Booking late “getting more expensive"

Late deals on air fares have become 40 per cent more expensive in the last year and a half, says the Air Users’ Council. According to the Daily Telegraph, the gap between prices paid three months before departure a week before departure is growing rapidly. The watchdog group studied fares on domestic and European routes one, four and thirteen weeks in advance. It found that the best prices were available with 13 weeks’ notice and that prices were higher when booking later. According to the Telegraph, the study showed very similar results to a survey in spring 2003 – but “follow-up” research suggested that the price for booking late had increased rapidly. Whereas a BMI British Midland fare from London to Paris rose 22 per cent between the 13-week and one-week mark in 2003, it gained 69 per cent last year. Ryanair and Easyjet fares to Venice were reported to have fallen between 13 weeks and one week in 2003, but they rose between 30 and 40 per cent last year. A spokesman for the council is quoted as saying: “The margins between the tickets booked well in advance and those close to departure are getting wider. Passengers continue to benefit from low fares resulting from the fierce competition on European routes. But it appears that the good deals have become rather harder to find.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad