Jipange: Kenyan airline explains how to get cheaper flight tickets despite peak

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Fly748 head of scheduled services George Oduor warned Kenyans against assuming last-minute bookings will always produce cheaper fares

- Global data from CheapOair shows 62% of travellers worldwide are booking flights within 30 days of departure

- The airline recently offered a 10% discount on tickets in the last week of July as part of a limited promotional period, and customers who took advantage are enjoying cheaper fares during the August peak schedule

Kenyan airline fly748.com has shared guidance on how domestic travellers can secure more affordable airfares during school holidays, long weekends, and other high-demand travel periods, when fares on popular routes tend to rise sharply.

George Oduor, Head of Scheduled Services at fly748.com, told TUKO.co.ke that passengers who already know their travel dates are better off locking in their bookings early rather than holding out in the hope that prices will drop closer to departure.

Why Waiting Can Cost More

Oduor explained that airfares are largely driven by seat availability and demand. As popular periods approach, including public holidays and school breaks, seats on coastal routes fill up rapidly, leaving late bookers with fewer choices and steeper prices.

"The biggest advantage of booking early is choice. You have more options when it comes to fares, flight times and seat availability, and you are less likely to be caught out when demand increases," Oduor said.

He cautioned travellers against a common assumption:

"Don't assume that waiting until the last minute will automatically result in cheaper tickets, this is often not the case."

New year-on-year figures from an online travel agency CheapOair supports the concern. The data shows that 62% of travellers globally are booking trips within 0 to 30 days of departure, with domestic weekend travel searches up 16.2%, international family travel searches up 16.3%, and international group travel searches up 11.5%.

Yet the surge in search activity has not been matched by a corresponding rise in confirmed bookings, suggesting many travellers are spending more time comparing prices before committing.

Practical Tips for Cheaper Domestic Flights

Based on advice from fly748.com, travellers looking to reduce costs during peak periods can consider the following approaches.

Booking early remains the most effective strategy, as it offers the widest range of fares, departure times, and available seats.

Flexibility with travel dates can also yield savings, as shifting a trip by a day or two often opens up better-priced options.

Promotional offers are another avenue worth monitoring across the aviation sector so that you can acquire tickets at the promotional price. For example, fly748 ran a limited 10% discount on tickets during the last week of July, which provided a window for travellers to reduce their fare costs by acting during the promotional period.

Oduor also pointed to the school and public holiday calendar as a practical planning tool for Kenyan families.

"If you know you will be travelling during a school holiday, long weekend or festive period, start looking early," he said.

Fly748.com operates scheduled flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Terminal 2 and both Mombasa and Ukunda, routes that have seen growing demand as domestic air travel becomes a more common choice for leisure, business, and family trips along Kenya's coast.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.