How to get 2024’s best airfares? Book early, leave on Thursdays, look out for ‘dupes’
- As anyone who has travelled around the Asia-Pacific knows, the cost of flying remains high – and it’s expected to stay that way for quite some time
- But fret not. Deals on air fares are still available if you plan ahead, stay flexible with your travel dates and use the tips and tricks below
Flying in 2024 may be easier than it has been for years, with more direct routes laid on as airlines finally recover from the pandemic and reconnect their networks – but fares are expected to stay high, leaving bargain hunters scrambling for deals.
Here are a few tips and tricks for getting the most out of air travel next year.
Book early, and on Sundays
According to Expedia, one of the world’s biggest travel booking sites, international flights are cheaper if you book them on a Sunday, compared to Fridays.
The difference in price can be as high as 14 per cent depending on the day you decide to book – an estimate based on average round-trip ticket prices for flights originating in Hong Kong.
Expedia says the optimal time to book flights is between five-and-a-half and six months before your date of departure. Ticket prices are highest two to five months before take-off, according to the travel group, as people refine travel plans and drive demand.
But Google Flights, another popular online travel tool, told This Week in Asia that, according to its historical data for trips departing from Hong Kong, prices bottomed out around four to five months before departure, and “planning and booking early is usually a good idea”.