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When To Buy, When To Fly and Other Stuff

Buying plane tickets can be a little bit confusing. When’s the best time to buy . . . are last minute offers still the best option . . . is there an optimum time when the prices are at their lowest? Where can you find the best deals?

Confusing yes, frustrating yes, because just when you think you’ve sorted out the answers to the above questions – everything changes again. The airlines try to stay one step ahead, they don’t actually want you to find the best prices for your tickets, which is why they keep on moving the goalposts – or do they?

Millions of people buy their plane tickets online these days, with it being highly regarded as the best place to bag yourself a bargain, but even though the internet is readily available in homes up and down the country, and purports to save time and effort . . . in reality it can also eat up a really large portion of your life – just lookin’. Who wants to spend hours and hours looking for the best deal, I mean, 3 days spent trying to save 20 bucks, is that a good deal? So that’s why we’ve come up with this list of plane travel tips & tricks to help you find the best deal without using up your whole day.

When to Fly

Flying when nobody else really wants to is always a great way to get a cheap flight, but there are other “cheaper zones” which have been identified. Apparently (don’t take my word for it ‘cos it’s only what I’ve heard) – it’s cheaper to fly on a Wednesday, closely followed by Tuesdays and then Saturdays. Fridays and Sundays are historically the most costly days to fly . . . which kind of makes sense really don’t you think? As far as times are concerned, flights which leave at a ridiculously “early o’clock” are not popular and hence do come a bit cheaper than those which leave at a rather civilized mid-morning time. So it’s up to you, is it worth getting to the airport at 3am on Wednesday morning to save a few bucks?

When To Buy

Not surprisingly, many people book their flights online at the weekends, so airlines will typically withdraw their discounted fares on a Thursday . . . they are in business to make money you know! Anyway, there is a rule of thought which says that the best time to buy an airline ticket is on a Tuesday at around 3pm Eastern. I’m not saying that you should take my word for it as gospel, but do your own research . . . these are tips & tricks, not written on tablets of stone you know.  Okay, we’ve already sorted out the best day of the week to buy your plane tickets (kind of), but how far in advance should you buy them? We don’t all have the luxury of forward planning, but if you do then it’s best to buy your airline tickets around 3 -4 months prior to departure for domestic flights, and international flights should be bought between 4 and 5 months prior to the date of travel if at all possible.

Airmiles & Airpoints

Don’t forget to use all of those airmiles or points you’ve been racking up for the past 2 years . . .

Ticket For One Please

Even if there are going to be two or more people travelling in your party, it can actually work out cheaper to buy your tickets individually. Right, read and learn ‘cos you might not know this – airlines sell all seats to your party at the same price, which might be the highest price, so even if there are a couple of cheaper priced seats available, if you book for a party of 4 you’ll have to pay the higher price for all 4 seats. If, however, you are a savvy flyer and book individually you might get a seat or two at a lower price. You’ll have to split the purchase into a couple of transactions, but such a minor inconvenience could actually save hundreds of dollars.

First Class Travel at Budget Prices

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There’s no buzz quite like getting a free upgrade on your flight to first class, flying for a budget price in a first class seat is certainly something to smile about. This doesn’t have to be down to luck, there are ways and means of getting a free upgrade – have you ever managed to sweet talk yourself into first or business class? Here are a few tips;

• Join the frequent flyers club (not the “mile high club”, that’s something different and will probably get you thrown out of first class). Anyway, the more air miles you rack up with the frequent flyers club, the more chances you have of getting upgraded if there is a seat available.
• Lone travellers are more likely to get an upgrade than a group. We’re not suggesting that you should book yourself onto a different flight from your nearest and dearest just on the off-chance, but you will have a better chance of being upgraded to a first class seat if you’re on your own.
• If you are travelling with someone else, and that someone else already has a higher class ticket, then you could try asking if you could sit together. Of course, if they then try to move your companion down to budget class it could cause problems but it’s always worth a try (particularly if you’re a frequent flyer).
• You’ve gotta’ look the part, look like you deserve to sit in first class and won’t lower the tone of the place. A battered up rucksack and sandals might not help your cause, but something smart yet casual and some decent luggage might just do the trick.
• Get in first. Make sure that you arrive early, because any upgrades which are available will be quickly snapped up.
• If you do manage to blag your way into first class, don’t order a meal. The chances are that there won’t be a first class meal available, and if the cabin crew serve an economy meal in the business class lounge then it would be asking for trouble . . . and really give the game away.
• Be nice to the cabin crew . . . smile a lot (but not one of those creepy smiles), a nice cheery smile and polite manner will get you a long way. Like I always said to my kids as they were growing up, if you remember your manners you’re much more likely to get your own way, and that works for grown-ups too.
• Don’t make a scene, but there’s no harm in laying it on a little thick either. Just drop into the conversation how you were severely inconvenienced on a previous flight and you never know your luck.

Great idea about the old “honeymoon routine” . . . hadn’t thought of that one.