Travel Hacks for Summer Air Travel

An Air Canada flight departing for Toronto taxis to a runway as a WestJet flight bound for Palm Springs takes off, at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Canadians planning their 2023 summer vacation travel might be trying to save money on their flights domestically and internationally given soaring inflation and rising flight costs, while avoiding unpredictable flight delays and cancellations that were commonplace in 2022 due to COVID.

But is there any magic trick to getting cheap flights or having a better travel experience?

Air passenger rights advocate Gábor Lukács says that while there are a few things travellers can do to find deals, in his experience there’s no secret tactic to get a really good deal, and travelling by air is rarely “fun.” He said travellers have to be prepared for glitches.

“There is no magic trick to avoid problems with your baggage. There’s no magic trick to avoid flight cancellation or delays. As a passenger, it’s completely outside your control,” Mr. Lukács told The Epoch Times from Europe, where he had travelled in July to visit family in Hungary.

Mr. Lukács said one strategy to save money is flying at off-peak times. For example, he deliberately planned his return flight after the peak time in August because it’s much cheaper and his schedule allowed it. “So there’s no reason for me to pay more.”

His flight wasn’t entirely stress-free, however, given that his baggage didn’t arrive with him in Hungary. So he bought basic items for himself: clothing, soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste, but thankfully the airline settled his claim immediately and reimbursed him. Mr. Lukács said his baggage showed up a day later.

Book in Advance

He says booking in advance is a good idea and makes it more likely you will get a good price. He also advises travellers to avoid taking vacation at a prime time, which is typically over spring vacation, in August, or during peak travel season around Christmas.

“You’re going to be paying far more than if you went in September or October,” he said.

The passenger rights advocate said parents particularly should watch out for airlines that want to seat family members apart “as a way of incentivizing them to pay extra” to choose their seats.

In Canada, the law mandates that any minor child must be seated with a parent at no extra charge. Mr. Lukács said some airlines offer seat selection at a “very substantial extra charge,” where in this instance it should be free.

Many travellers have questions about whether they should buy non-refundable tickets, which tend to cost less, or pay extra to have flexibility to be able to cancel or change their booking, for example in case of an emergency.

Mr. Lukács said it comes down to questions of risk tolerance. Travellers should ask themselves: Will work allow you to stay in a particular location for longer than expected? Do you know what your plans are for sure? And is the risk of some kind of radical change coming up low?

“Airlines sometimes try to push more flexibility than you actually need. Perhaps some of the risks you can hedge against with travel insurance,” he said.

Third-Party Travel Sites

Some travellers use a third-party booking site to try and save money from bundling trip elements like flights, hotel, and car rentals for savings.

Mr. Lukács says travellers should be aware that when they book with a third-party booking website or even a travel agent, if something goes wrong, there can be some “hot potato” between the passenger and airline where neither party wants to take responsibility. It’s important for travellers to know and understand their rights when they travel.

“If you book directly with an airline, the airline cannot have any further excuse or send you elsewhere.” He said some airlines attempt the “unlawful” practice of trying to send you back to your travel agent or booking site if a flight is cancelled.

“That’s not what the law says. The law says that the airline has to rebook you—simple as that. But that’s not happening in practice,” said Mr. Lukács.

He said that’s unfortunate, because travel agents can provide good service. If you do book with an online booking site, he advises travellers to make sure there is a way to reach customer service if there is an issue. Mr. Lukács said this is an area where “some heavy crackdown by the government would be very, very helpful.”

A flight attendant walks down the aisle in an airplane before the plane's descent into the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 24, 2021. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Cheapest Days to Travel

A spokesperson with Expedia told The Epoch Times that there are cheaper days to travel. The agency analyzed billions of data points and concluded that travellers who book on a Sunday can save up to 15 percent on airfare, a 5 percent increase over last year.

Travellers who book on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save, on average, around 5 percent on domestic flights and 15 percent on international flights. While the best day of the week to book has been Sunday for the past four years, travellers saved 5 percent more on average in 2022 compared to 2021, according to Expedia.

The agency’s 2023 Air Travel Hacks report indicates that booking at least 2 months before domestic flights can save travellers up to 40 percent. Booking at least three months out is the “sweet spot for international flights,” according to a spokesperson, with 10 percent savings on average, compared to those who waited until two months or less before their travel date.

The travel agency recommends that visitors with flexibility in their schedules visit off-peak destinations to find savings during the busy summer season. It also advises that travellers avoid public holiday long weekends, as prices peak and airports are full. Travellers might want to use a “free cancellation” feature on any booking they make, which would let them cancel and get a full refund if they find a better deal.

Other tips from the 2023 report include advising passengers to fly in the morning, as those travelling after 3 p.m. are 50 percent more likely to be impacted by a flight cancellation.

Domestic travellers who depart on a Wednesday can save up to 15 percent on average In general, travellers who started a trip on a Wednesday, versus the beginning of the week (a Sunday or a Monday) saved, on average, 15 percent on domestic flights, Expedia says.

For international flights, travellers who departed on a Wednesday instead of during the weekend (a Sunday or a Saturday) saved 10 percent on average.