After a few years of limited international travel options due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Kiwis will be planning a jaunt overseas come 2023.
As always, cost is a major consideration, with many families planning how to make the holiday as affordable as possible - especially as the cost of living crisis continues to make things tough.
According to new research, booking on a Sunday for an international flight departing on a Thursday at least two months in advance will give you the best chance of a good deal.
Reservation service Expedia has just released its 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, an analysis of data intended to help travellers with advice on when and how to book holidays for as cheap as possible.
The top tips include:
- Booking airfares on a Sunday saves on average around 15 percent on international flights compared to booking on a Friday, or around 20 percent on domestic flights
- Buying airfares at least two months early for international flights saves on average 15 percent on flights abroad and around 40 percent for domestic flights
- Flying out of Aotearoa on a Thursday instead of a Monday saves around 10 percent on average
- Travelling later in the day helps reduce the chance of cancellations - year-to-date flight status data shows flights that depart between 3am and 9am have a 20 percent higher chance of cancellation, on average, than those that depart after 9am.
Expedia said average ticket prices for international flights remain higher compared to 2019 but are expected to continue to drop amid the rebound in demand and lowering of travel restrictions.
Airplane seats available now compared to 2019 are sitting at 63 percent, the company said, as airlines work to fully restore operations to pre-pandemic levels.
The 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report is created by Expedia in partnership with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). It is based on flights originating in New Zealand from January through to August of this year from ARC's global airline sales database and OAG's global flight data platform.