Planning a holiday this year and want to ensure you get the best fares? Travel search site, Skyscanner, through analysing three years of booking data found that the cheapest air tickets from Singapore are available 26 weeks ahead of your travel date.
According to the report, price patterns can vary by type of airline and between short and long haul travel, and is very much destination dependent.
Travellers who book at the optimum time can expect savings of 15% for flights to Thailand and 29% for flights to Australia. The cheapest period to travel is in week 10, with March being the cheapest month as well.
Kevin Foo, Skyscanner’s head of communications for APAC, said the earlier a traveller makes a booking the better chance of getting good fares especially for long haul destinations. Prices can increase considerably at the last minute, especially on budget airlines.”
“Customers need to understand that they are taking a gamble if they make their flight bookings closer to departure, and may find that they have missed the best flight prices. Our analysis suggests that the best way to find a flight at the best price is to plan ahead and do your research.”
Some simple rules to bear in mind to snag the best prices:
- Book smart: Avoiding peak season travel, and flying during less popular hours of the day can really help to lower costs.
- Be flexible: Costs to different destinations can vary significantly, depending on the airlines operating that route. If you are planning your next trip but are open to destinations, running a search to “everywhere: can help find the countries that offer the best value flights at any time.
- Compare and contrast: Using travel comparison sites allow you to compare the widest range of airlines and online travel agents, so you’ll be able to see where you can get the best deal.
- Track prices: Keeping an eye on the flight prices a few months in advance of travel,is the best way to find a good value flight. Using a flight tracker price alert service, either by email or via the app, can help monitor when prices drop on a chosen route.
Foo added, “There is no golden rule or set date when all flights are at their cheapest. However our hope is that by sharing our knowledge and providing customers with the tools to do their own research, they will feel confident in making an informed decision when it comes to booking flights”.
• Photo credit (book flight button): Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock
Skyscanner’s Best Time to Book interactive infographic provides key travel data including average fares for the top five most searched destinations from Singapore (chart below).
