Cheap Air Tickets

I'm rather pleased with the bargain I got from Air Asia :) 372 sgd including online transaction fee. I booked about 6 months in advance, during my exam period, after researching for weeks on how and where to get cheap flight tickets instead of ahem.. revision. Surprisingly, I did rather well for that exam, mainly because most of them are open book exams :p.

When you have to book so early in advance, here are the few considerations:

1)    What is the probability of getting cheaper plane tickets at future promotions

(For the late June flight, I booked in early December and saw cheaper air tickets in Feburary promotions (by about $20 per flight))

2)    Are the ticket prices inelastic because of the dates involved? If yes, prices will tend to go up instead of down.

(In my case, yes. I had to return to Singapore just before Hari Raya and I have to leave Singapore at the end of June, it felt like these were the days with the highest flight traffic)

3)    What if you can’t get the school you want for your summer studies in Korea? Are your dates flexible enough?

(After thorough research on the past program schedules of different schools’ summer studies program, I left a few days’ leeway for free and easy travel before and after the program. Considering the extra cost of food and accommodation to be incurred before and after the end of the program, and comparing it to the difference in air ticket price on different days, I had in total a week to explore and do my own stuff.)

4)    Budget airline or Commercial airline?

(Since I’m on a budget, budget airline is the best method to fly. However, sometimes, the price of the tickets may be comparable between these 2 so it depends on the experience you want. Luckily I’m small in size so I don’t need extra leg space that commercial airline will provide. I’m of low maintenance so I don’t need the extra service. I have never flown commercial before ... well, only once when I don’t even have to pay… but budget airline isn’t that bad. In terms of safety, neither seem to have any obvious advantage)

5)    Buy one way promotion tickets or both to and return tickets?

(It’s exam time, so I didn’t think so much… it also depends on the timing and dates)

6)    Have you checked websites like skyscanner to compare prices?

(Yes, but do take note that the price listed may not include taxes or administration fees. I bought directly from the official site in the end because I didn’t want to miss a connecting flight and I will be in a better bargaining position if something goes wrong with the flights)

Yesterday, I dreamt that I missed my flight and I was so devastated that I didn’t stop to check whether I was dreaming. If I knew I was dreaming, I would  have stopped beating myself up and looked for the Spa at Changi Airport and PAID to get a massage :p