Booking cheap flights online has become a sport among price-conscious travelers. But with plenty of websites hawking low prices, it’s hard to know the best way to grab budget fares.
Information about when, how and where to get the best deals have spread online, though many have been debunked over time. Luckily, there’s still some good advice for purchasing your own tickets.
Here are six travel myths to consider before you book online – though with such a volatile industry, we always suggest comparing airfares before you click to buy.
Myth:
Searches are tracked by cookies
There's a rumor airlines raise the price of a route if you search for it often on the same browser or computer. But no consumer group has found evidence to prove prices are targeted through cookies.
Truth: Use sites like Skyscanner and Google Flights to track and compare prices from a variety of online travel agencies (OTAs).
Myth:
The best time to book a flight is Tuesday
Based on a once-true statement that airlines would load their fares into reservation computers on Mondays, in one big dump, airline reservation systems are now much more unpredictable.
In fact, according to CheapAir.com’s 2019 Annual Airfare study, “The average low fare only varies by $1 based on the purchase day of the week.”
Truth: Instead of worrying about what day to book, investigate the day you fly. Tuesday is the cheapest day to travel, while Sunday is the most expensive. Flying midweek generally has the best deals.
Myth:
Saturday night stopovers are required for lower fares
In the past, airlines would add a lengthy Saturday stopover on their cheapest fares to discourage business travelers who just wanted to get home (and had expense accounts).
Truth: These days, the Saturday night stopover rule is much less common. And with the advent of low-cost airlines like Southwest and Spirit, business travelers don’t hold the same amount of sway.