Travel expert Maisie Blewitt explains whether or not booking a flight on a Tuesday is actually cheaper and shares her take on the most common holiday booking hacks
Booking a holiday on a certain day of the week can be significantly cheaper – at least that’s the rumour. A travel expert is divulging whether or not there’s any truth to this old booking myth, and if so, what day really is the best for securing a deal.
Clearing your browsing history, flying on a Sunday, booking on a Tuesday – there’s a lot of debate about how to be a savvy holiday planner. But Maisie Blewitt, travel expert and head of commercial at Transfer Travel, has weighed in to set the record straight on the best tips and tricks.
For one, Maisie says it’s not always cheaper to book your flights on a Tuesday, it’s really just an “urban myth”. She explains: “There’s no consistent evidence to prove that airlines reduce flight prices on a Tuesday.” This comes after a Brit abroad slams all-inclusive hotel food asking ‘what on earth is this?’
“Airlines typically follow a dynamic pricing schedule; this will influence pricing in relation to demand – not days of the week”, she added. However, she says there is some benefit to booking your flight earlier in the week.
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Maisie explains that historical Skyscanner data indicates that some airlines launch sales and deals on Monday evenings, meaning flights can appear cheaper towards the beginning of the week. Though this isn’t exclusive to Tuesdays.
One statement that isn’t an urban myth is that midweek flights are cheaper than weekend flights. Again, because airlines set prices based on demand, peak leisure flying days (Friday, Sunday, Monday) tend to be the most popular and thus the most expensive.
Avoiding weekend and Monday travel days and being flexible with the times you travel will help travellers secure a better deal. According to Maisie, flights in the evening and later at night are typically cheaper than those early in the morning and afternoon.
Maisie also debunks the booking hack that clearing your cache and using incognito mode help get you a cheaper flight. She says there’s no evidence to support this and again, emphasises that airlines use complex algorithms to determine pricing “based on sales and wider market conditions” not individual browsing history or cookies.
Maisie debunks a slew of other commonly shared booking tips that many cost-savvy travellers have taken to heart. These certified myths include purchasing accommodation or flights during advertised sales to save money, booking far in advance, and sticking exclusively to ‘budget’ airlines.
According to the expert, travel operators inflate prices prior to ‘sales’ to exaggerate price drops and ‘budget’ airlines often have hidden fees for seat selection and additional luggage that are included by many major airlines.
She explains that the best way to get a deal is to avoid hard rules and try to be as flexible as possible. “Many travellers rely on outdated tips that are mostly urban myths and don’t add any real money-saving value.”
She continues: “It all comes down to flexibility, especially for those who are looking to secure the best last-minute deals.”