Mumbai : Comprehensive data analysis by leading global travel search site Skyscanner has revealed when to book flights and average fares, in order to help customers to save money on their travel in 2014.

Skyscanner’s Best Time to Book analysis revealed that the cheapest flight tickets from India are available 22 weeks in advance of travel on average; however three years of booking data also shows that price patterns can vary by type of airline and between short and long haul travel and so is very much destination dependent.

February is the cheapest month to travel and Indian consumers can expect to save 18% on flight prices on average, while booking 22 weeks in advance would result in savings of around 15% on average.

According to Kavitha Gnanamurthy, Skyscanner’s Senior Marketing Manager for India, “the earlier in advance you book, the better. It is also important to note that prices can really increase at the last minute, especially on budget airlines.”

“Customers need to understand that they are taking a gamble if they wait until closer to departure before booking and may find that they have missed the best flight prices.  Our analysis suggests that the best way to find a flight at the best price is to plan ahead and do your research.”

 In the case of India, the best time to book a flight for long haul destinations such as the United Kingdom, and nearer countries including the United Arab Emirates and Singapore is 12 weeks in advance. Indian travellers would also be able to save the most on flights to Australia and Thailand if they book 16 weeks ahead of their departure date.

Skyscanner’s Best Time to Book interactive infographic (http://www.skyscanner.co.in/bttb/best-time-to-book-in/) provides key travel data for the top 5 most searched destinations from India.

 

S.NO	India’s leading destinations	Average savings	Weeks to book in advance
1.	U.K.	18%	12
	U.S.A.	33%	15
	United Arab Emirates (UAE)	21%	12
	Thailand	34%	16
	Singapore	25%	12

 

There are also 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 Indian airports offering these routes. 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.

Kavitha Gnanamurthy concluded, “There is no golden rule or set date when all flights are at their cheapest. However our hope is that by sharing our knowledge and providing customers with the tools to do their own research, they feel confident in making an informed decision when it comes to booking flights”.

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.