We are all interested buy cheap flights. On our vacations, the plane ride is often more expensive than the accommodation. And this is not to mention when we have to take a business or unforeseen trip.
However, all experts agree that it is possible to buy cheap flights. Airlines change prices based on demand and other circumstances. Even There are days and times when plane tickets are cheaper. Next, we are going to explain some tricks so that save money when purchasing your ticket.
What is the best time to buy cheap flights?
Frankfurt Airport Terminal
When you're looking for a plane ticket, it may seem like the price variation is crazy. But it is not like that at all. There is a lot of rationality behind this circumstance. Airlines base their rates on concrete data such as demand, progress in ticket sales, schedules and even the date of the flight.
Precisely, the latter is essential when buying cheap flights. As a basic rule, The sooner you buy your ticket, the cheaper it will be. That is, if you are sure that your vacation will be in August and you are clear about your destination, buy the flight months in advance. This way, you will save a lot of money. But other factors also influence this. Let's analyze them.
the month of the year
Airplane cabin ready to receive passengers
Precisely, trips in summer ones are more expensive than in winter. As you may have deduced, it is because the greatest number of trips are concentrated in the former. It is when the vast majority of citizens have their holidays and take advantage of them to enjoy a well-deserved rest. Therefore, the demand for flights is much greater than at other times of the year.
In order of prices, spring follows. The weather is also good and there is a lot of travel. Then comes autumn, during which part of the population has its holiday period. Finally, winter is the season of the year when air travel is most economical. However, what we have just explained to you It is valid for certain destinations, not for all. And this brings us to another of the factors that influence when buying cheap flights.
The chosen area
Access ladder to an airplane
As we just told you, Where you want to fly determines the time of year when flights are cheapest. As a general rule, for the North Hemisphere, the advice we have given you is useful. If you want to visit, for example, France, Italy or any other European country, as well as United States o to Canada, summer and spring have the most expensive prices.
The peak travel season occurs on those dates. But you must keep in mind that if you want to fly to southern hemisphere, the seasons themselves have the opposite order. That is, broadly speaking, spring begins on September 21 and summer on December 21.
Therefore, the season with the most visits in this area usually occurs in those months. Consequently, if you buy your ticket to fly in January or February, they will be more expensive than if you buy them for August or September. This applies, for example, to countries such as Argentina, South Africa or Australia. But also the very nature of destiny influences prices.
The type of destination
Buying cheap flights to cities like London is easier in winter
Indeed, Traveling to coastal cities is not the same as traveling to others in the interior.. In the former, the weather has a lot of influence. But in the latter, which receive more cultural tourism, it is less important. Exemplifying with cities in our country, some like Madrid o Barcelona do visitor peaks in December, which increases the price of flights. However, August is also expensive.
On the contrary, Canary Islands and Balearics They offer the cheapest plane tickets in autumn and winter. On the other hand, prices rise a lot in spring and summer. Something similar to this happens with the main European destinations. As a general rule, August is the month that offers the most expensive flights. On the other hand, if you want to travel, for example, to London, Berlin, Paris, Rome or Amsterdam, you can buy cheap flights in the months from october to march. And we can tell you the same for the most in-demand cities in United States o to Canada.
The days and hours of purchase
Passengers in an airport terminal
But the day you choose to purchase your tickets also influences the price. As a general rule, you should not make your purchase on the weekend. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays have higher costs. On the other hand, airlines They usually publish their offers on Monday nights. So, you can find flights with very interesting discounts that reach up to 25% of their normal price.
Likewise, on Tuesday their competitors try to match their promotions, so it is also a good day to buy cheap flights. Likewise, on Wednesday you can find them. However, due to the demand itself, On Thursdays the offers begin to become scarce.
Even some experts dare to talk about the best hours to purchase tickets. The best time of the day is morning or early afternoon. On the other hand, they do not recommend doing it at night because that is when more people look for them and the prices are higher. In this sense, Rick Seaney, executive director of the international flight and hotel search engine Farecompare.com, points out how Tuesday at 15 p.m. the best time to look for tickets.
Other tricks to buy cheap flights
Buying cheap flights in August is easier to travel to cities in the southern hemisphere like Buenos Aires (pictured)
Along with all of the above, there are other tricks that you should keep in mind when purchasing cheap flights. For example, be flexible with departure and return dates. It is also advisable to browse in incognito mode and use comparators as for example, Skyscanner, eDreams, Kayak or Rumbo.
You must also activate your cheap ticket alerts. And finally, if you have not decided on a specific place for your trip, leave the destination box blank. This way all the cheapest flights will appear.
In conclusion, as you have seen, it is possible buy cheap flights. You just have to apply these tips that we have given you. However, you should always take into account relative aspects to scales y to luggage, which influence the price. Go ahead and look for your cheap ticket.