{"id":3498,"date":"2022-10-20T02:41:11","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T15:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/?p=3498"},"modified":"2022-10-20T08:56:49","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T21:56:49","slug":"2023-flight-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/2023-flight-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Expedia\u2019s 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report: Australian travellers should book on this day to save on airfares and minimise flight delays\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As we head into the summer holidays and a brand-new year, many travellers have already expanded their travel plans and aspirations. But if we\u2019ve learned anything from 2022, travelling isn\u2019t always so simple, as travellers encounter unpredictable flight prices, delays and cancellations. Thankfully, Expedia has released its 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, providing six proven tips to help save travellers time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main takeaway? Plan wisely by taking advantage of price alerts, as timing is KEY when it comes to hacking air travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Air travel is on the runway to recovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Compared to 2019, domestic Australian capacity (airplane seats and flights available for a given route) is sitting at 116%, exceeding 2019 levels, while international capacity is sitting at 77% as airlines work to fully restore operations to pre-pandemic levels1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, average ticket prices for domestic flights have remained stable over the last two years and are now tracking on par to 2019. As the industry continues to recover, average ticket prices for international flights are higher compared to 2019 but are expected to continue to level out driven by the rebound in demand and lowering of travel restrictions2<\/a>.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From when to book to maximising loyalty perks, here\u2019s Expedia\u2019s guide to hacking travel in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for when to book<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Book on a Sunday to save up to 20% on average<\/b>3<\/a><\/sup>
Travellers who booked on Sundays instead of Fridays tended to save, on average, around 20% on domestic flights and international flights. The best day of the week to book has been Sunday, while the day to avoid has been Friday, for the past four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book at least three months before domestic flights to save 30% on average<\/b>4<\/a><\/sup>
The sweet spot for snagging the best price on domestic flights falls between 70 \u2013 100 days before departure (so about three months in advance of travel). Travellers who booked during that period saved 30% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute (0 \u2013 30 days before travel).

Book six months before international flights to save 25% on average<\/b>4<\/a><\/sup>
Travellers who booked around six months in advance of international travel saved an average of 25% compared to those who waited until three months or less to book. The key to booking international airfares is to book as soon as possible, with prices traditionally cheapest 160 days or earlier before departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to avoid flight disruptions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Depart at midday to help reduce the chance of cancellations<\/b>5<\/a><\/sup>
Travellers who want the best chance for smooth travel should aim for daytime flights (9am \u2013 3pm). Based on year-to-date flight-status data, flights that depart between 3pm \u2013 9pm have the highest chance of being cancelled \u2013 a 30% higher chance, on average, than those that depart at midday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embrace shoulder season<\/b>6<\/a><\/sup>
Data shows that avoiding the peak travel periods can have more benefits than just cost-savings. Based on 2022 trends, cancellations are most likely to happen in January and least likely in February. Historically, flight delays were also shorter in February compared to June as the Northern Hemisphere summer rush begins. From there, delays begin to shorten in August, making spring an appealing time for air travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the data shows that airlines have steadily improved their services, with total cancellations dropping from more than 9% in July to around 3% in August. The trend is expected to continue in a positive direction for travellers, meaning 2023 should see a significantly reduced risk of flight disruptions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Depart at the end of the week to save up to 20% on average<\/b>7<\/a><\/sup>
In general, travellers who started a trip on a Saturday, versus on a Monday, saved up to 20% on domestic flights. For international flights, travellers who departed on a Friday instead of a Sunday saved 10% on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to save on every trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it just isn\u2019t possible to follow every travel hack, there are still a few easy ways you can save money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n