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Date Published: 27/05/2022

Travel expert shares the best time to book flights to get cheap plane tickets

Planning a trip abroad this summer? Follow these expert tips to get the biggest bang for your buck

With inflation pushing up prices left, right and centre, most of us thinking of going on holiday this year are looking to find ways to book that budget trip abroad. Many people already have several hacks, including checking flight prices on multiple devices, but travel expert Charles Stewart, managing director at eurochange, says this makes little difference and has shared his top tips for getting cheaper plane tickets.

“It’s long been suspected that airlines use your recent searches to increase prices on flights that you’ve already searched for, but data suggest this is not the case.

“There is little evidence to prove this theory and instead, the price of your flight is probably increasing due to lower availability.”

However, if a certain destination is demand, this will indeed push the price up, and with airlines like Ryanair already warning that summer seats are going to be far more expensive than normal, the best advice is to snap up a deal when you see one.

Charles said: “Generally, you’ll find cheaper flights by booking three to four months in advance of the date you’re intending to travel on.

“If you allow yourself to be flexible and forward plan, searching via month will help you to find the cheapest flights to your chosen destination.

“In some cases, you can find good last minute flights, especially if you’re not particular on exact dates when you start your search.

“If you’re stuck to certain time frames, such as school holidays, being flexible on the airline provider will also allow you to find cheaper rates, because budget airlines often don’t include add-ons in their initial cost.”

Once you have selected your chosen flight, it’s often those pesky added extras, like seat allocation and extra luggage, that end up pushing the prices up and the expert advises passengers to choose the most basic option available.

“When putting together your final budget, make sure that you’ve checked how much your chosen airline will charge you for seat allocation, baggage and food because on a round-trip journey it will quickly add up,” Charles advised.

“Some airlines offer package deals which include flights, hotels, baggage, coach transfers and more, so it’s worth considering the option if you want a bargain.”

He added: “For those lucky enough to be able to travel outside of the school holidays, you’ll always be able to find cheaper flights by sticking to term time.

“Take advantage of off-peak months and do your research into when the school holidays fall ahead of your planning.

“If you don’t want to be stung, make sure to also look out for any major sporting events that might be happening around the time of your holiday.”

Image: Pixabay

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