periods and times that are less popular with travellers, but also to compare different offers.
