Assessing the optimal period in which to purchase airline tickets to international destinations departing from South Africa

Abstract

Much research has been done on the best time to purchase airline tickets. Most of these studies were conducted within the United States of America (USA) and no such research relevant to the South African context could be located. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal time to buy airline tickets to international destinations from South Africa at low prices. The prices of airline tickets issued by seven airlines operating on seven different international routes constituted sources for departure dates ranging from one week to12 months in advance. Similar to USA research, the results revealed that the best time to purchase tickets at the most advantageous fare is between 150 and 200 days prior to departure. The collected data are presented as graphs reflecting the fluctuations in price over time. The results further revealed that the pricing of airline tickets to international destinations peaks around July and January each year. Pricing therefore seems to be seasonal, following the Northern (July) and Southern (January) summer holiday patterns. The information contained in this article should assist individuals travelling from South Africa to international destinations when purchasing tickets as they will be able to select optimum price purchase periods