When it comes to securing the best deal on airfare, conventional wisdom often suggests waiting until Tuesday. This advice, once touted as gospel, has now been debunked by experts in the travel industry. According to insights from travel app the notion that cheaper seats magically appear when the clock strikes midnight on Monday is nothing more than a relic of a former era.
Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist, sheds light on the evolution of airline pricing strategies. In the past, before the advent of sophisticated machine-learning revenue models, airline employees would wrap up their workweek on Fridays. Over the weekend, flights would be sold, and come Monday morning, adjustments to prices would be made if certain routes weren’t performing as expected. As a result, tickets were believed to be cheaper to book on Tuesdays, once these adjustments had been implemented.
However, this narrative has drastically changed in the last 15 years. Berg emphasizes that the landscape of airline pricing has undergone a profound transformation. “Now there is so much dynamic pricing happening and so many fare classes that the lowest price available on a particular route can be found 16 different times in the course of a week,” she explains. The pricing volatility is no longer subject to human intervention but rather occurs automatically through computer-based models.
In light of these revelations, the once-held belief that Tuesday is the golden day for booking flights has lost its validity. Instead, Berg suggests a different approach for savvy travelers looking to secure the best fares. According to Hopper’s data analysis, the optimal days for booking flights are Wednesday and Thursday.
The shift in booking trends underscores the importance of staying informed and adaptable in today’s fast-paced travel industry. As airlines employ increasingly sophisticated pricing algorithms, the key to snagging the best deal lies in understanding the nuances of these systems.
Berg’s insights offer a glimpse into the intricate workings of airline pricing strategies, highlighting the dynamic nature of fare determination. Rather than adhering to outdated myths, travelers are encouraged to leverage data-driven approaches to maximize savings on their next journey.
In conclusion, the days of waiting until Tuesday to score a bargain on airfare are long gone. As airlines embrace advanced pricing technologies, the landscape of ticket pricing has become more dynamic than ever before. By staying informed and flexible, travelers can navigate this evolving terrain to secure the best deals on flights. So, the next time you’re planning your travels, remember: Wednesday and Thursday might just be your ticket to savings in the sky.
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Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/whens-the-best-time-to-book-plane-tickets-to-get-cheaper-flights/articleshow/104697550.cms?from=mdr