It’s never too late to book a last-minute escape during the upcoming February half-term, even more so as an expert has revealed the exact time to secure the best deal – and it’s this week
A travel expert has revealed the exact time to book your February half-term escape(Image: Getty Images/Stock Image)
The February half-term is just around the corner, with mere weeks until schools across the country have the first break since Christmas. Ahead of the week off, many families will be looking to book an escape to catch some winter sun, and an expert has revealed it’s not too late to book, as one upcoming date will offer the best savings.
When it comes to booking a getaway, whether that’s a last-minute escape or planned in advance, many of us search for the most affordable flights available, and if any package holidays are on offer. A vast number of airlines and travel booking sites offer excellent deals, helping us save even more cash without sacrificing a holiday.
Yet another efficient way to save money is by booking a getaway on a specific date.
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Ahead of the half-term, from February 16 to 20, travel booking expert Chris Bradshaw at AttractionTickets.com has revealed the exact date and time to book a last-minute holiday that will maximise savings. The expert predicted that Sunday, 8 February, at around 6am will be the best day to book.
Chris Bradshaw, director and travel bookings expert at AttractionTickets.com, explained: “It’s a common misconception that earlier always equals cheaper. In reality, airlines continuously adjust fares based on demand, and savvy travellers can benefit from those fluctuations, even just one or two weeks ahead. There’s still time to save on last-minute half-term travel if you know when to book.
“Our analysis of historical pricing patterns, alongside industry travel reports, shows that Sunday is likely to be the most cost-effective day of the week to book. Airlines typically release discounted fares and adjust inventory over the weekend, and booking on a Sunday has been known to save travellers up to 23% versus Fridays.”
He continued: “Industry data also suggests that booking flights within a window of 8 to 23 days before departure can offer some of the most competitive prices for international travel, especially when it comes to places like Florida, so this timeline is essential to consider.
“Alongside this, we see a consistent trend that early morning is likely to be the best time for snagging low fares. Flights booked around 6:00 a.m. (your local time) tend to be more affordable, as it’s often when airlines drop fresh fares before the day’s search traffic spikes.
“Taking all these factors into consideration, Sunday, 8 February, falls perfectly in alignment, making this the optimal date to give you the best chance of securing those last-minute affordable family holiday bookings ahead of this half-term.”
The expert’s tips for booking a last-minute escape during the February half-term:
Best day to book: Sunday, 8 February
Best time to book: Around 6:00 am (local time)
Avoid: Booking on Fridays, when prices typically spike due to business travel and higher demand
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