Now that the travel season is with us, there are a few common airline myths to puncture.
- Booking invisibly does not matter:
Booking sites do track your online activities but do not change their fares because of your search. Airline fare pricing is hugely volatile as the airlines use dynamic pricing algorithms which incorporate real – time market conditions and competitive perspectives. Flight pricing can change from minute to minute as there can be billions of ticket combinations depending on many variables. So if prices change from one search to another it is not based on your activity but on an algorithm. - Google flights does not have the lowest fares:
This is an aggregation site which shows fares from airlines that set their own prices. But these sites do have the biggest selection. If you book through an aggregation site you may have to deal with them rather than the airline if something badly happens when you travel. - Booking on weekdays is not materially cheaper:
It may be marginally cheaper only as research indicates that booking on Tuesday to Thursday might be about 2% cheaper. So on a €400 fare you might save €8. The cheapest day to travel is usually Tuesday. - Only one seat left is not true:
What they really mean is that only one seat is left at that price. This is due to the fare bucket pricing methodology used where they sort fares into buckets. Once that bucket is sold you are moved up to the next bucket. If two seats are available in a particular fare bucket you will be charged the same price. However if only one is available and you buy the second from a different fare bucket you will be charged a different fare which may be higher or lower. So if you are booking for a party, check the fare for one person and then for the party. If they are different you need to find out how many fares are available at the lower price. - Booking tickets at the last minute does not save you money:
This is not correct since airlines often increase fares for last-minute bookings. Booking in advance and being flexible with travel dates can help you find better fares. - The air on board is not full of germs:
Air on board is continually cleaned and filtered to maintain high air quality and reduce the risk of infection transmission. - Flights are not always delayed:
Most flights operate on schedule, but there can be weather or other factors that may cause a delay. Keeping up with flight status and reporting times helps better manage schedules. - Airlines do not compensate for flight delays:
Airlines offer compensation in cases of delays or cancellations. Passengers should review the airline’s policies and keep the necessary documentation for reimbursement claims. - Drinking alcohol on a flight does not help you sleep better:
Drinking alcohol on a flight can make you dehydrated and disrupt your sleep patterns. It is essential to stay hydrated during the flight. However limited alcohol might make your flight more pleasant.
Bon voyage