Flight Booking Information

Introduction

How can you buy cheap air tickets? This is one of the biggest concerns for people planning overseas travel.

However, no one knows the exact answer. Many tips exist online, but there is no rule that works for everyone.

It is commonly said that about 6 weeks or 2 weeks before departure is the cheapest time. This is because airlines often adjust fares at this time after checking remaining seat availability.

But this is not always the cheapest period. Prices change often, and there are many exceptions.

More accurately, air ticket prices depend on departure dates and demand. If your schedule is flexible, comparing different dates is the smartest strategy.

Principles Behind Airfare Fluctuations

Airfares are based on the published fare and divided into seasonal levels as follows.

※ Published Fare: The airline’s non-discounted fare, which is the maximum price that can be charged to passengers.

• LOW: Off-season
• SHLR (Shoulder): Between off-season and peak season
  Example: Early July, late August, early December, March, etc.
• HIGH: Peak season (holiday periods, mid-July to late August, and other long holidays)

Each year, based on the changing holiday calendar, airline pricing teams set fares by referring to the seasonal schedule and major holidays.

Naturally, HIGH (peak season) fares are the most expensive, especially during major holiday periods. In the travel industry, these days are often called “hot dates” 🔥.

On these “hot dates,” fares usually start from the moment sales open at the published fare (Shown Fare) level.

• Published fares are listed on each airline’s official website.
• Published fares do not include fuel surcharges and taxes, so the final payment amount will be higher.

Tickets issued at published fares are often open tickets valid for one year with flexible changes.
On the other hand, the cheaper the promotional fare, the stricter the refund and change rules, and baggage allowances may be limited.

Hot Dates and Seasonal Pricing

One common question is: Are tickets still cheap 6 weeks or 2 weeks before departure during holiday seasons?

As mentioned above, holiday periods are the hottest dates, so fares usually start at the published fare level from the beginning.

※ If you ever see a price lower than the published fare during a holiday, that is your booking moment!

This pricing system exists because air tickets are the product most strongly affected by supply and demand.

When bookings increase, prices rise. When many seats remain, prices fall.

In summary,

• In off-season (LOW): Prices are more likely to drop as the departure date gets closer.
• In peak season (HIGH): Prices are more likely to rise as the departure date gets closer.

However, even in off-season, waiting until just before departure is risky. It is best to follow these principles and book at a time that matches your travel style.

How to Search for Cheap Air Tickets

1. Use search sites like “Sky S**” to check flights by entering departure, arrival, and dates.
2. Check which airlines operate on that route and find which time slots are cheaper.
3. You can book on those sites, but always check the same conditions on each airline’s official website.
4. If the round trip uses different airlines, search as one-way tickets on airline websites.
5. Compare several options and book where the conditions are best.

Full Service Airlines (FSC) vs Low Cost Airlines (LCC): What’s the Difference?

Airlines can be divided into two main types.

• Full Service Airlines (FSC: Full Service Carrier)
• Low Cost Airlines (LCC: Low Cost Carrier)

Low Cost Airlines (LCCs) offer lower fares by removing or making optional some onboard services. Passengers can choose only the services they need, which makes LCCs popular with budget travelers.

For example, seat selection is often paid, and meals are not included. Usually, only drinks are free. If you want a meal, you need to buy it separately.

Cabin temperature is usually kept at 21–25°C, so bring your own blanket if you feel cold easily. Most LCCs do not provide blankets.

On the other hand, Full Service Airlines (FSCs) usually include meals, blankets, and mileage points, and often include seat selection.

Because of these services, fares are higher than LCCs, but they offer more flights and more time options.

• Airline blankets are for in-flight use only. Taking them outside the aircraft may result in a penalty.

Flight Tracking Services

FlightAware is a service that shows the real-time location and status of flights worldwide, including scheduled flights, private aircraft, and charter flights.

• Enter a flight number or airport to check current location, scheduled departure and arrival times, delays or cancellations, and gate changes.
• The live map shows flight routes, aircraft type, and nearby weather conditions.
• The “Misery Map” feature highlights airports or routes with many delays.
• You can set alerts for specific flights to receive real-time notifications when the status changes.

For Tokyo-bound flights, this service is useful to estimate which side of the plane offers views of Mt. Fuji, or to share your exact arrival time with family or friends waiting at the airport.

Which Seats Are Best?

If you want a seat with a good wing view but are not sure which one to choose, use Seat Maps.

By entering airline, departure date, and departure and arrival airports, you can search your flight and view the seat layout by aircraft type.