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As Christmas fast approaches and more than 3 million people get set to head to the airports, they can expect to see a sudden price surge of 24% in flight costs due to recent airline collapses. With money tight around the Christmas period, everyone will be looking for ways to save on their flights.
With so many tips and hacks kicking around the internet, we at Revolut, the digital banking challenger that lets you spend abroad with no fees, have separated fact from fiction in order to help you save a few bob on your Christmas flights.
Flying to and from smaller airports is cheaper: TRUE
Larger airports are often more desirable due to speedy transport connections and close proximity, but that usually comes at a price. If you are willing to fly from smaller airports that are a little further out, these are usually home to budget airlines that can save you up to a whopping £100 on flight costs. For example, try booking from Luton or Stansted instead of Heathrow or Gatwick.
Booking last minute is always cheaper: FALSE
It's often said that booking your flight last minute will bring the cost down. In fact, this is rarely the case and is actually a huge gamble as you can end up paying up to 30% more than if you book your flight 7-12 weeks in advance.
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Clearing browser cache and cookies saves money: TRUE
Ever wondered why prices on comparison sites and marketplace can suddenly surge when you click to the checkout? Airlines and booking sites have come up with a sneaky way to charge you more. They can record your browser history by installing cookies on browsers, meaning they can compare their price with what you have viewed previously and bump up the price as they see fit.
To avoid this, clear your browser cache and cookies and turn on private browsing before you go window shopping on airlines or booking sites.
Flying during the day works out cheaper: FALSE
The downside of flying in the evening is that you can arrive at your destination in the small hours, but if you are willing to put up with that inconvenience, evening flights typically cost 30% less than afternoon flights. Another added bonus is that there are usually less passengers therefore you spend less time battling to get off the plane and queuing for your luggage.
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Booking flights in foreign currency can save you money: TRUE
So long as you're not encountering any additional fees and charges from your bank, booking flights using a different currency can save you hundreds of pounds. Although this is more common for journeys around Asia, it is possible to save some money by paying using a different currency. For example, you can save around £15 on a journey between London and New York, if you pay using Danish Krone.
Booking your return flight with the same airline works out cheaper: FALSE
Your return flight doesn't always have to be with the same airline as your outbound flight. While it may be easier and save you time to go with the same airline, you can save as much as much as 20% if you shop around and discover an alternative airline flying to the same airport at a similar time.
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Flying indirect can knock a lot off your flight cost: TRUE
If money is more important than time, then booking an indirect flight with a stop-over can save you a whopping 40%, and this is particularly the case with long-haul flights. Stop-overs can be anything from an hour to a whole day, so make sure the timings are practical for your trip.
Tuesday is the cheapest day to book: FALSE
This used to be true back in the day, as airlines would release new fares to travel agents every Tuesday, but now with the internet, new deals and sales are released every single day. It doesn't matter when you buy, it's about when you choose fly! Flying off-peak, or in the evening, is more likely to lower your fare than booking on a Tuesday.