Featured Image Credit: Getty/SILAS STEIN/Getty/Tang Ming Tung
Topics: Travel, Social Media, Viral, Technology, Money
Joe Yates
Topics: Travel, Social Media, Viral, Technology, Money
An airline guru has debunked myths on how to land the cheapest plane tickets.
If, like me, you check various flights to find a plane that gets you to your destination by 3pm latest and back home as late as possible - then you probably fork out hundreds for your flights.
To help combat these costs, without further ado, meet Chow Ping Lee.
Taking to X, the aviation ghostwriter used the social media platform to offer her expertise - and it went viral.
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Introducing her post, she wrote: "Everyone: 'Book your flight on a Tuesday at 3 pm, you’ll get the cheapest tickets!'
"As an airline veteran, this is a B.S. myth. Timing matters, but not in the way you think.
"If you've ever felt cheated by sudden price hikes, this is what most airlines don’t want you to know:"
She explained that 'conventional wisdom' shows that the best strategies to score cheap flights would be to look for flights with layovers, book off-peak times and dates, and be prepared to fly anywhere - be flexible.
But in order to game the system, Lee explained you must understand how airlines price their tickets.
"Ever wondered why airline ticket prices fluctuate faster than you can keep up? It's not you. It's intentionally designed that way. Think AI-driven madness," the self-proclaimed airline veteran said.
Later adding: "A Boston to San Francisco round-trip has over 25 MILLION different valid fares.
"Where does all this insanity come from? Two words: AI algorithms."
According to the expert, there are five factors that drive the prices up - 'leisure versus business', past booking data, competitors prices, fuel costs and seasonal demand.
Lee claimed: "Here's where it gets creepy: Airlines profile YOU.
"Ever notice that prices are always higher the 2nd time you check? It’s not a coincidence. It’s because… they stalk you."
She claimed that they track your searches and analyze your behavior, and then change the price accordingly.
"So how can you beat the system?," Lee asked.
In order to score deals following Lee's methodology, you must be flexible with dates, use incognito mode, set up price alerts and 'go without the à la carte add-ons' - meaning don't splurge on booking seats or other unnecessary items.
But what about the tip to book flights on Tuesdays?
Well, just last month the lead economist at Hopper, a flight-booking app, Hayley Berg told USA TODAY: “We tested out [the Tuesday theory] and looked at the best day of the week to book for a number of popular trips and Tuesday was the cheapest day just one percent of the time."
She added: "The best price might be available on Tuesday – but it might be available on another day of the week.”