For many of us, it feels like the kids have only just gone back to school having enjoyed a six-week summer holiday.
But soon the October half-term will be upon us and for some it’s the perfect opportunity for an autumn getaway. With the majority of school children off from between October 26th and November 3rd, travel experts at AttractionTickets.com have advised that there’s still a sweet spot to secure affordable flights for those perfect family holidays.
The company uses a formula based on historical data to calculate when the best time is to book a hliday abroad. And according to their experts, the best day to find and book your last-minute half-term break for maximum savings is October 13th.
Oliver Brendon, CEO of Attraction Tickets explains: “Contrary to what many travellers believe, industry data suggests that booking flights within a window of 8 to 23 days before departure can offer some of the most competitive prices for international travel, especially when it comes to places like Florida.
“We also know through historical external data that travellers can sometimes save up to 24% on flights if they book them on a Sunday, particularly within this 8 to 23-day window.”
Attraction Tickets go on to advise that given this timeline, October 13th falls “perfectly within that range”, making it the optimal date to secure a late, more affordable deal for the family.
And not only are there strategic days to book, but there are also specific days that are often cheaper to fly.
The ticketing company’s research shows that families who have departures on a Friday can save up to 26%. Based on this data the experts recommend booking your flights on the 13th October and actually flying on the 25th October, after school finishes.
Looking further ahead, meanwhile, the same expert has offered advice on when the best time is to book a last-minute Christmas holiday too.
Brendon said: “Following the same 8 – 23-days prior to travel formula, and honing in on the Sunday bookings and Friday flights rule, we can already identify that the best dates to book a last-minute Christmas holiday are the 8th and 15th of December, and flying on either the 13th or 20th December.
“In my experience, prices at Christmas almost always tend to spike the week before, so you can avoid this by making sure you book ahead of 17th December. Remember, it’s a risk to book things last-minute, so opt for using ticketing sites with fixed pricing models like ours and always do your research to get the best deals.”