Insider Secrets to Booking Cheap Airfare

Flight prices are more volatile than ever following the pandemic, but cheap flights are still out there.

 In 2020, airline ticket prices fell to the lowest in recorded history, but prices have since begun a return to pre-pandemic levels, experts say.

As travelers receive vaccinations and feel more comfortable with air travel, demand has risen, and the cheap, last-minute flight deals common after 2020 are all but gone. In their place, travelers can expect wide variations in pricing, and travelers will need to be flexible with timing, destinations and adapting to quickly changing COVID-19 restrictions. Destination options may be limited, especially internationally, in the coming months.

Why Do Flight Prices Fluctuate?

Flight prices are determined by a complex algorithm that includes factors like oil prices, the global economic outlook, internal projections, competitor rates and historical data, according to experts. 

Try these strategies to get cheap flights this year:

•     Timing matters: not too early, not too late.
•     Set alerts and do your research.
•     Be flexible in price, destination and timing.
•     Be prepared for COVID-19 restrictions.
•     Consider seasonality before booking.

Timing Matters: Not Too Early, Not Too Late

For domestic flights, travelers should start searching for flight tickets one to three months in advance. For international flights, the best prices are typically available from two to eight months in advance.

The best time to buy can also vary among airlines.

Set Alerts and Do Your Research

To purchase at the lowest ticket price, we suggests exercising patience and researching flight prices daily to get the best deal. Travelers can use alert services like those offered by Google Flights or other alternatives to keep tabs on prices for a certain route.

Be Flexible in Price, Destination and Timing

Travel experts say the word of the year for 2022 travel is flexibility. Choosing a bucket-list travel destination can be costly. Instead, consider lesser-known travel spots and keep an open mind when it comes to destinations. While Myrtle Beach may be a favorite vacation destination for many, for example, choosing from other, less popular East Coast beaches or lakeside towns may lead to big savings.

Travelers can also try researching different days and times to travel. In addition, even after tickets are purchased, airlines may change routes or timing as they adjust flight availability to match demand.

Be Prepared for COVID-19 Restrictions

While traveling domestically thus far hasn't demanded significant restrictions, international travel is likely to come with strings attached. Those hoping to travel to Iceland, for example, should plan to provide a certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a certificate of previous COVID-19 infection. In addition, upon arrival, travelers will be required to take a coronavirus test.

Consider Seasonality Before Booking

As was true pre-pandemic, travelers can get good flight deals during the offseason or during the shoulder months between the offseason and peak season.

Those planning a trip during a peak period, such as midsummer, you should start looking for domestic flights two to five months in advance.

Though airline prices are on the rise today, the pandemic isn't necessarily to blame. To get more updates about flights, Visit Flightlayaway.