Why are flights with hotel bookings cheaper?
I booked a flight + 4 star hotel on Expedia on Thursday, arriving the following Sunday and checking out Monday. The total cost was about $820 CAD. Yet flights by themselves cost more, about $860. I checked multiple websites, including Kayak, Expedia and the ones Cheapflights forwarded me to.
How does that work?
If I was just flying somewhere, I could book a hotel which I would not stay in simply to get a discount on the flight?
Also, why would people use services like Airbnb in this case?
Is my situation just rare/unique?
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Are flights cheaper if you stay longer?
Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date. According to the CheapAir.com 2019 Annual Airfare Study, you can expect rates to go up after that period.Do hotels get cheaper the closer you get?
As a general rule, hotel rates drop closer to check-in date, says Sarah Keeling, director of public relations at Expedia, but there are risks for waiting until the last minute.When should you book flights and hotels?
To get the best price on both elements of your vacation, you should book flights six to seven weeks ahead and wait until much closer to your travel dates to book your hotel.What is the best booking site for flights and hotels?
Best Websites for Booking Cheap Flights and HotelsHOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS - My Best Tips After Booking 500+ Flights
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Lum3n, Timur Kozmenko, Tamba Budiarsana, Max Vakhtbovych