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.
About Skyscanner
· Skyscanner is a leading global travel
search site providing instant online comparisons for millions of flights plus
hotels and car hire.
· Founded in
2003 by three IT professionals, Gareth Williams, Barry Smith and Bonamy Grimes,
Skyscanner is the no.1 travel
search website in Europe and no.3 worldwide, receiving over 50 million visits
per month.
· Skyscanner’s travel search site is
available in 40 countries and in 30 languages.
· Skyscanner’s highly-rated free mobile
apps are available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and
Windows 8 devices and have been downloaded over 20 million time. Download the
app at http://www.skyscanner.com.ph/mobile.html
· The company
employs over 200 staff and has its global headquarters in Edinburgh, with a
second Scottish office in Glasgow. Skyscanner
also has offices in Singapore and Beijing and plans to open a Miami office in
2013.
· Follow
Skyscanner on Twitter @SkyscannerPH
· Like
Skyscanner on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SkyscannerPhilippines
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