4-day Eid Al Fitr break in UAE: 5 hacks to get the cheapest flight tickets

[This report was filed before the first date of Ramadan was announced]

If you are making travel plans for the next long weekend, we have got some hacks that are sure to come in handy. Talking to Khaleej Times, travel industry executives in the UAE revealed the top things one must do to get the most affordable air tickets.

The UAE residents will enjoy the next four-day long weekend on the eve of Eid Al Fitr in April 2023. During this period, a large number of residents travel to their home countries to celebrate the festival with their loved ones while some opt to fly to popular holiday destinations such as Bangkok, London and others.

For the peak season, it is said that maximum seats are blocked for higher rates as the revenue optimisation team dictates the rates and fares are finalised accordingly.

It is said that usually, for instance, if there are 160 seats on a plane, the 20-30 people who make the first bookings get the best airfares and the airlines keep the highest airfares for the last 30 people who book.

Avinash Adnani, managing director, Pluto Travels, said airfares from the UAE to India, Pakistan, and GCC and other Middle Eastern countries start to increase between one-and-half to two months prior to big festivals such as Eid Al Fitr due to a large number of residents travelling during these occasions.

“Airfares start to go up around 40 days before Eid, hence, getting a seat in the last week becomes a challenge for travellers from the UAE. It’s good to buy air tickets before 45 to 60 days, because after this, generally, airfares don’t drop,” he said.

TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Tours and Travels, said the UAE has declared the full-year calendar for the holidays, so residents know the exact dates when to fly. “The earlier you book, the better rate you get.”

5 ways to book cheaper flights:

•     Book in the middle of week

•     Buy air tickets 45-60 days ahead of flight

•     Clear cache when buying tickets

•     Check airfares across budget carriers

•     Look for budget carriers’ fare lock options

Adnani advised residents to buy tickets in the middle of the week because people tend to buy air tickets over the weekend as they don’t have time to search and book during the week. As a result of less bookings, airfares see a drop in the middle of the week.

“Another point is to clear the cache because airlines are smart and the system uses old cookies, therefore, updated airfares don’t show up,” he added.