Don’t miss this if you’re a budget traveler – 5 things to know before booking your flight

▲ Flight tickets (Image / Dashih / Illustration)

By Rita

As budget travel becomes increasingly popular, smart flight booking has become an essential skill. According to the U.S. Huffington Post, travelers who pay attentionto five key things before booking their flightcan easily score great deals. Below are five common questions travelers have, along with expert answers from the article.

1. How far in advance should I book my flight?
Different surveys suggest around 50–60 days in advance. CheapAir notes the ideal time is 54 days prior, while Expedia recommends about seven weeks ahead. The same Expedia survey also states that for international flights, it’s best to book 171 days in advance. CheapAir suggests European routes can be booked 96 days in advance, and Latin American ones as well—but advises against booking too early or too late.

2. What time of day is best to get a good deal?
There’s a popular belief that “Tuesday mornings” are the best time to book because airlines start releasing discounted tickets on Monday nights. Another myth is to avoid booking on weekends. The founder of Airfarewatchdog says, “No one can accurately predict airfare prices.” The site debunks the idea: “Claims that certain times guarantee cheaper fares are completely wrong—ticket prices fluctuate dramatically based on market conditions and actual passenger demand, and fares can vary widely in very short time spans.”

3. When will there be discount flights?
The best time is when the discounts actually begin. Isn’t that obvious? Since cheap tickets are random, getting the lowest price either requires extreme luck or sitting at your computer waiting for the right deal.

4. How can I find out about fare information?
Unless you really enjoy browsing booking websites, a better option is to “subscribe” to fare alerts—they’ll notify you of special deals. Also, when one airline releases low fares, others often follow suit, so check info from several different airlines before booking and compare your options.

5. Are there other ways to get fare information?
You can subscribe to airline newsletters. Some airlines send weekly emails about special fares to customers, especially if it’s an airline you frequently fly with—you should definitely stay updated. Also, download useful apps like Skyscanner.

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