Cheaper to book on Weekends?!?
Feb 22, 2013, 1:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
Cheaper to book on Weekends?!?
I know the traditional view (and my past experience validates it) is to book on Tuesday or Wednesday when the airlines free up lower fare buckets. The WORST time was weekends, when low price fare buckets were rare to find. This has worked well for me for years. But recently on UA, I have noticed prices consistently being lower on weekends for many routes I am looking at. The complete opposite of the past.
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Feb 22, 2013, 2:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 47
Apparently a professor at Texas A&M found something similar. Had this article sent to me the other day: http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/2013/02/07...m-researchers/
Feb 22, 2013, 5:44 pm
#5
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I definitely used to find my usual trips to YYZ were actually often cheaper to buy on the weekends. Prices often went down on Thursday, back up by Monday morning. But that was a couple of years ago, not so much that I notice anymore.
Of course, the truth for me is that living in CVG, there is virtually no day to get tickets for cheap.
Of course, the truth for me is that living in CVG, there is virtually no day to get tickets for cheap.
Feb 23, 2013, 1:44 am
#6
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I think Tues/Weds still are cheapest based on the fact that those seem to be the days "sales" start (usually from the likes of WN and then UA/DL/AA slowly start matching throughout the day)....it's worth noting that weekends are probably better for "fare mistakes"...remember a few years ago when we were all flying to LIM for a few hours (and HNL, ANC, etc. along the way)?? That little gem of a mileage run showed up on a Sunday 
Feb 23, 2013, 2:27 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2000
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I know the traditional view (and my past experience validates it) is to book on Tuesday or Wednesday when the airlines free up lower fare buckets. The WORST time was weekends, when low price fare buckets were rare to find. This has worked well for me for years. But recently on UA, I have noticed prices consistently being lower on weekends for many routes I am looking at. The complete opposite of the past.
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Feb 23, 2013, 2:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
It has always been my understanding that sale fares are launched on Tue/Wed and that space in cheap buckets, after it's been exhausted, it also pushed out on Tue/Wed. Hence, these are the best days to check for good fares. Seems to match what others are saying. I've never personally tested this but it seems logical.
Feb 23, 2013, 2:49 pm
#11
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,604
It has always been my understanding that sale fares are launched on Tue/Wed and that space in cheap buckets, after it's been exhausted, it also pushed out on Tue/Wed. Hence, these are the best days to check for good fares. Seems to match what others are saying. I've never personally tested this but it seems logical.
Feb 23, 2013, 4:50 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NJ
Programs: UA Lowly Silver, CBP Global Entry
Posts: 15
I know the traditional view (and my past experience validates it) is to book on Tuesday or Wednesday when the airlines free up lower fare buckets. The WORST time was weekends, when low price fare buckets were rare to find. This has worked well for me for years. But recently on UA, I have noticed prices consistently being lower on weekends for many routes I am looking at. The complete opposite of the past.
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Anyone else seeing this trend?
Feb 24, 2013, 6:20 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I wonder if this will change with the new era in this route (competing with VX). There are about a gazillion fares published for post-4/2, and it seems that the way this route is priced has fundamentally changed.
Feb 24, 2013, 6:27 pm
#15
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