Travel

Related Content

The next time you’re sitting on an aeroplane, take a look at the people sitting next to you.

The chances are they paid a different amount for their seats, even though you’re in the same cabin class and obviously heading to the same destination.

Fly on the right day

Brits on holiday are predictable creatures. We like to fly at the end of the working week or weekend, making Friday and Sunday two of the most expensive days to book flights, according to the website CheapFlights.co.uk.

Analysis from that website shows that the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. So if you can be flexible about when you leave, you have a better chance of snapping up the lowest-priced seats.

Likewise, flying out at an unpopular time (think very early in the morning or after dinner) can also reduce demand for the cheapest seats, giving you a better chance of snapping them up.

Timing is critical

It’s a widespread belief that booking a flight at the last minute will allow you to snap up a cheap, unsold seat. And that can be true, as long as you’re not remotely fussy about where you’re going or what kind of time you fly at.

Most of us like a little more certainty in our holiday destinations, so when is the best time to book? It’s counter-intuitive, but most experts suggest not booking too early. If you buy your ticket six months or more in advance then the airline doesn’t have time to assess demand and won’t necessarily be offering its cheapest seats.

CheapFlights.co.uk suggests booking 54 to 66 days in advance to get the cheapest deal.