Data released by travel giant Expedia shows the ideal day and time to book flight tickets, ensuring you get the most value for your money on your next business class trip.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With business-class cabins worldwide now offering lie-flat beds and “headphone-free” technology, it’s a great time to book your next luxury flight. However, these flights are often expensive, so knowing the optimal time to book can make all the difference between feeling ripped off and having an amazing experience.
This is where Expedia comes in. They recently released new data revealing that over 55% of American travelers find air travel very stressful, with stress levels comparable to filing taxes or going to the dentist. Thankfully, Expedia also shared their best data-driven tips for booking flights to make the process faster, easier, and more cost-effective.
Watch: Cathay Pacific introduces “Aria” business class upgrade.
Their report provides guidance for travelers looking to book economy, premium economy, first class, and business class seats. So, if you’re searching for a more affordable travel option, then this is not for you. However, if you’re a DMARGE reader, you know that Business Class is your go-to choice. Here are the top tips we’ve identified for saving big on business class:
How early to book your business class ticket
One important consideration is how far in advance you should book your business class flights. While the reactive nature of business trips can make it challenging to plan ahead, it’s not surprising to learn that booking 28 days before departure for domestic travel can lead to savings of up to 24% compared to last-minute trips. If you’re traveling internationally, the time frame increases. You should book 60 days prior to your departure, but not more than 4 months ahead, to achieve optimal savings of around 10%.
Which day of the week to book your business class ticket
When it comes to choosing the best day of the week for booking cheap tickets, the timing is pretty straightforward. Sunday offers the lowest prices and the most savings, with up to 13% below the weekly average. This is because most travelers aim to begin their vacations on Mondays, while business people prefer to avoid weekend travel.
In contrast, Friday is the most expensive day. This is likely due to the higher number of people returning home from vacations or business trips before the weekend, allowing time for rest and laundry before Monday, as well as those seeking weekend getaways. The increased demand leads to higher ticket prices.
Virgin Australia’s new Business Class cabin is stunning. Image: Virgin
What time of day to book your business class ticket
Finally, if you want to maximize your business class booking experience, pay attention to booking flights before 3pm. This timing significantly reduces the risk of delays and cancellations, as flights after 3pm have cancellation rates that are 50% higher.
While these late flights may not always be cheap, you’ll save valuable time at the airport, which could be spent earning money, saving money, or enjoying quality time with friends, family, or colleagues.
Bottom line
Overall, there’s good news across the board. Ticket prices remain fairly stable compared to 2022, and cancellation rates for US flights have improved significantly, with only 1.7% of flights cancelled compared to 4.7% last year.
So even if you can’t follow Expedia’s guidelines precisely, you’re still more likely to have a better business class experience this year compared to the previous one.
Source: www.dmarge.com
