Between the return of demand due to the lifting of travel restrictions and the increase in airline operating costs (kerosene, airport taxes, etc.), expect to pay more for plane tickets. The latest figures of the Ministry of Nature Protection prove it. In August 2022, ticket prices for flights departing from mainland France increased by 29.4% for domestic flights and 39.8% for international flights.
A significant increase due to the inflationary context, but also the impact of the war in Ukraine, which modified the flight routes to Asia, for example by lengthening them. But how to shorten the note? Here are some tips to find the best deals and sometimes save big on your ticket price and therefore your holiday. Overview:
Look for private browsing and use a VPN
To find out which flights you’re interested in, airlines scan your navigation data… And sometimes they can use it to inflate the bill. If you do the same search several times in a short period of time, everything indicates that you are about to book. If your flight price has suddenly increased, clear the cache and delete cookies and browsing history from your browser.
If necessary, change the IP address as well. There are several ways to achieve this: use another computer or your phone to make a reservation, or use a VPN (virtual private network) that allows you to connect to networks in other countries. More specifically, when you connect to a VPN, you hide your IP address and the data is encrypted. In a few cases, joining a practice in a country with a low standard of living can lower the final grade. There are several brands on the market (CyberGhost, Express VPN, Surfshark, etc.) and cost an average of 30 to 100 euros per year. Even with a VPN, you still need to select private browsing mode to allow cookie-free browsing. The result is never guaranteed, but it’s still worth a try.
Go through a tour operator and an online travel agency
Another good way to pay less for your flight ticket is to check online travel agencies and the offers and packages offered by tour operators there. Taking advantage of the prices negotiated with the airlines (in particular thanks to the commitment of several seats in the season), they regularly offer discounted offers and last minute promotions online. A few examples. If the prices can be attractive, you will not be able to choose the dates or duration of your stay.
Be flexible on travel dates
Just for air flights that you buy directly from the airline, flexibility in dates is definitely the number one saving factor. Your ticket price can sometimes be halved within a day. A good way to realize this is the calendar function offered by search engines, Google’s jump to the top position.
We must first remember the obvious. prefer flying during the week rather than weekends, travel (if possible) outside of school holidays, for short daytime flights… And some studies like the one carried out in February. 2022 from luggage company Bounce reminds us that the most expensive months to travel are July, May and September. On the contrary, the month of January concentrates the cheapest flights of the year.
Book in advance and leave before 3pm.
The context of inflation reminds us again and again. booking in advance can save you a lot of money. In a study published on October 19, the website Expedia notes that flight prices tend to increase before departure (33 days before a domestic flight and 50 days before an international flight). In this context, it is ideal to book 70 to 90 days in advance to make some significant savings (on average 30% for a domestic flight and 10% for an international flight, the travel site estimates).
Another tip that Expedia advocates. take flights before 3pm to reduce the risk of cancellation. According to the company, departures before noon are 60% less likely to cancel than later in the day. They also experience fewer delays. A remarkable fact for those who are afraid to see their vacation ruined.
Cheap, secondary airports, travel hack…
Beyond these basics, smart travelers also turn to comparison sites and other sites travel hacking, listing special offers, see carrier pricing errors. Among the most used are: Skyscanner, Kayak, Liligo, Momondo, Fly4free, Secret Flying, Voyages Pirates… You can also apply to cheap companies that operate from secondary airports; this sometimes brings good price surprises. Ryanair, Wizz Air and other Volotea regularly make travelers crazy with flights under €20. You still have to pay for a bus or train ticket to get there…
Airport taxes can make up a good portion of the ticket price, but they vary by airport. Therefore, cross-border travelers will consider comparing overseas offers. Many Hauts-de-France residents prefer to travel from Brussels-Charleroi to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle.
Bonus: get an upgrade
Finally, who, from narrow economy class, has never dreamed of spending the night lying down while traveling full flat bed Business class? Again there are several tricks. First, by being loyal to the company and stocking up milesyou are more likely to receive attractive upgrade offers and be given priority for moving to the front of the aircraft overbooking. Finally, don’t hesitate to ask how much a last-minute upgrade will cost. Some companies sometimes offer online auctions to find business seats, others, such as Ethiopian Airlines, invite their passengers to bid themselves a few hours before departure.
This article is being updated.
Source: Le Figaro
