A study by travel comparison website Skyscanner.net has found almost 80 per cent would not know at first glance if a fare offered good value for money.

While many may believe the cheapest fares for summer destinations are offered in January, Skyscanner’s analysis of nearly 200 million searches shows that the cheapest flight tickets are, in fact, typically available five weeks in advance of travel.

Skyscanner’s analysis of nearly 200 million searches shows that the cheapest flight tickets are, in fact, typically available five weeks in advance of travel

However, the study also shows that price patterns can vary significantly between scheduled and budget airlines and short and long-haul travel and is therefore very much destination dependent.

So to help, Skyscanner worked out the best time on average to book August fares for the top 10 most popular summer destinations (from the UK).

It also published some simple rules to get the best price for your flight:

1. Book smart

Avoiding peak season travel and flying at less popular hours of the day can really help to lower costs.

2. Be flexible

Costs to different destinations can vary significantly, depending on the airlines operating that route and the airports offering these flights in a particular country. If you are planning your next trip but are open to destinations, running a search to ‘everywhere’ can help find the countries/destinations that offer the best value flights at any time.

3. Compare and contrast

Using a travel comparison site like Skyscanner allows you to compare the widest range of airlines and online travel agents, so you’ll be able to see where you can get the best deal.

4. Track prices

Skyscanner’s analysis has found that keeping an eye on the flight prices a few months in advance of travel is the best way to find a good value flight. Using our flight tracker price alert service, either by e-mail or via the app, can help monitor when prices drop on a chosen route.

Note: Flights are from UK airports. BF stands for before departure.