Best time to book flights?

[SQavgeek]

Hello! I'm planning a trip to Singapore from the end of June to the end of July from Copenhagen. I would like to fly a direct flight and so I'm wondering when it'll be cheapest to book the flight?

[SQ228]

Hello! I'm planning a trip to Singapore from the end of June to the end of July from Copenhagen. I would like to fly a direct flight and so I'm wondering when it'll be cheapest to book the flight?

Now!

I often fly Euro flights at that time of year, including CPH. These flights will most likely be packed full. In my experience, the only way prices go is up. I only get a good price if I book 10-11 months in advance. I'd say with confidence that there is no chance that they will fail to fill the plane at those times and that they will sell them off cheaper at a later date. The only factor that could complicate things is if they announce CPH is going A350, but this would most likely increase the pressure on prices in Y, or are you looking to book in J?

Use the date comparison table to find which combination of days are offering the best prices. Usually weekend flights are more expensive, but it could be different with CPH due to the two gap days each week.

[CarbonMan]

Try the app called Hopper.

[SQavgeek]

Now!

I often fly Euro flights at that time of year, including CPH. These flights will most likely be packed full. In my experience, the only way prices go is up. I only get a good price if I book 10-11 months in advance. I'd say with confidence that there is no chance that they will fail to fill the plane at those times and that they will sell them off cheaper at a later date. The only factor that could complicate things is if they announce CPH is going A350, but this would most likely increase the pressure on prices in Y, or are you looking to book in J?

Use the date comparison table to find which combination of days are offering the best prices. Usually weekend flights are more expensive, but it could be different with CPH due to the two gap days each week.

Thanks a lot!

I'll be flying Y, 4 adults. Also, why is only Economy Flexi available right now?

[SQ025]

Thanks a lot!

I'll be flying Y, 4 adults. Also, why is only Economy Flexi available right now?

School holidays in SIN ends, School holidays in Denmark starting. International schools in SIN starting holidays....

June/July might not be the cheapest time to travel.

[SQ228]

School holidays in SIN ends, School holidays in Denmark starting. International schools in SIN starting holidays....

June/July might not be the cheapest time to travel.

It definitely isn't. I just checked a previous booking- booked on 5 Dec 2015 for flights to/from Europe in June/July last year. All that was available was Economy Flexi. No upgrades were available for my flights either.

Unless CPH suddenly goes A350 daily and they run a promotion to fill the two empty flights each week, those prices aren't coming down. The chances of that scenario are so unlikely that I'd either buy now and pay what they ask or reschedule the holiday. Remember you are also most probably paying for flights on the ancient 772ER Y product. Those seats are 16 years old and feel like it.

The only other possibility I can think of- try a return booking out of ARN which is meant to commence in May. Then check the price on either flights or X2000 train fares between København and Stockholm. Just maybe SQ might run a promotion on ARN flights for the new service.

[SQavgeek]

School holidays in SIN ends, School holidays in Denmark starting. International schools in SIN starting holidays....

June/July might not be the cheapest time to travel.

Yeah, that's definitely true.

Unfortunately, I'm just an eight-grader in Sweden so I only have holiday from June to the beginning of August, so that's pretty much the only time we can travel to Singapore.

[SQavgeek]

I just found a pair of flight tickets, 18 June - 19 July (4 adults) for 21240 DKK, direct flight from CPH - SIN. Should we book this one? It won't get any cheaper right?

[SQ228]

The only time I've observed SQ lower their fares is for low season dates when they suddenly announce a new promotion. For example, if you book a flight in February 11 months in advance. They work on the principle that people so desperate to fly an exact date in the future might jump in early and if they do, they make that extra money. Then they drop the prices when they announce a sales promotion.

Any promotion for June this year has been already announced. It's high season. They know that people will keep making bookings. They already know they will fill the plane. Airports will be packed, people who can't afford to book in advance due to work commitments will come along at the last minute and pay whatever they ask.

I offer no guarantees, but if it were me I'd be taking it while I can get it. June/July is never cheap and they aren't gong to discount something they know there's great demand for.

[bent]

2H Jun is the peak period for Europe because it's the summer holidays. Unlikely fares are going to drop. On the contrary, they will only rise as the flights fill up.

As pointed out, you might have cheaper fares ex-ARN as it is still a relatively newer flight; however, you would have to travel there, and also endure a stop in DME.

[SQavgeek]

Thanks for all your replies! I'm pretty surprised that the A350's aren't announced for the CPH route yet.

[SQavgeek]

Do you get different seats to choose depending on if you choose for example Economy Saver or Economy Flexi?

Also, I've found cheaper flights on the SAS website, but I can't choose the seats, is that only available if you book directly on the Singapore Airlines website?

[SQ228]

Do you get different seats to choose depending on if you choose for example Economy Saver or Economy Flexi?

Also, I've found cheaper flights on the SAS website, but I can't choose the seats, is that only available if you book directly on the Singapore Airlines website?

I don't believe there is any difference in the seat offering for Saver or Flexi. By now probably a lot of the available seats may have been used up, especially if you want to seat 4 people together, so you might end up having to just give a preference. Areas of the plane will be blocked out and it's not uncommon when I've booked 6 months in advance for a peak season flight to find I only had about 4 or 5 seats to pick from.

I only ever book directly with SQ so I can't answer the second question. If SAS is charging less for the exact same flights as a codeshare, I would be inclined to take the cheaper tickets. If it's still an old 772, all the seats are horrible. If it goes A350 by the time you fly, all the seats are pretty good.

[SQavgeek]

I don't believe there is any difference in the seat offering for Saver or Flexi. By now probably a lot of the available seats may have been used up, especially if you want to seat 4 people together, so you might end up having to just give a preference. Areas of the plane will be blocked out and it's not uncommon when I've booked 6 months in advance for a peak season flight to find I only had about 4 or 5 seats to pick from.

I only ever book directly with SQ so I can't answer the second question. If SAS is charging less for the exact same flights as a codeshare, I would be inclined to take the cheaper tickets. If it's still an old 772, all the seats are horrible. If it goes A350 by the time you fly, all the seats are pretty good.

I see, well there was once where we didn't choose seats (we booked directly with Singapore Airlines) and either Singapore Airlines or Copenhagen Airport arranged for us to sit together. Is it better to just book at SAS (slightly cheaper) and then just hope that they will give us seats next to each other rather than booking at Singapore Airlines and choosing seats?

[SQ228]

I see, well there was once where we didn't choose seats (we booked directly with Singapore Airlines) and either Singapore Airlines or Copenhagen Airport arranged for us to sit together. Is it better to just book at SAS (slightly cheaper) and then just hope that they will give us seats next to each other rather than booking at Singapore Airlines and choosing seats?

They're not going to spread you around random corners of the plane. Groups are seated together by default. I've already answered your last question.