A travel enthusiast and On the Beach worker shared the cheapest time to book flights and hotels
Holidaymakers could save money using the travel enthusiast’s tip (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
People hoping to get the best deal on their summer holiday might need to set an early alarm. A travel influencer claims he knows the ‘cheapest time’ for booking flights and hotels – and it’s bad news if you like to sleep in.
The tip was shared on social media by Rob Brooks, a travel enthusiast and influencer with the travel company On The Beach. He is well-known online for providing budget-friendly travel advice, hotel reviews, and holiday tips, which has helped him amass a significant following on social media, especially on TikTok where he goes by the username @Robonthebeach.
In a recent video, Rob shared ‘three bad holiday booking habits that could be costing you £100s’ and explained how the timing of your holiday booking can affect the price. Introducing the three tips, Rob said: “I look through holiday bookings every single day, and I see these mistakes all the time.”
For his first point, Rob suggested that people shouldn’t book their holidays in the morning unless they get up early. “Your first bad booking habit is booking holidays in the morning,” he claimed.
“We see so many people book holidays between 7am and 10am in the morning. Often, that’s people booking just before work, on the commute, or even at the desk with their first coffee. And I get it, it feels like you’re being really productive and taking off something big right at the beginning of the day.
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“But not many people know it’s actually one of the most expensive windows to book, because you’ve got loads of people searching at the same time. Everyone’s had the same idea, which means demand spikes, flight prices spike too, and then package prices follow.”
Rob continued: “The best times to book are statistically in the evening, between 8pm and 10pm. And actually the very cheapest time to book is first thing in the morning, between 4am and 5am. But no one’s setting their alarm for that habit.”
Continuing his video, Rob shared two more mistakes that he said holidaymakers should be wary of. In his second tip, he suggested people shouldn’t wait when they find the right deal for them.
“Don’t forget, when you find a really good deal, it’s very likely that someone else has found the same deal too. So waiting doesn’t protect you; it usually just means that the best price then disappears. So I would say this: when you find a holiday that you think is a really good price and you’ve checked it against other people, don’t wait, just get it booked,” he advised.
Finally, the travel influencer warned people against being ‘super rigid’ with their holiday dates. Rob pointed out that switching your holiday from seven days to six days, for example, could make a big difference to the price.
One airline has launched an incredible family deal that will see children aged up to 11 fly free to a European hotspot this summer. Make sure you don’t miss out on the offer
Samantha Bartlett Assistant Editor, Social News
12:02, 16 Feb 2026
Enjoy a family holiday for less with one travel deal (stock image)(Image: J_art via Getty Images)
Plenty of us are daydreaming about a family summer holiday after the miserable conditions we’ve been battling lately, and if you’re itching to whisk the kids off for a European coastal adventure, you’ll want to listen up as one airline has launched an absolutely brilliant offer on flights.
Aegean Airlines is currently running a superb travel promotion for families, allowing youngsters to jet off to a European destination without paying a penny. The news was shared on Instagram by baby travel guru Diana, who posts under the handle @babylifewithdiana. She shared a reel with her 79,800 followers, showcasing clips from a gloriously sunny family holiday.
Text across the screen read: “Every parent needs to know this!
Expanding on this in the caption, she wrote: “Forget everything what you’re doing! Aegean Airlines has launched an amazing offer for families.
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“Kids will travel free to Greece this summer.”
However, there are a few strings attached if you’re hoping to snap up this bargain.
Bookings need to be made by February 19th, 2026 and you’ll need to jet off between March 1st, 2026, and November 30th, 2026.
The offer is valid for youngsters up to 11-years-old.
Through this promotion, children and babies fly at no cost, whilst other family members bag up to 30% off their tickets.
The Aegean Airlines offer is valid across all direct and connecting flights to and from any international or Greek destination. The announcement sparked excitement amongst users, racking up more than 3,000 likes.
One person enthused: “What a deal,” whilst another added: “On our bucket list.”
Which Greek destination works best for families with kids?
Greece makes for a brilliant family getaway suitable for youngsters of every age – offering gorgeous beaches, safe bathing spots, engaging pursuits, cultural experiences, and delicious food all wrapped up in glorious sunshine. Here are some top picks for a family-friendly Greek escape:.
Crete
Greece’s biggest island boasting golden sandy shores and tranquil shallow waters ideal for youngsters.
Plenty of family-oriented activities: boat excursions, water parks, gentle walks, and historic attractions like Knossos.
Accommodation and hotels frequently feature kids’ clubs, splash pools, and family suites.
Perfect if you’re after diversity and an extended break with abundant exploration opportunities.
Corfu
Renowned for gentle, secure beaches with shallow waters, Corfu is perfect for tiny tots.
Family highlights include Aqualand Waterpark offering slides suitable for all age groups.
Picturesque towns, seafood tavernas, and convenient transport links make getting about straightforward.
Ideal for families seeking both seaside entertainment and cultural landmarks.
Rhodes
Blends medieval settlements and kid-friendly beaches like Faliraki with ample room for play.
Pursuits in Rhodes include wildlife farm visits, aquariums, and straightforward day-trips across the island.
Excellent if your children enjoy combining history with coastal adventures.
Naxos Long sandy beaches with shallow water near towns like Naxos Town (very walkable).
Less crowded than some islands but still plenty of tavernas and activities.
Perfect for a relaxed holiday, especially with younger children.
Zante
Beautiful sandy shores in places like Tsilivi and Alykanas with shallow water.
Chance to see loggerhead sea turtles in the National Marine Park – exciting for kids.
BBC Morning Live viewers said instead of £700 they will get £420 payout – and be ‘bombarded with calls and texts’
Finance expert Iona Bain told BBC Morning Live viewers using a claims company was just throwing money away(Image: BBC)
A BBC expert has given a warning to anyone who bought a car between 6th April 2007 and 1st November 2024. Finance expert Iona Bain told BBC Morning Live viewers that they face losing out by £280 on average if they make the wrong decision.
Ms Bain told hosts Helen Skelton and Rav Wilding that the car finance compensation scheme final details will be released in March – but people could miss out by appointing a claims company.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is hoping to compensate motorists who were unfairly sold a car loan between 2007 and 2024 because they were not properly informed about the commission paid to brokers, including car dealers.
Under the current proposals, about 14 million car finance deals could be eligible for compensation, with people estimated to get an average of £700 per agreement.
Ms Bain said: “So, if you took out car finance with a vehicle that was bought between 6th April 2007 and 1st November 2024, and if the car finance deal you got was Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), then you could be eligible for a share of this compensation bill, which is £8 billion.
“Essentially, we’re talking about the commission that was paid behind the scenes by car finance lenders to brokers whenever they sold one of these deals. Customers weren’t always aware of the level and scale of this commission, and that meant, in many cases, customers ended up with car finance deals that were more expensive and less competitive than they should have been.
“And that’s certainly what the Supreme Court ultimately ruled, and it decided that compensation was due to all those customers that were potentially in that situation. So look, it’s taken a while to get to this point, but now the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)—which is Britain’s regulator in this area—it’s said it’s going to be publishing the system for how people can apply for compensation in the next month or so.”
She said that the system being created will be straightforward and most importantly free to use. She said: “You can make a claim yourself; you don’t have to rely on a third party like a claims company. It should be completely straightforward for you to do yourself.”
She warned about claims management companies bombarding people – and explained they are making unfair claims and then will take large fees. She said: “If you see these adverts online, they are very enticing. They make claims like, “We’ll handle your claim for you,” “No win, no fee,” or “You could get thousands. But this is the reality: if you use one of these claims companies—whilst it’s perfectly legal to do so—they can take 20% to 40% of your compensation.”
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Someone getting a payout of £700 would end up paying £280 to the company. Ms Bain added: “It is a lot. It means you won’t keep all the money that you’re ultimately owed. The fees can be buried in the small print, and you may not be aware of them until you’ve signed on the dotted line.
“So, one example is: let’s say you’ve signed up for a claims company, but then you change your mind—and that’s your right to do so. Some of these claims companies are charging termination fees for the work that’s been done, and those termination fees can be spurious and disproportionate for the work that’s actually been done.”
She said one prominent advert claimed the average car finance compensation that’s being paid out is going to be over £1,800. Ms Bain added: “I’m just going to say it: that’s not true. It’s not true, and the reason for that is that the FCA has not confirmed what compensation people are going to be getting. So, it has said that the average amount that will be paid out will be £700. Some people will get more, some people will get less, but it’s impossible to say at this stage what individuals will be getting until we know more about that FCA process.
“And also, I’m hearing these reports of people seeing these adverts, then giving their contact details to these claims companies, and then being bombarded by texts and calls trying to persuade them to sign up. I personally think that’s unacceptable.”
Other things to watch out for are:
Upfront fees
Unexplained charges
A company promising guaranteed payouts or huge sums of money.
Ms Bain explained: “These are all big red flags. Just a reminder: you don’t need to use one of these companies. You can do this yourself and you get to keep all the compensation.”
It turns out timing does matter, with a TikTok travel expert revealing that even a few minutes can make the difference between overpaying and bagging a bargain.
Booking your next holiday? Make sure it’s at this exact time to guarantee some savings(Image: Getty Images)
Ever wondered when the best time of day is to book a holiday? A TikTok travel expert has the answer — and his viral video is doing the rounds online.
Rob, known as @robonthebeach online, has built a reputation for clever holiday hacks that save travellers money, but on of his more recent tips is truly ground-breaking. In a clip posted last month, he revealed the best and worst times to book, and the results might just surprise you.
In the video, Rob — who says he “works in travel and looks through holiday data every single day” — explains that timing isn’t just important by the day or week, but down to the hour and even the minute. This is a big win for the night owls!
“According to the data, the most expensive time to book a holiday is between 9 and 10am in the morning,” he said. That’s the dreaded office-hour scroll, and it could be costing travellers dearly.
Rob claims bookings made in that hour were around 30% more expensive than those made at the cheapest time of day. His advice? “No more booking holidays as soon as you get to the office.”
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The cheapest time, however, comes much much earlier: “[It’s] early morning, like really early morning, between 4 and 5 am”. He explains how airline pricing systems effectively reset overnight as demand from the previous day drops off, pushing prices closer to their base level before creeping back up as searches increase throughout the day.
And for those searching for the ultimate saving, Rob revealed the exact time where prices are at their lowest: “The single cheapest minute to book a holiday is 2.48am,” he noted. Booking at that precise moment was, on average, 60% cheaper, though he stressed this won’t magically slash the price of each and every trip.
If you’d rather not set a 4am alarm, Rob points out there are other cheaper times, including late evening between 8pm and 10pm, which is still noticeably cheaper than the morning rush.
The video sparked a wave of reactions online, with one user confirming: “On those insomnia nights, can confirm the early hours are cheap,” while a second joked: “Now everyone is going to book at this time and it won’t be cheap anymore.”
Others offered additional tips, including: “Remember to clear your cache,” as another summed it up with “cheap as chips, fair play”.
Brits are certainly keen holiday bookers. Research from YouGov shows that around 35% of UK travellers book their holidays one to three months in advance, while a further 23% book four to six months ahead.
While data from IPA suggests the average UK adult books a holiday roughly 17 weeks before travelling, with online bookings now dominating. ABTA claims that around 78% of adults take at least one holiday each year.
In November 2025, Ryanair also made a major change to its ticketing system by discontinuing the use of physical tickets
Ryanair passengers should check in before heading to the airport (stock image)(Image: rparys via Getty Images)
It’s no secret that Ryanair is among the UK’s most popular airlines. Between 2024 and 2025, it celebrated reaching 200 million passengers, a first for any European airline in a one-year period.
Yet future passengers should know that a single oversight could incur a hefty charge. Dealing with this at the airport generally costs £55 in the UK, £30 (€30) for departures from Spain, and even £40 (€40) for departures from Austria. The fee is charged per passenger, per ‘sector’, which includes connections.
You may be surprised to learn that the mistake is simply forgetting or choosing not to check in with Ryanair before arriving at the airport. Customers are urged to check in for flights ahead of their journeys and use a Digital Boarding Pass (DBP).
Official online advice from Ryanair explains: “All Ryanair passengers will still receive email reminders to check-in online 48 and 24hrs predeparture. If any passenger arrives at airport but hasn’t checked in online (having ignored these reminders), they will still be required to pay the airport check-in fee.”
In November 2025, Ryanair made a major change to its ticketing system by discontinuing the use of physical tickets at most airports and instead operating as ‘100%’ DBPs. This scheme, originally planned for May 2025, aims to lower costs, save approximately 300 tonnes of paper annually, and enable travellers to receive direct flight updates.
To get one, travellers should check in online via the website or the Ryanair App, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. After check-in, a DBP will automatically show up in the Ryanair App. This should be presented at airport security and the boarding gate before flights.
Overall, the budget airline insists that this method is ‘quicker, easier’ and results in ‘less stress’ compared to using paper tickets. Plus, travellers should still be able to board the flight even if their phones are lost or run out of battery.
This is primarily because personnel will have each traveller’s ‘sequence number’ at the departure gate. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary explained on The Independent’s daily travel podcast last year: “The big concern that people have is: ‘What happens if I lose my battery or what if I lose my phone?’
“…If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you got to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge.”
Advice on Ryanair’s website mirrors this, adding: “If you have already checked in online and you lose your smartphone or tablet (or it dies), your details are already on our system and you will be assisted at the gate.”
Despite this, it’s important to note that Ryanair isn’t the only airline to issue check-in fees at airports. Wizz Air similarly charges between €40 and €50 for airport check-ins, which also apply per flight, per passenger.
Visit Ryanair.com or access the Ryanair app on your device.
Log in to your existing account or create a new one if needed.
Click on the ‘Check-in’ option.
Follow the on-screen instructions and enter the required details from your travel documents.
Once check-in is complete, either print out your boarding pass or save it to your mobile device for easy access.
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Renae Wąsik was fed up with the UK’s grey skies and spiralling cost of living
10:26, 04 Feb 2026Updated 10:29, 04 Feb 2026
Renae Wąsik with Pawel and Rocca(Image: renaesmithmc/Cover Images)
When the sodden winters, soaring costs and relentless gloom of British existence finally overwhelmed her, Renae Wąsik realised she’d reached breaking point. “I felt like I was going crazy,” reveals the 43-year-old PR executive.
“Grey skies make me feel sad, bleak and trapped. I didn’t want my baby growing up in that.”
Therefore, in November 2025, Renae and her partner Pawel decided jointly to abandon their existence in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, relocating with their two-year-old daughter, Rocca, to an obscure village unknown to most Britons: Vasiliki, situated on the Greek island of Lefkada, nestled between Corfu and Kefalonia. Within months, she claims the transformation has been revolutionary.
“In the UK, we were paying close to £3,000 a month just to live, that covered rent, council tax and utilities, for a suburban home with a tiny garden,” she explains. “It was wet, miserable and exhausting. Now we’re renting an off-season Airbnb for €800 (£690) a month, I can walk to the sea, and I wake up feeling free.”
Renae, who established The Atticism PR and Brand Development, has cultivated a thriving career spanning more than 20 years and frequently documents her fresh lifestyle on TikTok, where her content has accumulated more than half a million likes, though not everyone has celebrated her relocation. Whilst certain followers fantasise about emulating her journey, others have branded her ‘privileged’, ‘out of touch’, or even accused her of ‘stealing housing from locals’.
Renae refuses to accept such criticism. “People say it’s ‘not that easy’ to live and work overseas, and they’re right,” she explains.
“It’s not easy. But it’s also not impossible. If it’s truly your goal, you’ll work for it. Nothing falls in your lap.”
She also rejects the notion that she’s taking more than she contributes. “We’ve been really conscious about contributing,” she insists.
“I work in PR and I help get the island press exposure for free. Pawel is a painter and decorator and has been helping locals who are desperate for skilled labour. We’re living in an off-season Airbnb that sits empty all winter, and when we build our house, we’ll hire local trades. This isn’t a ‘take, take, take’ situation.”
The emotional transformation, she reveals, was instantaneous. “The moment we arrived, my husband and I looked at each other and said, ‘Oh my God, we escaped’,” she recalled.
“The UK feels like a rat wheel. You work to live, and by the weekend you’re so exhausted you just want to order Deliveroo, which is so expensive you have to work even more. Here, the pressure just lifted.”
She portrays Britain as suffocating. “The sky feels low. Everything feels heavy. Here, I see the sea and sky every single day. There’s space. I feel calm. I can breathe again,” she adds.
Renae is keen to emphasise that Greek island living isn’t some picture-perfect postcard fantasy. “If you’ve done Santorini or Mykonos and think that’s real life, you’re in for a shock,” she warns.
“It rains, a lot. There’s no food convenience. I’ve lost three kilos because I can’t just snack whenever I want. Sometimes I honestly can’t look at another courgette.”
But she shrugs. “I sacrifice convenience for peace.”
One surprising element that also swayed her choice to quit Britain was a series of utterly exasperating encounters with the NHS, which eventually drove her to pursue treatment overseas. “I’ve had some useless experiences,” she says bluntly.
“I was once told I might have breast cancer and then had to wait six weeks for a scan. Later, they said one of my breast implants had capsulated and they’d remove just one.”
When she requested both to be taken out, even offering to pay, she was turned down. “They said they’d take one out, sew me up, and I’d have to sort the other privately later,” she says. “It was insane.”
Instead, she travelled to Turkey, where a consultant found both implants were faulty. “I was lucky I went,” she says.
“The NHS has potential, but the system is chaotic. I’ve had blood tests lost, appointments messed up, they even accidentally deleted my daughter from the surgery system while she had a 40-degree fever and refused to see us. It’s just been a mess.”
For Rocca, the relocation has been life-changing. “The outdoors!” Renae beams.
“Sunshine, even in December. She’s not stuck inside watching TV, she’s climbing rocks, playing with water, exploring. And she’s seen here.”
In Greece, she explains, youngsters are genuinely welcomed. “In restaurants, staff greet her, make a fuss, talk to her. It took months for her to get used to it. In the UK, she was mostly ignored.”
Their routine now moves at a completely different rhythm. “We wake up without alarms. Coffee in bed. We work until lunchtime while Rocca plays outside painting or in her sandpit,” she explains.
“Lunch is simple, most days are spinach pies or salad. Then we explore: beaches, neighbouring towns, counting cats.”
The evenings are leisurely and sociable. “We cook early, eat around 5pm, maybe take a walk or read. It’s relaxed and peaceful.”
And this isn’t just a short-term experiment. “Oh yes, this is forever,” Renae confirms.
“We’ve bought a 4,600-square-metre plot of land overlooking the sea for less than the price of a one-bedroom flat in Bedfordshire. We’ll build our home here.”
From late March onwards, the family will settle into a two-bedroom property for €500 (£430) monthly, within easy reach of ferries, beaches, a marina and freshly caught seafood, complete with a balcony laden with orange, lemon and mandarin trees.
“Our neighbour gives us all the olive oil we need, and we’ll help him with the harvest,” she beams. “Everyone helps everyone. It’s a real community.”
Renae continues to return to Britain for work commitments and visits with her two older daughters, aged 22 and 23, but the UK is no longer where she calls home. “I’ll always come back,” she says. “But this, this is where we’re building our life.”
And for those observing from a dreary British settee, questioning whether it’s achievable? “I’m not saying everyone should do it,” she says. “I’m saying I did, and I’m finally happy.”
Jasmine Harman, who has been presenting Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun since 2004, has shared a top tip for holidaymakers who are looking to save money on their next trip
Jasmine Harman(Image: Getty)
While it’s barely late January and summer appears distant, numerous Brits are seizing the chance to organise their getaways, as rates tend to be more affordable during this period.
With that in mind, travel guru and Channel 4‘s A Place in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman has revealed a savvy money-saving tip for holidaymakers to consider.
Chatting to The Sun’s TV Mag, the telly favourite disclosed that selecting a particular device for booking could massively enhance the bargains available.
She revealed: “The device you book flights on also has an effect on the prices you can get. If you’re using a laptop compared to a phone, you’ll get a different price.
“It’s so much easier to do it on your laptop, but you’ll get a better price on your phone! I think a lot of people will be impressed by the destination dupes too – where if you want one type of holiday but don’t have the budget, there are alternative places to try.”
Jasmine’s guidance might catch some off guard, however, last year, a Which? travel specialist also clarified why opting for the compact gadget in your pocket beats the larger one sat on your desk.
Speaking on Which?‘s official TikTok page, the expert said: “I would never book a hotel on a computer without checking the price on my mobile phone first.
“We slashed £270 off the price of an apartment in Amsterdam on Booking.com, and we saved almost £100 on a weekend in Florence with Expedia, just by booking a mobile exclusive.”
Additionally, the travel expert advised against booking flights through online travel agents without first comparing prices directly with the airline.
She stated: “Although online travel agents appear to be cheaper, they tend to whack up the prices of extras, such as bags and seats. If you need those, it might be cheaper just to go with the airline directly.”
However, whilst booking holidays via mobile phone might seem convenient, Which? has warned this approach could catch people out.
On Which?’s website, senior researcher and writer Trevor Baker cautioned: “However, beware when trying to book other kinds of travel by phone, such as flights and some cottage stays – as you could be hit with an unexpected fee of up to £50. It’s a charge that’s likely to particularly affect people who are less able to book online, such as blind or older travellers.
“If there is a fee for booking by phone, then always ask the call handler if that can be removed. In the case of a disabled person who’s not able to book online, we think removing the fee should be a legal obligation.”
Travel expert claims to have found the best time to book holidays in 2026 after analysing pricing data – and it could save you up to 60%
Booking at a specific time of day could make your holiday cheaper(Image: Oscar Wong via Getty Images)
Booking a getaway is thrilling, but when planning our escapes we’re always keen to ensure we’re securing the best deal possible. Nowadays, many holidaymakers turn to online platforms to arrange trips overseas instead of visiting traditional travel agents.
This has afforded travellers greater freedom to make reservations at any hour. Yet an expert has cautioned that prices for identical holidays can fluctuate depending on what time of day you book.
The amount you fork out for your break could hinge entirely on when you hit that booking button.
Travel guru Rob.onthebeach shares his insider tips on social media, and reckons he’s discovered the most economical time to reserve a holiday in 2026.
Based on Rob’s findings, the most costly period to book a holiday falls between 9am and 10am. He elaborated: “Booking in those hours came in 30% more expensive than the cheapest hour of the day”.
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Disclosing the most budget-friendly slot, Rob revealed it’s actually in the early hours. The window between 4am and 5am emerged as the optimal time to bag a bargain.
Rob explained: “Overnight, airline pricing systems basically reset. The interest and the demand from the day before all drops off, prices return closer to their base level, then as the day goes on more searches, more clicks, more people just having a look, and prices start to creep back up again.”
The expert conceded that most of us wouldn’t fancy setting our alarms for 4am just to secure a getaway, so he also identified the optimal booking window during reasonable hours.
He discovered that late evening – roughly between 8pm and 10pm – proves “noticeably” more economical than the morning price surge.
Yet if you’re truly after a steal, Rob pinpointed the precise moment that delivered the lowest costs. Rob disclosed: “The cheapest, single minute to book a holiday is 2:48am.
“Booking at that exact moment came out 60% cheaper.”
Despite his research, Rob cautioned that reserving at 2:48am won’t render every single holiday “automatically 60% cheaper”.
He continued: “But the pattern is really clear, if you really want to save money on your holiday, the early hours beat the office hours every time.”
Many money saving travel hacks are trotted out year after year, but do they really save money? Travel specialists have weighed in on some of the most common tips that are often repeated
Not all ‘money saving hacks’ are worth your time(Image: Getty Images)
January and February are peak times for booking holidays, and at this time of year you’ll often see lists of travel tips that claim you can save money by following certain ‘hacks’.
But do they really work? The travel insurance team at Tiger.co.uk has shed light on five travel hacks that are shared pretty much every year, but may end up being a waste of your time. Luckily, the team has also revealed some practical tips to save money that can actually help holidaymakers slash their travel costs.
1. Using incognito mode when booking
Some money saving sites will tell you to use incognito mode when you make a booking, claiming this can lead to cheaper fares. This is based on the assumption that if you make repeated searches, the airline or travel provider will take your history into account and raise the fares.
However, Tiger explained that flight pricing algorithms are much more sophisticated than that, and while fare prices do change over time, this is based on demand, availability, and pricing, rather than what’s in your search history. An article in Quartz backs up this theory, citing studies that have shown there’s very little effect on the overall cost.
Many airlines offer different fare classes even within economy, and once one type of fare sells out, it’ll automatically move to the next, higher-priced one. This is more likely to explain why a fare has jumped up in price the second time you search.
2. Booking flights during the night
In the early days of internet travel booking, airlines used to update their fares manually overnight. Savvy travellers could set an alarm for first thing in the morning to save money on their flights.
Nowadays, airline websites are much more sophisticated and update prices 24/7, meaning its unlikely to make a difference whether you book during the day or night. However, this outdated travel hack still gets repeated now and again.
3. Booking last-minute gets you the best deals
Travelling at the last minute used to be a great way to bag bargain holidays. If you’re not fussy about your destination and flexible on dates, there are still cheap package holidays to be found, though they seem to be getting harder to find.
However, Tiger says that if you’re looking for cheap flights, planning ahead is a better option. Fares often increase as the departure date approaches and seats become scarcer. Try using Skyscanner or a similar flight comparison site with a price tracker to alert you when fares to your destination drop.
4. Only looking at budget airlines
Budget airlines often appear the cheapest because they offer impressive headline fares, but once priced up, a budget carrier might not be the best option for saving cash.
Once you’ve added the basics, such as baggage and paid to select your seat, you may find the cost is comparable to standard airlines where these extras are included. Always look at the total cost for a true comparison.
5. Always book a return
In the past, travellers were always advised to book return tickets as it worked out cheaper. But nowadays, with flight comparison tools available, it’s easier than ever to compare return fares on the same airline versus buying two singles with different carriers. Mixing and matching could save you money and often makes it more convenient to book a flight time that suits you.
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