Skyscanner, global travel search engine has released its latest findings on the best time to book flights, revealing that savvy Indians who wish to increase their chances of getting the cheapest fares in 2015 should typically look at booking flights eighteen weeks before departure. The results, which follow the analysis of the last three years’ worth of data, and over 250 million flight prices, also found that the best time to book varies a great deal from destination to destination. For instance flights to countries like USA and UK should be booked eighteen weeks in advance while those looking to fly to hot destinations like Australia, Singapore and Thailand should consider booking anywhere between 16-17 weeks in advance for the cheapest fares.
Kavitha Gnanamurthy, senior marketing manager, Skyscanner India said, “An analysis of the trends over the past three years tell us that it’s always better to book flight tickets early. The best time to book has varied from year to year. However Skyscanner predicts that the Indian traveller will be able to save over 15 per cent if they book their flights over four months in advance. Skyscanner is committed to ensure that travellers get a chance to find a flight at the best price and plan their holiday well in advance. And since fluctuations in ticket prices are erratic, it is critical for us to share the best time for making these bookings. Prices can be quite volatile so customers need to understand that they may be taking a gamble by leaving booking too close to their departure date.”
In order to provide clarity and to make these booking decisions as simple as possible for travellers, Skyscanner has created an interactive tool which allows travellers to see when is the best time to book for the most popular destinations from India, along with the cheapest bookable prices.
– USA; book 18 weeks before departure which will save 12 per cent
– UK; book 18 weeks before departure and save 10 per cent
– Australia; 17 weeks before departure will be the perfect time to book and save around 29 per cent
– Thailand; save around 21 per cent by booking 16 weeks in advance
– Singapore; best time to book will be 17 weeks before departure which can reduce your cost by 26 per cent