The Benefits of Traveling During Off-Peak Times

The winter holidays are here, and once again airports and major thoroughfares will be inundated with people heading home for the holidays. Aviation JobNet reports that airports may see a 4% to 6% increase in passengers during the months of November to December this year compared to the same period in 2018. With air travel becoming a cheaper and more popular option, you might have a lot to contend with if you’re looking to take a flight to a new destination this year. If you’re a seasoned traveler or just looking to avoid the Christmas rush in the coming weeks, then you might want to try moving your travels to the off-peak season. There are tons of benefits to finding the right timing for your vacation, so check out this short list of reasons why traveling during the off-peak might be right for you.

Cheaper Tickets

Traveling during off-peak times means that you have less competition for tickets, ergo, cheaper prices. Airlines can’t afford to have empty seats, so they offer them at lower prices to encourage more people to buy. According to Smarter Travel, some of the worst days to fly during the year are during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel window, as more people tend to travel during that period. It’s still possible to get cheaper fares during this window, but that depends on what days the holidays fall in relation to the weekends.

Fewer Crowds

With travel being such a popular activity lately, getting to the more popular destinations and sights can be a bit of a drag. Massive crowds and over-tourism has caused major environmental crises in places like Mallorca, as well as other dangerous situations. Traveling during the off-season means you don’t have to contend with long lines and huge crowds, and may even have the opportunity to check out activities and sights that you might not have considered otherwise.

Higher Chance of a Free Upgrade

There are a variety of factors that go into getting free upgrades on your flight, and one of those is traveling during the off-season. The off-season can mean anything from early morning flights or red-eyes, to flights during the middle of the week or on Saturdays. Travelbinger has a list of other factors that could realistically get you a free upgrade on a flight, including using your frequent flier miles, volunteering to give up your seat, and having flexible flight times and dates in case an upgrade on another flight is possible.

Easier to Get Accommodation

Finding accommodation is part and parcel of traveling, and if you travel during the off-peak season you have a higher chance of finding better accommodation. Eurostat found that the net occupancy rates of accommodation in the European Union increased by 0.8% during the 2018 summer season, up compared with the same period in 2017. With travel becoming more and more popular, it could be harder to find good accommodation during peak season. Traveling in the off months gives you a higher chance of finding better hotels and Airbnbs for cheaper.