When are flights at their cheapest?

[HamblesHandbag]

I seem to remember seeing a graph about how flights are expensive, then dip down to their cheapest 3 months before flying (or something) and then the price increases up to the flight date. So this article or whatever it was, was saying to buy flights at that cheapest point if you can.

Does this make sense or ring any bells for anyone?

I'm looking at flights to Barcelona at summer half term and even bastards ryanair are looking too much.

Am I just going to have to suck it up and pay the bastards ? or if I hold out for a month or so, might the prices come down? (don't know if I have the nerve)

Check out skyscanners - click the month box and you'll get a graph of all the prices over the month - you can then see the cheap days.

you can search also "UK" rather than a specific airport and "Spain" rather than a specific airport. My favourite search is "local airport" then "everywhere" in the destination box!!

Great for researching routes and carriers. I use it all the time!

Some guy was interviewed about this on the tv the other day - apparently the 3 month thing is true, and I think it's a Tuesday that they're cheapest as well, as some airlines discount on a Monday and by Tuesday everyone's done the same (although that might be "real" airlines). And it's cheapest to fly out on a Saturday, which surprised me. Good luck!

ah brilliant thanks. I'll checkout skyscanners.

Fryn, glad I didn't imagine it! Can I hold my nerve and not book 'til nearer the time though?

wow, thanks for the skyscanners tip miomio! Less than half the price I was getting quoted on other sites. I may just book now.

Ryanair doesn't fly to Barcelona though. it's miles away! Easyjet do fly in to the main airport and BA has very good offers if you book flights and hotel together. Do research because a nice seat straight into Barcelona may be worth more than a bun fight for a cramped seat after huge queues and hour journey into the city especially if it's only £20 quid or something more. There are better ways to save dosh in Barcelona.
Normally the flights just go up and up. Early mornings Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest (followed by other times on these days and coming home on a Saturday or Tuesday/ Wednesday are best price wise. Thiursday/Friday and coming home Friday/Sunday are the worse.

thanks nothingoldcanstay. We're actually booking a villa outside Barcelona, so we're limited to the villa change over day (saturday) and the school holidays of course.

On the Ryanair site there are two 'Barcelona' airports listed. So is one of them nowhere near?

I would rather pay more than give anything to those bastards.

Skyscanners is showing an air france flight, changing at Paris as very much cheaper than any other route.

Girona is the far out one. It's an ok straight rail journey, quite pretty but it just adds more time and more hassle. I am too scared to book Ryanair now as Money saving expert has just reported they are upping the charge for anything now -it's just too worrying! I have to say that school hols will limit any potential savings because of demand. Have booked Easyjet early (4 months in advance)and found that the flight did go down in price 2 months before travel but it is a lottery and it hasn't happened since. Go Air France it's better than RA and you can always shop for an hour at C d G if you have time (rather than be stuck on a platform waiting for the train). Saturday shouldn't be too bad as most people doing Barcelona do Thursday or Friday to make it a long weekend IMO.

All those booking on easyjet should know that if your flights become cheaper nearer the date, you can apply for a refund of the difference.

"2 Price promise

Any easyJet passenger who made a booking themselves directly through the easyJet.com website and subsequently finds that lower fares (when taken together with all applicable charges) for the same easyJet flight have become available will be refunded the difference as a credit against future flights on easyJet. "

Thanks Amateurish I didn't know that. Good info!

jetradar.com is the only place I go to search flights now, after consistently finding them to find the best deals. They don't 'promote' any particular airline, but are totally transparent, plus they include the extra fees and taxes that you know you have to pay but many other 'comparison' sites leave off. This is helpful, as you can make a fair assessment of which is the best price.