As we head into the highly-anticipated year-end holiday season, many Singapore travellers have started expanding their travel plans and aspirations. The recent announcements on the further easing of travel restrictions for crowd-favourite destinations – Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan – continue to further reignite the travel excitement among vacation-deprived Singapore travellers.

As travellers embark on their trips, they might notice that travel today requires additional planning than before. To help travellers make the most of their time and money, Expedia has partnered with Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) to release its eighth edition of the 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, providing data-backed tips to maximise their travel planning.

2023 Air Travel Hacks Report1, 2, 3, 4

Singapore’s gradual reopening for international travel in 2021 saw the long-awaited return of air travel, leading to the high rebound in demand among Singapore travellers. Following the announcements to expand the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) in Q4 2021, flight ticket sales for international destinations gradually picked up and reached 85% of 2019 levels in May 2022[1].

As overall capacity remained subdued over the past two years, air ticket prices for economy class flights saw a surge and peaked in mid-2021 before returning to current levels (September 2022), on average 30% higher compared to 2019[2].

Knowing the best days to book and the best times and dates to travel is key to unlocking savings on travel while avoiding unpredictable travel disruptions for the year-end holiday season and beyond. Some key tips to help travellers get the best out of their travel planning, and uncovered in the report include:

Best day of the week to book[3]

For Singapore based travellers, Sunday is the best day to book flights, with tickets generally more than 30% cheaper than Friday, the most expensive day to book.

Best day of the week to travel[4]

Singapore travellers might want to consider departing later in the week – the report unveiled that Thursdays are the cheapest days to depart. Travellers can unlock an average of almost 25% savings compared to the most expensive day (Sunday). Friday is also a great alternative and can cater to more than 20% savings on average.

How much in advance to book tickets[5]

Travellers planning their 2023 trips should consider booking their flight tickets as early as possible to secure a good deal and booking ideally 4 to 6 months in advance. According to the report, average air ticket prices usually peak around 2-3 weeks prior to the date of departure.

Avoiding flight disruptions

Flight cancellation rates[6] in Singapore significantly improved in 2022, dropping from total cancellation of 0.8% in February’s peak to around 0.3% in August.

While flight cancellation rates in Singapore is currently lower compared to other markets, there remains the possibility of unexpected disruptions. Consider booking a day-time flight to lower your chances of cancellation as flights departing during the night (9pm to 3am), has double chances of being cancelled than that of flights earlier in the day[7].

“This report does more than save people money,” said Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands. “It’s about the time savings and peace of mind that comes with knowing you have industry leading data-based tips at your fingertips to inform booking decisions.”  

“While Singapore travellers might face a different travel experience completely different from what they knew before, one thing remains the same – the importance of timing. Knowing when to book, when to fly and making decisions fast could make a big difference to not only get more value, but to minimise the possibility of flight disruptions. The annual ARC and Expedia Air Travel Hacks Report will continue to be a great source of guidance for budget-seeking travellers looking to travel in the months to come.”

Expedia’s Guide to Hacking Travel in 2023

To get the best travel experience, consider these Expedia hacks for your next trip:

1. Travel insurance is vital: Having travel insurance helps assure travellers in unforeseen circumstances. It is imperative for all travellers to consider adding on travel insurance to avoid any unnecessary worry.
2. Book early and book smart: Lock in plans early without worry with the “free cancellation” filters on Expedia and by choosing flights with waived change fees. Selecting flexible options will not only save travellers money in the long run but also ensure peace of mind as plans can change.
3. Bundle your bookings to save: Bundle your airfare, hotel and activities at the same time on Expedia so you could unlock savings.
4. Get more with Expedia Rewards: Sign up for a free Expedia Rewards account to unlock access to member pricing of 10% off or more on selected hotels, collect points to save on future travel and enjoy perks when available at VIP Access Properties around the world as you gain Silver or Gold status. In addition, you may also earn points from your credit card provider or airline frequent-flyer points on applicable bookings to double-dip and rack up on travel rewards even faster.
5. Expedia Mobile App gets you more: Book on the Expedia Mobile App and earn double Expedia Rewards points on eligible hotels, flights, and activities.

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[1] Air travel recovery information is based on ticket sales for flights originating in Singapore for January 2019 through December 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline dales database.

[2] Price development information is based is on average round-trip ticket prices for flights originating in Singapore for January through August for 2022 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2019, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. Percentages noted are averages.

[3] Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for flights originating in Singapore for January through August 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.  Percentages noted are averages.

[4] Best day of the week to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for flights originating in Singapore for January through August for 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.  Percentages noted are averages.

[5] Ideal booking window recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for flights originating in Singapore for January through August for 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.  Percentages noted are averages.

[6] Safest month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2022 flight status data for flights originating in Singapore sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform. Percentages noted are averages.

[7] Safest time of day to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2022 flight status data for flights originating in Singapore sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform. Percentages noted are averages.