Reporter Wang Lu
When we travel, we tend to prioritize air travel, after all, it is very time-saving and energy-saving, but sometimes people hesitate because the ticket is too expensive. So, is there any way to save money when booking a ticket?
Since his university days, Mr. Wang has traveled at least twice at home and abroad, and has been deeply involved in the field of "where to buy cheap air tickets" for many years. In this issue, let's listen to Mr. Wang share some tips for ordering air tickets for your reference.
Follow these platforms
Some platforms will launch some special air tickets from time to time, and "Fliggy Travel" is one of them. Mr. Wang said that the main reason why it is cheap is that it works with a number of suppliers and is able to offer a variety of prices and discounts. These providers include offline agents and ticketing, which supply resources to such third-party platforms in order to survive. In addition, some of its special sale events, as well as the flight discount coupons that users may have, will further reduce the price of the ticket.
Spring Airlines is a platform that specializes in selling special air tickets and is also an app directly owned by airlines.
"It typically has an all-economy layout, which dilutes the cost per seat through a high load factor; Following the low-cost airline model, only basic flight services are provided, excluding free meals and other additional services, which can be purchased on demand. Mr. Wang said that in order to save airport take-off and landing costs, it often chooses to take off and land in the morning and evening hours during off-peak hours, and has gained an advantage in the use of airport resources.
In addition, there are also platforms such as "Civil Aviation Micro Travel", "Tongcheng" and "Where to Travel". Mr. Wang said that if you look at several apps to compare prices, the price of air tickets found on different mobile phones or different accounts may also be different.
Pay attention to these times
If you have already decided on the time and destination of your trip, it is best to book your flight 21 days in advance, as it is more likely that a low price will appear when you book a ticket during this time period. If you book too early, the airline hasn't started adjusting the price and may be able to buy a full-price ticket. Booking too late, especially within 7 days of departure, can experience peak periods or rush from business travelers, causing prices to skyrocket.
It's also important to choose the right booking date. Generally speaking, Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday early morning are the most favorable times, as airlines usually announce special fares or promotions.
At the same time, there are certain times that need to be avoided when booking tickets. Mr. Wang said that in fact, it is to avoid the peak hours of weekend passenger flow, mainly to avoid the large-scale flow of tourists and the flow of returning home. In addition, avoid certain times, such as the first shift in the morning, or 5 p.m. ~ 8 p.m. At this time, business travelers are the majority, and ticket prices will be high.
It's best to get a membership card
Mr. Wang said that if you are a member of an airline or hold some cooperative credit cards, you can accumulate miles or points through flights or consumption, and when you reach a certain amount, you can redeem free tickets or upgrades. In this way, you can enjoy the best flying experience with the least amount of money. However, not all tickets can be redeemed with miles or points, and some tickets are subject to taxes and service charges.
It is also possible to take advantage of the airline's members' days to buy cheap airfares. Generally speaking, there will be one or several member days every month, when airlines will launch some special fares or promotions, which are only open to members. The strength and benefits of these activities are significant. In addition to the membership day, there are some other festivals or special activities, such as China Southern Airlines' recent "Double 11", "6.18", "unlimited travel around the world from 1299 yuan", "1499 yuan including tax round-trip air tickets + two nights of hotel", etc., which is also a good time to buy cheap air tickets.
A few other small details
Mr. Wang also suggested that before buying a ticket, you may wish to check the airline's official website or other platforms to see if there are coupons to collect, so that you can save some money when buying tickets.
If you book a ticket on the official website and find that there is a lower price on other platforms, you can apply for compensation from the airline. Mr. Wang said that many airlines have the terms of the best price guarantee on the official website, if you buy a ticket on the official website and find that there is a lower price on other platforms under the same conditions within 24 hours, then the airline will compensate for the difference in price and give a certain number of miles or points as a reward.
Finally, in the final step of purchasing a ticket, you need to choose whether to purchase insurance or not. Mr. Wang suggested that for frequent travelers, it would be more cost-effective to buy a year-round aviation insurance policy, so that they do not have to buy insurance every time they fly, and they can enjoy more protection and services. If you only travel occasionally, you can choose whether to buy insurance according to your needs and risk appetite, or choose the type and amount of insurance that suits you.