Instead of wondering whether it’s better to book now or wait for lower prices to come along, you can make an informed decision (Picture: Unsplash)
Thrifty travellers will live happy to hear that Google Flights has a new feature to help them save money on their next trip.
Google Flights already tells you whether current prices are low, typical, or high, but the new update takes it further by telling you when the ‘cheapest time to book’ is.
So, instead of wondering whether it’s better to book now or wait for lower prices, you can make an informed decision.
‘For searches with reliable trend data, you’ll now see when prices have typically been lowest to book your chosen dates and destination,’ said Google in a blog post this week.
For example, these insights could tell you that the cheapest time to book similar trips is usually two months before departure, and you’re currently in that sweet spot.
Or you might learn that prices have usually dropped closer to takeoff, so you decide to wait before booking.
The tech giant also released its 2023 flight booking trends based on historical pricing trends on Google Flights.
Top tips to save money on flights
Taking a layover is still the best way to save money as direct flights are generally more expensive.
Avoiding weekend departures can also help you save money on your next flight booking.
According to Google, if you’re flying across the pond for Christmas, you’ll want to do that well in advance.
The best time to book flights for Christmas is around early October. Average prices tend to be lowest 71 days before departure which is a big change from 2022, when average prices were lowest just 22 days before departure.
The typical low price range is now 54-78 days before takeoff.
MORE : Flight delayed? Here’s how you can get free airport lounge access
Time to start planning those end of year trips.