Cheap Flights to Fu Zhou?

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  Azza on 28/05/2012 - 20:08

  -1

  I don't have any advice relating to the destination however I do have some general advice. The amount of fuel consumed by airlines is about 30% of their total operating costs. This means when fuel goes up so do the ticket prices. It should be the opposite when fuel prices drop the airline tickets should fall. It may not always be a 1 to 1 ration. That being said fuel is oil so you maybe able to use the commodity price as an indicator as to when to buy your tickets.

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    [Deactivated] on 29/05/2012 - 04:54

    General it maybe, as most airlines hedge fuel purchases, so there is a delay factor, which is evident when fuel surcharges are finally applied, it can take some time for them to drop.

    The only consistent indicator that I know of is that during our school holiday times, the prices rise.

    Eg Sept 20 - Oct 8 this year (although depends on State) http://australia.gov.au/topics/australian-facts-and-figures/…

    And also when private schools go on hols which can often be a week earlier, so Sept 14 departures prices are higher.

    Avoiding these dates also adds benefits in less likely to have screaming kids on the flights as well

    As for the rest, it all comes down to load factors. Generally if they have excess capacity, they really start managing this around 3 months out.

    I guess the best way is to know what the normal fare is and if its low compared to that then buy, if its high, then you cant lose by waiting.

    And I guess this is the intelligence that Zman is asking for.

    Eg Trips to the US. Low fares are around $1000 high fares $2000 average around $1500 (all these having some restrictions like refundability etc) hence the expedia ie deal of $850 being a real bargain.

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  zman09 on 29/05/2012 - 21:34

  Thanks ozpete i will keep a eye out for them deals :P