Whether you’re a business traveler, a company or a leisure traveler, the situation is always similar: same flight, same seat but wildly different prices. According to travel platform Skyscanner, “85% of people want confirmation that a flight is a good deal before hitting that purchase button.” And as an SME, this couldn’t be anything but true because as an SME, wildly different prices means wildly different budgets and last minute price spikes that are difficult to predict and can cramp your budgeting style.
Airline prices change constantly due to dynamic pricing and demand – prices rise when demand spikes. This is where the issue lies: as a business, it’s not always easy to have flexible dates because business travel depends on client meetings, conferences and other factors that are sometimes out of your control.
This is where a price spike calendar can come in handy. It’s essentially a simple way to understand pricing patterns so that when push comes to shove you can make quick booking decisions.
What is a “price spike calendar”?
A visual (or data-driven) view of when flight prices go up and down across the year. It’s similar to low fare calendars when you’re checking flight aggregators like Skyscanner and other top flight apps. Instead of guessing about when the best time to book is, it can help you spot patterns.
What’s driving flight prices spikes
Flight prices fluctuate throughout the year, but what are the driving factors that heavily influence these spikes?
1. Seasonality
Take it as a general rule of thumb: summer + holidays = peak pricing. Many companies have a business as usual approach in the summertime, but the reality is whether you’re traveling for business or not, a lot of people are on the road during this period. While congresses and conferences often continue despite it being high season, it’s a good idea to book in advance for attending conferences you know you have to be at. This way you catch the good fares before prices spike.
2. Demand surges
Events, conferences and school holidays all affect travel and can lead to demand surges, which you know what that means? Price spikes.
3. Booking timing
Prices rise as departure gets closer. The general rule, according to Forbes is to book 34-86 days prior to departure for a domestic flight (1-3 months in advance). Doing so can save 25% of ticket prices. The sweet spot usually lies 21-60 days in advance.
On the contrary, Expedia found that “buying international airline tickets with only 18 to 29 days’ notice can save you 17% compared to booking with at least three months’ advance notice.” The sweet spot usually likes around 58 days, with anytime between 37 and 87 days’ notice also resulting in good prices. When heading from the US to Europe, it’s advisable to plan a bit further in advance around 3-4 months in advance.
4. Day-of-week patterns
Fridays and Sundays are often more expensive as they are the busiest travel days for businesses. According to Skyscanner, the most popular day for price drops is Wednesday.
5. Business routes
When there is higher demand this means there are higher prices (premium willingness to pay). Fixed travel dates means less flexibility. With last-minute bookings being common in business travel and repeated routes being subject to spikes.
With budget pressure and compliance being important factors, it’s important that there is visibility and planning tools, and that businesses are aware of the patterns in the industry so they can plan accordingly.
Price spike calendar: what it looks like in practice
Peak periods (highest prices)
- Summer (June–August)
- December holidays
- Spring break periods
- Dates around public holidays, especially if they fall on a Monday or a Friday.
Shoulder periods (moderate pricing)
- April–May
- September–October
- Good balance of cost vs flexibility
Off-peak periods (best deals)
- January–February
- Late autumn dips
pro tip
Important to keep in mind: No matter how your flight search engine portrays the price spike calendar, the goal to save money is to plan the business trips you can away from periods of high demand, preferably around off-peak periods.
How to use a price spike calendar (practical tips)
1. Plan around peaks when possible
Avoid major holidays/events when possible. If it’s about traveling to a conference or a congress that may have an effect on demand, plan as far ahead as possible. This won’t guarantee low prices but at least you shouldn’t pay a premium.
2. Shift travel by a few days
Midweek flights are often cheaper than weekends, so if you can shift travel by a few days, it’s ideal to get better prices. This also goes for avoiding travel on a Monday or Friday if possible.
3. Book within the right window
Not too early, not too late. While the sweet spot varies by destination and by time of year when you plan on traveling, have your travel windows present so that you can take it into consideration when booking.
4. Build it into your travel policy
Encourage off-peak or midweek travel within your travel policy. This will help your travelers make small shifts in time, which can eventually lead to big savings at scale. Inserting this concept into your travel policy helps bring visibility and clarity so that travelers are conscious.
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How travel platforms make this easier
Travel platforms like GetGoing help turn insights into automated decisions with features like:
- Real-time price visibility
- Built-in policy guidance
- Smarter booking recommendations
- Centralized data for recurring routes
The more visibility your booking tool can provide, the more set up you are for success in unlocking cost-savings in a more automated way.
Want to take the guesswork out of business travel pricing? See how GetGoing helps you book smarter.
Key takeaways
It’s key to understand that flight prices follow patterns and are not just randomly allotted. Peak periods are predictable by relying on a price-spike calendar, which makes paying premium prices avoidable. SMEs can achieve more savings opportunities when planning around spikes. A “price spike calendar” makes smarter travel decisions easier