By Jorge Vazquez
03 Oct 2023, 08:00 AM EDT
Travel site Expedia released its “Air Travel Hacks 2024” Report, revealing data-backed strategies to save money on airline tickets and reduce stress.
According to the new research:
· Domestic airline ticket must be booked 28 days before departure: Travelers saved up to 24% compared to those who booked at the last minute, surpassing the 10% savings that travelers saw on average in 2022.
· International airline tickets should be booked approximately 60 days in advance (and no more than four months) for optimal availability and savings (around 10% on average). Last year, the sweet spot was closer to six months.
· Sunday remains the cheapest day of the week to book flights, while Fridays are the most expensive. On average, travelers saved up to 13%.
· Fly before 3 pm to minimize the impact of delays and cancellations. Flights departing after 3 pm are statistically 50% more likely to be canceled than earlier flights.
· More than a quarter (28%) of U.S. travelers continue to check ticket prices even after they’ve booked, but using Expedia’s Price Drop Protection, travelers receive a refund if the price drops. of the ticket drops after booking.
· The analysis also found that average ticket prices remain almost stable compared to last year and flight cancellation rates have improved (1.7% of flights compared to 4.1% in 2022), positive trends for travelers who cited finding a good deal (61%) and worrying about interruptions (28%) as big contributors to stress.
“Airlines are adding capacity and increasing service to meet the sustained demand for air travel we have seen throughout 2023,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC. “Air travel has proven resilient in recent years, with travelers increasingly taking to the skies for both business and pleasure. Fortunately for those travelers, the cost of airfare has been below 2022 levels for most of the year.”
For more details of the report, go here.
Keep reading:
· How to find the cheapest plane tickets
· Why air travel is cheaper (or not as expensive) than a decade ago
· These are the best times to book flights