The cheapest flight tickets can be bought thanks to several fairly clever and not very widely known tricks. The modern aviation business is growing commercially faster and more dynamically than ever, which is why travellers of every nationality now visit different corners of the world very actively in all four seasons. That is exactly why, when you want to see beautiful and unusual places, it is sometimes better to use methods that let you buy flight tickets at a low price. This way you will be able to visit far more unique countries.
The best-known airlines and the budget carriers alike want to fly as many passengers as possible from one place to another. To do that, they have to both raise and lower the price of their tickets. As a rule, when an airline first puts the tickets for a particular flight on sale, each of them costs the most. That is exactly why the cheapest flight tickets cannot be bought at that moment — although there is a period when their price does come close to a level that works for you.
When roughly a month and a half is left before departure, airlines start thinking about how to fill every seat on the aircraft before take-off. So they look at how many tickets have already been sold since the flight went on sale, and that is what tells them how far the fare needs to come down for every seat on that particular flight to be sold. All of this is decided by the level of demand. The lower the demand for tickets on a given flight, the lower the ticket price goes.
That is why flight tickets cross their best price threshold, on average, about a month and a half before departure. That is exactly when you can buy the cheapest flight tickets. It is also a good idea to subscribe to the newsletters of the airlines you like, so that you can take advantage of the discounts and promotional offers they publish. Airlines usually send this kind of information during periods when demand for tickets falls.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a Flight Ticket
The price of a seat on one and the same flight can change by tens of percent depending on when you buy it. The annual studies published by the large booking platforms (including the joint Expedia and ARC report) show the same pattern year after year:
- Long- and medium-haul flights — the best fares are usually found between one and two months before departure.
- Short, regional flights — here the optimal window opens later: roughly two to four weeks before the departure date.
- Booking half a year ahead gives you no advantage — statistically, tickets bought that early cost more on average than those bought inside the optimal window.
- The day you fly matters too — departing midweek or on a Friday is normally cheaper than departing on a Sunday, when demand is at its highest.
These are average figures and they can differ on any given route, but the general rule does not change: the best price is neither at the last minute nor very far in advance — it sits somewhere in between.
Practical Tricks That Bring the Price Down
- Flexible dates. If you can move your departure by a day or two, use the calendar or “flexible dates” mode when you search — a single day’s difference often makes a noticeable dent in the total cost.
- Compare several airports. Neighbouring airports serving the same city or region frequently quote very different prices. Check the alternatives both at your departure point and at your destination.
- Two separate one-way tickets. One-way tickets on two different airlines sometimes work out cheaper than a single return ticket. Keep in mind that in that case the connection between the flights is your own responsibility.
- Turn on price alerts. Most search engines let you follow a particular route and notify you as soon as the fare drops. That replaces checking by hand every day.
- Factor in the cost of baggage. With budget airlines, checked baggage — and sometimes a large cabin bag as well — is priced separately. Once baggage is added, the final cost of a “cheap” ticket can end up matching what a full-service airline was offering.
- Choose the off-peak season. School holidays, public holidays and the middle of summer are the most expensive times to travel. Flying the same route at the very start or the very end of the season cuts the price sharply.
- Do not count on incognito mode. Contrary to the popular advice, tests have not confirmed that prices rise systematically because of your browsing history — fares move mainly with demand and with the number of seats still available.
Where Budget Airlines Fly From in Georgia
Georgia has three operating international airports — Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi. Kutaisi International Airport was built around budget carriers from the very beginning and remains the country’s main hub for low-cost flights: Wizz Air has a base there, and its route network covers dozens of European cities. Tbilisi airport offers passengers the widest route network, with low-cost carriers operating alongside the full-service airlines; Batumi airport is busiest during the summer season.
If you live in Tbilisi, it is worth looking at departures from Kutaisi as well: the difference in ticket prices often covers the cost of getting there overland, especially when you are buying for two or three people.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I buy a ticket to get a cheap fare?
On most routes the optimal window is between one and two months before departure; on short regional flights it is two to four weeks. Buying very early, or in the final days before the flight, usually costs more.
Do tickets really get cheaper at the last minute?
Sometimes they do, if plenty of seats are still free on the flight. But it is a risky tactic: on popular routes and at the height of the season, the price rises sharply as departure approaches rather than falling.
Which day is the cheapest to fly?
On average, midweek days and Friday. Sundays and the days just before public holidays are the most expensive.
Is a return ticket cheaper, or two separate one-ways?
There is no single answer — you need to compare both. With full-service airlines a return ticket is often the better deal, while with budget airlines two one-way tickets usually cost the same or less.
What does “low-cost” airline actually mean?
It is a carrier whose base fare includes only the seat and a small cabin bag, while everything else — checked baggage, seat selection, food — is charged separately. That is why, when you compare tickets, you should always look at the final total.