Expedia’s 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report: New Zealand travellers should book on this day to save on airfare and minimise flight delays
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’ve learned anything from 2022, travelling isn’t 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.
The main takeaway? Plan wisely by taking advantage of price alerts as timing is KEY when it comes to hacking air travel.
Air travel is on the runway to recovery
Compared to 2019, domestic New Zealand capacity (airplane seats available for a given route) is sitting at 86%, while international capacity is sitting at 63% as airlines work to fully restore operations to pre-pandemic levels1.
Meanwhile, average ticket prices for domestic flights have remained consistent 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.
From when to book to maximising loyalty perks, here’s Expedia’s guide to hacking travel in 2023.
Tips for when to book
Book on a Sunday to save up to 20% on average3
Travellers who booked on Sundays instead of Fridays tended to save, on average, close to 20% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights. The best day of the week to book has been Sunday for the past four years.
Book at least one month before domestic flights to save 40% on average4
Travellers who booked at least one month in advance saved 30% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute (0 – 30 days before departure). 2022 data shows booking sooner rather than later has its benefits, with average ticket prices cheapest five months out from travel.
Book two months before international flights to save 15% on average4
Travellers who booked at least two months in advance of international travel saved an average of 15% compared to those who waited until the last minute (0 – 40 days before departure). The key to booking international airfares is to book as soon as possible, with prices traditionally cheapest 165 days or earlier before departure.
How to avoid flight disruptions
Travel later in the day to help reduce the chance of cancellations5
Travellers who want the best chance for smooth travel should aim to travel later in the day (after 9am). Based on year-to-date flight-status data, flights that depart between 3 am – 9am have the highest chance of being cancelled – a 20% higher chance, on average, than those that depart after 9am.
Embrace shoulder season6
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 July and least likely in April and May. Historically, flight delays were shortest in February and highest in July and August, during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
Overall, the data shows that airlines have steadily improved their services, with total cancellations dropping from close to 9% in July to around 5% 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.
When to travel
Depart at the end of the week to save up to 20%7
In general, domestic travellers who started a trip on a Saturday, versus on a Sunday, saved up to 20% on domestic flights. For international flights, travellers who departed on a Thursday instead of a Monday saved close to 10% on average.
How to save on every trip
When it just isn’t possible to follow every travel hack, there are still a few easy ways you can save money.
Book airfares, hotel and car hire at the same time on Expedia. Otherwise known as bundling, it can help you instantly unlock savings.
Sign up for loyalty and frequent flyer programs or risk leaving money on the table. Expedia members earn Rewards points on eligible bookings, which they can use to save on their next trip.*
Earn air miles on top of Expedia points by entering your Frequent Flyer details at checkout. It’s an easy way to double-dip and rack up travel rewards even faster.
Follow Expedia on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. To learn more about the Airlines Reporting Corporation and OAG, visit www.arccorp.com and www.oag.com.
Data sources
1 Capacity-trend information is based on based on number of flights and seats offered by airlines domestically and internationally, originating in New Zealand for January 2019 through December 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline dales database.
2 Price-development information is based is on average round-trip ticket prices for domestic New Zealand and international flights originating in New Zealand for January through August for 2022 and average round-trip ticket prices for flights originating in New Zealand for January through December for 2019, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
3 Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for New Zealand and international flights originating in New Zealand for January through August 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
4 Ideal booking window recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for New Zealand and international flights originating in New Zealand for January through August for 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
5 Time of day to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2022 flight-status data for New Zealand and international flights originating in New Zealand sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform.
6 Safest month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2022 flight-status data for New Zealand and international flights originating in New Zealand sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform.
7 Best day of the week to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for New Zealand and international flights originating in New Zealand for January through August for 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
* Eligible bookings only. Rewards terms apply. See site for details.
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