There are certain ways you can get your flights for less according to one aviation expert who says certain airlines will have cheaper prices if you know the best way to search for them
While we all love a getaway in the sun, it can be expensive – but now one expert has shared the easiest ways to get the cheapest plane tickets.
According to Chow Ping Lee, an aviation ghostwriter and “airline veteran”, there are certain secrets airlines don’t want you to know when booking flights, as you can get them cheaper. So, if you fancy jetting off this summer for some much-needed relaxation, there are a few things you can do to help save some pennies and firstly, Chow Ping Lee dispelled the myth that timing matters. She said there aren’t certain times and dates that make a difference despite popular belief.
The expert took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share her insights. She wrote: “Everyone: ‘Book your flight on a Tuesday at 3 pm, you’ll get the cheapest tickets!’ As an airline veteran, this is a B.S. myth. Timing matters, but not in the way you think.” She said it’s down to “conventional wisdom” and there are a few factors to take into account. These include purchasing off-peak tickets, flexible destinations and also flights with stopovers. Chow Ping Lee added: “This helps. But to game the system, it helps to understand how airlines price their tickets,” and asked: “Ever wondered why airline ticket prices fluctuate faster than you can keep up? It’s not you. It’s intentionally designed that way. Think AI-driven madness.”
She explained that a round-trip from Boston to San Fransisco has over 25 million different valid fares and blamed it on “AI algorithms” which include: “Leisure vs, business, past booking data, competitor prices, fuel costs and seasonal demand,” and stated that airlines will “profile you”. There are several reasons the price may spike, but “airline pricing is a complex dance of supply, demand, and data.”
If you have ever noticed prices will hike if you go back a second time and look, it’s not a coincidence Chow Ping Lee explained. She said they will “stalk you” as well as track your searches, analyse behaviours and use “fast-changing prices”. So to combat the extra prices, the expert advised using “incognito mode to game the algorithm” and also set up price alerts to never have to pay more than you need to.
To justify the prices, Chow Ping Lee said you’re not just buying a seat, you’re buying an “experience”. This includes baggage fees, seat selection, priority boarding and in-flight wifi. Of course, you don’t have to pay for these extras, but the pro noted that “in 2015, these “extras” raked in $59.2 billion – and the figure grows 20% per year.”
Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]
