with Skyscanner!
Traveling takes a big chunk of the typical
Filipino vacation. Families and barkadas make it a point to go out-of-town or
out of the country on holidays. With all these free days pre-marked on their
calendars, it is important that they strategize so that they can book their
flights at the lowest possible prices.
Skyscanner,
a leading global travel search site, did a study on the millions of flights
purchased by their customers over the past three years to arrive with the best
time to book. The study shows that on average, 3-4 weeks in advance is the
optimal time to book flights. This suggestion, however, depends on the type of
flight you book or the airlines you book with. When traveling with a budget
airline, prices are likely to go up as the day of the flight approaches. If
traveling on long haul flights or for more than 5 hours, prices are likely to
fluctuate as the flight day grows near, and this does not guarantee the best
seats.
In the Philippines, we have always loved the idea of discounts and because of this, booking early has always been a trend. Below are the top outbound destinations in the Philippines alongside the number of weeks you need to book in advance for maximum saving:
·
China. If you book 28 weeks in advance,
you can save as much as PHP 7,000 per flight which means more money for
shopping and buying souvenirs.
·
Malaysia. Because Malaysia is relatively
near, it can be a go-to destination for last minute getaways and short
vacations, but booking close to your departure date can be quite expensive.
Consider booking 31 weeks in advance so you will only have to pay 46% of the
actual flight cost.
·
Japan. Book a flight to the land of cherry
blossoms 14 weeks in advance and you can save as much as PHP 6300. Like with
Thailand, booking four tickets will make way for another friend or relative to
tag along in your trip.
·
Thailand. Save as much as PHP 2990 if
you book 16 weeks ahead. The discount you will get from booking four tickets is
enough to get you another flight for free!
·
Singapore. This country is the most
visited by Filipinos in 2013 according to a recent study by Skyscanner. The best time to book
flights going to Singapore is 25 weeks in advance. By booking this early, you
can save as much as PHP 1600. This is almost 24% less than the average flight
cost.
According to the Best Time to Book study, on average, it is best to book 20 weeks in advance regardless of where you want to go. The study also suggests that the cheapest month to travel is in February and it is most expensive in April. This is for the reason that less people travel on February because they are making way for their summer travels which usually happens in April.
Booking flights during these suggested time frames enables you access to loads of discounts and the best seats possible. If you book early, you can save almost 18% less than what you will have to pay for the average ticket price. Moreover, you can skip the stress of looking for available flights at the last minute which are most likely to be overpriced. Booking your flights early will not just give you these perks but it will also help you focus on the other aspects of your vacation such as relaxation and educating yourself, which is ultimately the point of traveling.
Some simple rules to bear in mind to get the best price:
1.
Book smart: Avoiding peak season travel
and flying at less popular hours of the day, can really help to lower costs.
2.
Be flexible: Costs to different destinations can vary
significantly depending on the airlines operating that route and the Thai
airports offering these flights. If you are planning your next trip but are
open to destinations, running a search to ‘everywhere’ can help find the
countries that offer the best value flights at any time.
3.
Compare and contrast: Using a travel
comparison site like Skyscanner allows you to compare the widest range of
airlines and online travel agents, so you’ll be able to see where you can get
the best deal.
4.
Track prices Skyscanner’s analysis has
found that keeping an eye on the flight prices a few months in advance of
travel, is the best way to find a good value flight. Using a flight tracker
price alert service, either by email or via the app can help monitor when
prices drop on a chosen route.
Skyscanner offers price alerts on all routes
to enable flights to be monitored by email. The Skyscanner app offers widgets
for Android, Live Tiles for Windows Phone and “watch” functionality for iOS,
all of which allow customers to track the latest price changes on a chosen
route.
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