Bangkok--7 Feb--GraylingThailand
17 weeks ahead is the best time for Thai travellers to book flights and average prices
Comprehensive data analysis by leading global travel search site,Skyscanner, has revealed when to book flights and average fares, in order to help travellers to save money on their travel in 2014.
Skyscanner’s analysis revealed that the cheapest flight tickets from Thailand are typically available 17 weeks in advance of travel, however three years of booking data also shows that price patterns can vary by type of airline and between short and long haul travel and is very much destination dependent.
“Timing is everything and the early booker often gets the lowest flight prices,” said Grace Pobpabha Areerat, Thailand Market Manager, Skyscanner.
“So with Songkran and May holidays two and four-months away, Thai vacationers should book their holiday flights right now. By doing so, travellers will have more discount opportunities and a bigger range of destinations and hotels to choose from.”
Flights to ever popular China and Japan were at their cheapest 17 and 25 weeks respectively prior to departure. Closer to home, the best prices for Singapore can be found 15 weeks in advance, and 19 weeks ahead for Hong Kong – the two destinations also provide the biggest potential savings of 32 and 36 percent respectively. And Thais seeking to travel a bit further to Australia are recommended to book 17 weeks ahead.
However Ms Areerat advises caution when booking close to departure:
“Although we found that for many destinations the best prices are available three or four weeks prior to departure, it is also important to note that prices can really increase at the last minute, especially on budget airlines.
“Travellers need to understand that they are taking a gamble if they wait until closer to departure before booking and may find that they have missed the best flight prices. Our analysis suggests that the best way to find a flight at the best price is to plan ahead and do your research.”
Best time to book for top-5 most popular destinations for Thai travellers
Thailand’s leading destinations Average savings compared to average flight prices Best time to book
(weeks before departure)
China 25% 17 weeks
Japan 19% 25 weeks
Singapore 32% 15 weeks
Hong Kong 36% 19 weeks
Australia 23% 17 weeks
In terms of most expensive and cheapest months for Thais to travel, the Skyscanner data revealed April to be the priciest when many Thais travel home or abroad during Songkran. By comparison, May was the cheapest month to travel with flight prices down 9.8 percent from the average.
Some simple rules to bear in mind to get the best price:
1. Book smart: Avoiding peak season travel and flying at less popular hours of the day, can really help to lower costs.
2. Be flexible: Costs to different destinations can vary significantly depending on the airlines operating that route and the Thai airports offering these flights. If you are planning your next trip but are open to destinations, running a search to ‘everywhere’ can help find the countries that offer the best value flights at any time.
3. Compare and contrast: Using a travel comparison site like Skyscanner allows you to compare the widest range of airlines and online travel agents, so you’ll be able to see where you can get the best deal.
4. Track pricesSkyscanner’s analysis has found that keeping an eye on the flight prices a few months in advance of travel, is the best way to find a good value flight. Using a flight tracker price alert service, either by email or via the app can help monitor when prices drop on a chosen route.
MsAreeratconcluded,“There is no golden rule or set date when all flights are at their cheapest. However our hope is that by sharing our knowledge and providing customers with the tools to do their own research, they feel confident in making an informed decision when it comes to booking flights”.
More detailed information as well as the latest costs to leading destinations can be found on our websitehttp://www.skyscanner.co.th/bttb/best-time-to-book-th/ or tweet #besttimetobook to request a copy.
Skyscanner offers price alerts on all routes to enable flights to be monitored by email. The Skyscanner appoffers widgets for Android, Live Tiles for Windows Phone and “watch” functionality for iOS, all of which allow customers to track the latest price changes on a chosen route.