Early bird catches the cheaper airfare

(e-Travel Blackboard)- Planning ahead can save you big bucks, according to research, that found travellers could pay up to 116 percent more for an airfare purchased one day before travel compared to a ticket booked three weeks earlier.

A FCm Travel Solutions study on tickets for the departure date of 5 July found tickets purchased 21 days before the date were at an average cost of $105, while the ticketing price for the day before departure shot up to $227.

The company’s regional general manager Nick Queale said the study indicates that last minute tickets with most domestic carriers experience significant price rises and leisure travellers as well as business could benefit from booking early. Read more here…

Tourists on the rise

(Khaleej Times)- Dubai’s travel industry is experiencing a bullish trend this Ramadan, up by 18 per cent over that of 2010 mostly traceable to special airfare packages.

An Emirates spokesperson said that Emirates bookings from Dubai during the month of Ramadan are strong, with the airline witnessing a marked increase in bookings when compared with last year.

“This increase is a result of a number of factors, notably Ramadan falling within the full month of August in addition to our increased capacity and a number of new route launches, including Copenhagen on August 1,” the spokesperson said.

Emirates’ key markets for travel during Ramadan include Middle East points, the UK, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo. Read more here…

Grabbing a deal on Vegas vacation

(The Seattle Times)- Las Vegas offers a lot of bang for your vacation dollar, especially when you find a package deal that combines airfare and hotel.

There's lots of competition among airlines for Vegas, which keeps fares low. When those fares are bundled with hotel rates, you can save even more.

Along with bundling, the days of the week you travel can make a big difference in price.

The best days to depart are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday or Friday departures with Sunday returns will bring the highest fares, and hotel prices are highest Friday and Saturday nights. Read more here…

Buy too early, pay too much for airfare

(The Seattle Times)- When it comes to airfares, early booking usually gets you a better price, right?

That's what most people believe, but with airlines changing the way they price tickets and the economic outlook withering once more, it's no longer necessarily true.

Buy too early and you risk paying too much. Just ask anyone who bought a ticket in January or February, or even early spring, for travel this summer to Europe and many U.S. destinations. Read more here…