Looking for cheap plane tickets? Book flights 7 weeks before departure, says Skyscanner

SINGAPORE – Planning a trip to Hong Kong on a tight budget? Try booking your plane tickets 20 weeks before departure to save on fares and travel in September. Or, if you are planning to visit Indonesia, book your flight 18 weeks in advance, and plan a January trip.

These were among the findings by Skyscanner, a global travel search company, on the best times to book a flight from Singapore, after it analysed the last three years’ worth of data, and more than 250 million prices booked. On average, travellers should look at booking their flights seven weeks before departure to increase their chances of getting the cheapest fares this year, said Skyscanner in a release today (March 16).

However, the best time to book flights also varies depending on the destination, said Skyscanner, citing the examples of Hong Kong and Indonesia, among others. Skycanner has released an interactive tool showing the best time to book the most popular destinations from Singapore and the cheapest bookable prices.

Infographic: Skyscanner

Ms Pamela Knaggs, Singapore Marketing Manager at Skyscanner, cautioned that there is a risk in booking too close to departure. “Although for some destinations the best prices may be available just 18 weeks prior to departure, prices can be quite volatile so customers need to understand that they may be taking a gamble by leaving booking too close to their departure date,” she said.