Cheap Flights
I think there is an art to getting a cheap flight. There are numerous factors that airlines use to dictate the prices of their flights, but over the years, my guesswork is getting better. Here are some hints and tips of what to look out for.
Firstly. Class Codes. Most people think there are between 2 and 4 classes of service on any transoceanic flight. First, Business, Economy Plus, Economy, when actually there are many more than that. You might think that you’ve got a bargain, but if it isn’t in the lowest available class, then you might not have. The best thing to do, is research, research, and research. Start planning MONTHS in advance, and you can see prices fluctuate on a daily/weekly basis.
Example. I started looking towards the end of October 2010 for my flights to NYC for March of 2011. I took my time, searching when I had a few seconds spare. It doesn’t take much to do, it’s just understanding the results that are given. I’ve booked Delta many times, and understand their fare classes, and that is key to understanding if the price you see is a good one. Most US based airlines have their own class codes, so what I’m about to tell you really only applies to Delta, different airlines use different codes.
The one code for Economy that every airline uses is Y. However, no single tourist on the flight to NYC will have paid a Y class fare, as a fully refundable Y class ticket, always costs more than a no refund Business class ticket.
So, what class codes should you be on the look out for. For Delta, you want to look out for L, U and T Class codes (maybe E, but I’ve not seen this new E class on a TATL flight yet). T is the key to getting your miles, but also paying less than most other people. Sometimes there is only 1 ticket available at a T fare, so if you’re flying as a couple, it may be worth checking the price for 2 tickets, and if you see only L and U fares (or worse K fares), then search for a single ticket. You choose your seats on delta.com as you’re booking, so you have a very high chance of sitting together. This means that if there is only 1 T class fare, you still buy it, thus saving money.
When do the T class fares appear. Well, back on October ’10, there were none, then suddenly one dreary day in December, they appeared. 1 ticket at a time. The price stuck the same at £345, and I booked within the first couple of days of the fare being there. It is always useful to look at fare rules, you see the date when the fare needs to be booked by. It gives you some indication when the cheap fare will be on sale for. Normally it’s a week or two, but if it’s a T class both ways, I really doubt it’ll get cheaper.
With American Airlines, Their low class fares are Q and O. They are both the 12th tier fares (Y being 1st), then you have N and S being 11th and 10th tiers respectively.
So, what else do you need to take into account when you’re wanting that uber cheap fare to NYC. Dates. 100% must include 1 Saturday Night. The reason this rule is in place, is that business travellers, don’t want to stay Saturdays, as they want to be home with their families, but families should be able to include a Saturday. We all have a restricted amount of holiday allowance, so being clever with when you fly back is the trick to make it work. For a 1 week break in Europe, you’d take a M-F off, and you have 9 days off from work. Well, that’s OK, but sometimes the flights are actually more expensive if you purposely fly on a Saturday, and flying midweek is the best. I normally fly Thursday – Thursday. It’s annoying that I need to take 7 days off work to get 11 days off in total, but it works for me, as I potentially get a better price on the flight.
So, the final thing, especially if you’re not fussed about when you’re wanting to travel, is the time of year. Jan (after the 10th ish), through to the middle of March is the cheapest time to travel, mainly because the weather isn’t that co-operative, but I find you can still bag a bargain (not as good as it used to be, but last year under £350 from Manchester). September is more expensive, but just about on the mark for a summer break, with flights around the £450 point for 2011, (flights in 2010 were £425 from Heathrow, as prices from MAN were just stupid. Airlines have learned this year I think!)
So, research, check out the fare classes that you’re getting offered the fares in, and if you see the right classes, then that is the right time to book. It’s amazing what a single letter can mean.
