Book early to get best flight deals – BTI UK
The need to book early to secure the best flight deals has been confirmed in the latest air trends benchmarking study by BTI UK.
The travel management company found that companies should consider booking flights three to four weeks in advance to achieve the greatest costs savings.
Even booking seven days in advance rather than five days can result in reduced costs.
Selecting the Heathrow-Paris Charles De Gaulle route as an example, the company found the lowest fare of £105 booked a month in advance compared with a price of £353 the day before departure. There were significant rises on each day of the final week, although booking seven days out rather than five days in advance would have resulted in a saving of £78.
On the Heathrow-Glasgow route, the TMC found a fare of £87 when booked four weeks in advance rose to £270 a week later and £343 the day prior to travel.
After monitoring fares available in August and September, BTI UK found an overall increase in the average price of flexible published tariffs.
Business class fares across the UK and Europe are rising by an average of 6.5% in the UK to £266 and 6.4% on the Continent to £585.
But economy rates have fallen year on year by 6.7% in the UK to an average of £195 and are down 3% in the rest of Europe to £296.
The research also found that additional costs such as transfers, car hire and car parking can contribute considerably to the total trip cost.
BTI UK’s consulting director Spencer Smith said: “Our latest benchmarking study clearly indicates that procurement managers and travel professionals have a significant number of complex issues and requirements to juggle in order to effectively manage their employers’ travel needs and budgets. It is not enough to simply rely on advance booking of restrictive fares; consideration must be given to the total trip cost to ensure prediuctable and ongoing savings.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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