Latest news with #airfare
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Find and Book the Cheapest Summer Flights With Google Flights Data
Google Flights has the data on the best time to book your flight without breaking the a vacation is stressful and it can get pricey fast, especially if you're traveling during high-traffic seasons like the summertime. The good news is our CNET experts have compiled and explored a ton of travel tips on how to find affordable flights and properly prepare like a travel pro. This exploration includes reviewing key Google Flights data to help you make smarter decisions when reviewing airfare. Google Flights has released a robust travel report after aggregating four years of airfare data and trends to provide US travelers with an overarching guide on finding the cheapest flights and the best times to book them. I have reviewed this report thoroughly and highlighted the most important take-aways below to help you find a flight in your budget and let you relax while traveling instead of stressing about money. For more key travel tips, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also review CNET's roundup of the best headphones for travel. How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 9:29 Loaded : 0.00% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 9:29 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro What days are the cheapest to fly? If you're planning to book a flight, you're likely trying to find the most budget-friendly option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available when flying on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest day, according to the historical flight data. Flying early- to midweek can save travelers 13% to 20% on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday the most expensive day to fly. Do layovers on flights save you money? It may come as no surprise that flights with layovers are cheaper than nonstop flights but you may not realize just how significant those savings can be. The Google Flight data shows that travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a layover instead of a nonstop flight. Which day of the week is the cheapest for booking flights? There are certainly cheaper days to fly, there aren't really cheaper days to book. "There's not much benefit to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week," according to the Google report. Google Flights does state that Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day of the week to book, according to the data, but Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday. Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance? To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it's better to book your travel far in advance, especially if you need to fly on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to decide whether it's better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations and dates of travel. For domestic flights, the prices are generally at their lowest between 21 and 52 days before your trip -- with 38 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average. For international flights, the prices are generally lowest between 50 and 101 days before your trip, but it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. According to Google, "Average prices don't meaningfully drop anytime before departure but they usually do start to rise within 50 days of the flight itself" for international travel from the US. Never miss out on the cheapest airfare again./Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET When is the best time to book a flight in every season? Here's what Google says about the best times to book holiday flights and vacation trips to certain popular destinations. Summer break: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 13 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day on average to book. Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available 26 to 59 days in advance, with 45 days out being the cheapest -- meaning it's best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October. Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights over the winter holidays are usually available 36 to 72 days in advance, with 58 days out being the cheapest. It's best to book Christmas or holiday travel in the latter half of October. Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 to 59 days in advance, with 44 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average. When is the best time to book a flight to Europe? International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper 50 or more days before departure, with 94 days out being the cheapest day to book on average. As with all international travel, it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean? International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the one exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. That's because flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days out being the cheapest. For more, check out CNET's picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
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3 days ago
- Business
Does Clearing Your Search History Actually Affect Flight Prices?
If you've ever searched for a flight, exited the tab to mull it over, and returned to find the fare mysteriously higher, you're not alone. You've also probably heard the advice: clear your cookies, switch browsers, and search in incognito mode. The idea that airlines or booking sites track your searches to hike prices remains one of the most persistent travel myths of the digital age. To find out whether there's any truth to this widely circulated belief, we asked travel experts to weigh in on what's fact, what's fiction, and what's really driving those seemingly ever-changing fares. Katy Nastro is a travel expert at Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), a flight price alert platform that helps travelers find the best flight deals. Sophia Lin is the director of product management for travel and local at Google Search. Jesse Neugarten is the founder of Dollar Flight Club, a subscription-based travel site dedicated to helping travelers snag discounted airfare. Despite what many travelers believe, there's no concrete evidence that airlines or booking sites raise prices based on how often you search for a route. Experts say the pricing shifts you see are more about market demand than digital surveillance. "There is a common misconception that repeated search behavior will lead to not just a different, but higher outcome," explains Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going. This is why people are often told to clear their cache or cookies or to use an incognito browser. However, that's more travel myth than truth—something that's stuck around thanks to anecdotal frustration and online hearsay. Per the pro, "There is no credible data source that suggests repeated searching is tracked and therefore manipulated to higher pricing." According to Sophia Lin, director of product management for travel and local at Google Search, "Ticket prices are constantly changing and being updated across different data providers, even from second to second. And every day, our systems are computing an enormous number of possible ticket combinations for trips around the world." Nastro offers a similar perspective, explaining that travelers are "seeing the market move in real time." And if anyone would know, it's Nastro and her team, who "run hundreds of searches a day, if not thousands by the end of the week, and have done so for years, and yet we still have not seen this mythic pattern some swear by." She continues: "Our founder, Scott Keyes, even went so far as duplicating a search 100 times in an hour to see if there would be any upward movement—and guess what, there was not!" Jesse Neugarten, founder of Dollar Flight Club, echoes these sentiments, telling Travel + Leisure , "While it's a widely held belief that flight prices go up the more you search for a route, there's no hard evidence that browsing history or repeated searches alone directly cause price increases." Instead, he explains that travelers are often observing a combination of natural price fluctuations and cached data, which can create the illusion of price changes, bringing us to our next point. While it might seem random, airfare pricing is anything but. Behind the scenes, airlines use dynamic algorithms that constantly recalculate fares based on shifting variables. According to Neugarten, flight prices are determined by complex, real-time algorithms that adjust based on factors like "seat inventory, booking trends, time to departure, competitor pricing, and external factors like weather or fuel costs." Additionally, explains Nastro, "When you see prices fluctuate in real time, you are seeing the airlines trying to adjust based on those factors." Additionally, she says, "They have fare buckets." Think of it like this: Airlines allocate a set number of seats to each bucket for a certain period, though those allocations can shift based on the factors mentioned earlier. Once fare bucket X sells out, a new, often higher-priced bucket takes its place. So when you notice sudden jumps or drops in airfare, you're likely seeing fare buckets updating in real time. To illustrate the scale of this complexity, Lin explains that there can be seemingly endless ticket combinations for trips between Los Angeles and London. This is especially true once you factor in variables like connecting flights and competing booking sites, so you could end up with just as many different fare prices. A person looking up flights on their phone. Margot Cavin/Travel + Leisure In summary, no. "There is no record of flight searches being improved by using incognito mode or clearing cookies," says Nastro. Both she and Neugarten tell T+L that the "benefit" is primarily psychological. Nastro likes to think of it like a lucky t-shirt on game day: Is it really the shirt that led to the win—or was it more likely a good night's sleep, solid training, and preparation? She encourages travelers to focus on tools like flight price alerts for the best chance to snag deals on airfare. Per Neugarten, "Searching in incognito mode or clearing cookies might prevent your browser from showing cached results, which can make it appear like prices have changed." However, he adds, "In most cases, the underlying pricing, especially when powered by predictive algorithms, isn't tied to your cookies. It's fluctuating due to real-time changes in inventory and demand." Lin reinforces this idea: "Incognito mode, browsing history, search history, or switching devices won't impact the prices we show on Google Flights." She adds, "Unfortunately for deal-seekers, it's not true."
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Solo flyers on US flights can pay much more than those traveling as a pair, report finds
Solo travelers have long faced higher prices when it comes to group tours and it seems that the so-called 'single supplement' is being applied to flights as well. Three of the biggest US airlines have been charging higher fares for solo flyers on some domestic routes, according to a recent investigation by consumer travel website Thrifty Traveler. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines are all currently charging what some are describing as 'a tax on single travelers' on certain routes, Thrifty Traveler's analysis found, with a fare doubling in at least one instance. Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, explained how he noticed a significant price difference while searching for a Delta Air Lines flight to New York for one passenger and then adding a second passenger and completing a new search. While the amount for a flyer traveling solo was $206, this decreased to $154 when two passengers were traveling together, Potter told CNN's Kaitlan Collins. 'That's not how airfare typically works,' he said. 'It's usually the reverse.' Potter said he noticed the same thing was happening on 'dozens' of different domestic routes on Delta, along with United Airlines and American Airlines, adding that the practice is 'not widespread.' When approached by CNN, Delta said that the fare structures were not new to Delta or the airline industry, but declined to provide an official comment. CNN has approached United Airlines and American Airlines for comment. Examples found by Thrifty Traveler included a one-way United Airlines flight from Chicago to Asheville, NC, listed as $223 for one passenger, which fell to $207 in total for two passengers, meaning that it was actually cheaper for two people to travel than a passenger going solo. Meanwhile, a one-way flight with American Airlines from Charlotte, NC to Fort Myers, FL in October was listed as $422 for one passenger traveling solo, but dropped to around $266 per person when two passengers were traveling together. The discrepancies were 'almost exclusively' found on one-way routes, according to Thrifty Traveler's investigation. 'It is not widespread,' Potter said, pointing out that he was unable to find any instances of this pricing structure on international flights. 'It's pretty hit or miss. But this is undeniable that it's happening.' While reports of the price discrepancies may come as a surprise to some passengers, Potter points out airlines have been 'writing this into their fare rules.' For example, Delta's fine print outlines 'accompaniment restrictions,' on some of its fares, stating that travelers 'must be accompanied on all sectors in same compartment by at least 1 adult.' Meanwhile, United Airlines advises that passengers 'must be accompanied on all sectors in same compartment by at least 1 adult 15 or older' for some of its fares. Brian Kelly, founder of ThePointsGuy, told Collins that the fare discrepancies seemed 'deceptive,' as not all passengers would be aware of the cost difference. 'I think the airlines need to be careful here, because if they continue prodding and poking consumers, you're just asking for government regulation,' he said. 'And often no one wins when that happens.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
The South shines among cheapest flights this summer. Atlanta among cheapest places to fly.
Looking for some cheap destinations for a summer getaway? Well, this report has just revealed the most affordable domestic and international flights this summer. Summer travel is offering significant savings this year, according to Kayak's annual Travel Check-In. The report revealed that average airfare prices are down 7%, with more than 100 destinations experiencing price drops. The report highlights the top five most affordable domestic flights this summer, all located in the South. Among these, Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida share the title of cheapest, with an average summer airfare of $262. Here are the rankings. No. 1 Atlanta, Georgia $262 No. 1 Tampa, Florida $262 No. 3 Raleigh, North Carolina $288 No. 4 Fort Myers, Florida $289 No. 5 Orlando, Florida $293 Toronto, Canada $331 Calgary, Canada $366 San Salvador, El Salvador $404 Mexico City, Mexico $413 Montreal, Canada $421 "For July 4th getaways, the cheapest move is flying out Tuesday, July 1, when average airfare hits $356," the report noted. "Whether you are chasing the best deals or the biggest celebrations, this is where you'll find the cheapest places to fly and the most popular destinations for the holiday." The No. 1 cheapest flight during this time is Atlanta, with the price at $229. For more information, visit Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@ This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Cheapest places to fly this summer
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
The genius flight hack UK travellers are using to slash hundreds off airfare costs
Choosing flights from your nearest airport may seem like the most convenient option when planning a trip - but it could be costing you more than you think. While proximity can save time, narrowing your airport options can lead to higher costs, limited flight options, and potential hassle along the way. However, a growing number of savvy Brits are slashing their airfare costs without relying on promo codes or last-minute deals - thanks to a genius flight hack. According to tour operator Ski Vertigo, holidaymakers are now saving up to £200 per return ticket simply by expanding their search and choosing alternative airports, both in the UK and at their destination. In many regions across Europe and beyond, multiple airports serve the same city. London, for instance, is home to six major passenger airports - each with its own pricing structures and airline partnerships - while Milan, Paris and New York also have multiple entry points. A flight from London Gatwick to Barcelona might cost £120, but the same route from Stansted or Luton could be as little as £68 on the same day. Travellers flying from Birmingham to Berlin, Manchester to Rome, or Edinburgh to Amsterdam have all reported substantial savings by considering alternative airports. Ski Vertigo says the trick is to expand the search radius by including all airports within 60 to 90 minutes of both your location and arrival destination. Flight comparison tools are making this even easier by offering a single-click option to search multiple airports in one go. For instance, someone looking to fly to Venice might check only Venice Marco Polo, but including Treviso, just 40 minutes away by shuttle, could unlock fares that are 30 per cent cheaper. A spokesperson for Ski Vertigo said: 'It's still the same holiday, same country, same city in most cases. But you could spend that leftover money on accommodation upgrades, excursions or a meal out instead.' The strategy works especially well for short city breaks, ski weekends, and peak holiday travel - times when airfare tends to spike. In some cases, families travelling during half-term and the school holidays have saved hundreds by using less obvious airport pairings. Travellers are also combining this method with flexible travel dates, finding that shifting their flight by 24 hours and choosing a different airport can lead to both better schedules and lower fares. The expert added: 'It's not about flying cheap - it's about flying smarter. No one wants to wake up at 4am for a connection, but if you can cut £150 off your trip just by landing 30 minutes further out, most people are willing to make that choice.' Meanwhile, a frequent flyer has revealed a travel hack that enables air passengers to easily share their flight details with family and friends. Posting on TikTok, @nicoletravelandlife said she wanted the little known trick to be shared with anyone 'who needs it'. The 20-second clip on the social media platform begins by showing the TikToker boarding a Ryanair flight, and putting her luggage into the overhead lockers. Before take off, and while the messenger connection on her iPhone is still connected to the internet, she reveals that she always taps in her flight number and sends it to those who might wish to track her flight while she's airborne - and after landing.
