Would you like to book your plane ticket at the best price? A number of sites offer you the opportunity to follow the evolution of these prices. But you still need to know…
When we go on vacation, we often want to get away as cheaply as possible. To achieve this, you need to be able to find a plane ticket at the best price. There are a number of sites to help you do just that!
They’ll help you save a lot of money when you book your flight, making it easier to stay within your budget. To help you out, Generation Voyage has selected the 4 best sites for tracking airfares.
So, are you ready to go?
Understanding price variations
Air fares raise a lot of questions among travelers. So it seems essential to explain why airfares vary so widely.
Why are airfares rising?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – cherezoff
Like any other business, airlines seek to maximize their profits. They do this by varying ticket prices according to supply and demand. In this way, they use market mechanisms to optimize aircraft load factors.
That’s why airfares are cheaper when booked several months in advance. Airlines know that time is against travelers. They therefore put a certain number of tickets on sale at low prices, so that they sell out quickly. As flights begin to fill up, the airline increases the price of the remaining seats.
When do airfares come down?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Eviart
Several factors influence the price of airline tickets. Firstly, when you book your ticket. In most cases, there are two periods when prices are at their lowest. It is therefore more advantageous to book either several months before departure, or « at the last minute », a few days or hours before departure, when airlines want to sell the last remaining seats.
The time and day of booking are also important factors. It’s best to book your flight during « off-peak » hours, i.e. between midnight and 6am. It’s also best to book your flight in the middle of the week, between Tuesday and Thursday. These are the times when airlines generally offer the best prices!
Finally, ticket prices also depend on the time of departure. If you want to buy a plane ticket at the lowest possible price, you need to leave at the right time. The periods when prices are most attractive are outside school vacations, in the low season. You should also avoid taking off at weekends and in the middle of the day, when prices are higher than for an early-morning departure at the beginning of the week.
How can I keep up to date with airfares?
We’re all looking for the best price for our plane ticket. For those of you who don’t have much time, don’t worry, you don’t have to search every day!
In fact, several websites now allow you to follow the evolution of air ticket prices. So you can book your flight when the price seems right.
Here are the 4 best sites according to the editors:
1. Skyscanner
Example of price tracking for a flight from Paris to Berlin on Skyscanner. Photo credit : Official website – Skyscanner
With over 30 million visitors a month, Skyscanner is a benchmark among Internet flight comparison services. They have developed a search engine that allows you to find the best deals from hundreds of airlines, depending on your chosen departure and arrival destinations.
You probably don’t have the time to search every day for the best offers on this flight comparator. There’s a solution: the « price alert« . Every time the price of the flight you’re interested in changes, Skyscanner sends you an email. This tool will enable you to make the best decision to book at the best time and at the best price!
Creating this price alert is very simple. Go to the Skyscanner website or mobile application, search for the flight you’re interested in and click on the « Receive price alerts » button (for the mobile application, click on the little bell in the top left-hand corner). Then enter your email address.
Photo credit: Official website – Skyscanner
You’ll now receive an email every time the price of the flight you’re interested in changes (you can also unsubscribe at any time)! You can create as many alerts as you like, and it’s all free.
2. Algofly
Example of price tracking for a flight from Paris to Berlin on Algofly. Photo credit : Official website – Algofly
The second site we suggest for tracking airfares is Algofly. Thanks to its « Know the right price » tool, you can access fare statistics for millions of flights. Depending on the destination of your choice, your dates and the number of stopovers, you’ll have access to the average price of a plane ticket for these criteria. The statistics can then be used to determine the right price for your flight, which will be very useful when planning your travel budget.
Algofly also lets you create an alert to find out the best time to buy. All you have to do is select your flight with the criteria of your choice (outbound date, return date, number of passengers, etc.) and enter your e-mail address. Once you’ve validated your alert, you’ll receive an email when the price of your flight is at its lowest. This service is, of course, free!
Photo credits: Official website – Algofly
3. Kayak
Example of price tracking for a flight from Paris to Berlin on Kayak. Photo credit : Official website – Kayak
Kayak is also one of the leading flight comparison services on the Internet. They start from a simple recommendation, which we share: if you find a price that seems interesting and fits your budget, don’t hesitate and book. Their flight comparator will help you find the best deals.
Like the other two comparators mentioned above, Kayak has its own price alert to help you find the best deals. To do this, you need to register and create an account on the Kayak site. You then have two options: either you want to monitor prices for a flight with specific dates and criteria, or you know where you want to go, without worrying about other criteria.
Once you’ve chosen one of the two options (« exact dates alert » or « flexible alert »), all you have to do is tick the « create alert » option and save. You can also select the « send mobile notification » option. That’s it! You’ll now be notified when Kayak finds an attractive offer.
Photo credits: Official website – Kayak
4. Google Flights
Example of price tracking for a flight from Paris to Berlin on Google Flights. Photo credit : Official website – Google Flights
The last site we suggest for tracking airfares is Google Flights. This is Google’s flight comparator, one of the best and most comprehensive in its field. You’ll need it if you’re looking for cheap airfares. Thanks to its price chart, you’ll find it easier to decide when to fly, and at the best price.
If you’d like to wait before booking your flight, you can use Google Flights to track price trends for a particular flight or itinerary. To do this, go to Google Flights, select the flight you’re interested in and enter your criteria. To follow the price evolution of this ticket, click on the activation button next to « Follow prices« .
Photo credits: Official website – Google Flights
You will now receive an email each time the price for this ticket is likely to increase and when the fare for this flight is about to expire.
Thanks to all these tools, you’ll be able to find the best offers, so we advise you to compare the offers on these different sites regularly.
This will give you an overview of the fares for the flight of your choice, making it easier for you to decide. When you find an offer that suits you, don’t hesitate and book!
So, where will you be spending your next vacation?