2 days ago
Reason why summer flights are skyrocketing and how to prevent it, according to expert
Many travellers are noting the surge in flight costs, luckily these tricks can help keep costs down, allowing for more budget to be spent in the sunshine.
If you have spent the past week fantasising about Aperol spritzes on the Amalfi Coast or stretching out on the beach in the Maldives, you've likely come across a cruel reality. The more you check flight prices, the higher they seem to go.
By the time you search for the third time, it feels as if the airline' s clocked your interest and thought, 'we've got them'. Luckily, with the right booking tricks, you can still dodge the summer surge and save your budget for the fun stuff, like that extra round of cocktails.
Andrea Platania, travel expert at Transfeero, says your first move is to slip into stealth mode. 'Using incognito or private browsing stops airlines and booking platforms from tracking your search history and adjusting fares,' he explains.
'In Chrome, it's the three dots in the top right and 'New Incognito Window'. Safari has 'New Private Window' under the File menu, and Firefox gives you the option through its menu button. It only takes seconds, but it can save you hundreds.'
Platania also insists on clearing your cookies, noting: 'Cookies store your browsing behaviour, and travel sites can use that data to increase prices if they think you're keen. Wipe them and you reset the game.'
He suggests teaming this with price alerts on sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner or Hopper, explaining: 'When fares dip, you'll be the first to know and that's often the moment to book before they shoot up again.'
Summer booking hacks most travellers miss
Flexibility is your secret weapon, says Platania. Prices are often lower mid-week, and if you can stomach a 5am departure or a late-night landing, the savings can be substantial.
Platania explained: 'If you're booking for August, avoid Sunday returns, it's one of the priciest travel days. Try Tuesday or Wednesday instead, even if it means an extra day off work.'
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He also recommends checking nearby airports. A short train ride to a different hub could save you a small fortune, sometimes even after adding rail fare.
And beware of those 'light' fares that seem like a bargain but punish you later with baggage fees. 'That £50 ticket can easily jump to £150 when you add a carry-on,' Platania warns.
For last-minute escapes, there's the VPN tactic, by changing your virtual location to a country where flights are typically sold cheaper. Results vary, so it's worth experimenting. It doesn't always work, but when it does the savings can be surprisingly good.
Many airlines release new fare batches on Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday mornings. Checking then can sometimes catch lower prices before others snap them up.
Mistakes that cost you money
The biggest blunder? Repeatedly searching for the same route over several days on the same device. 'It signals urgency, and the algorithms will exploit that,' Platania says.
Another common pitfall is booking close to weekends or bank holidays, when prices are often at their peak. And beware of waiting until payday as airlines know this is when many people book, so fares can rise sharply.
Then there's the infamous 'only two seats left at this price' warning. 'Sometimes it's genuine, but other times it's marketing psychology at its finest,' says Platania. 'Don't panic-book unless you've checked the same flight on a second device or different booking site.'
