1. Think in weeks, not exact days
Flight prices move in ranges, not magical single moments. Instead of hunting for one perfect day, focus on booking in the right window for your trip.
For most domestic routes in South Africa, booking 2–6 weeks in advance gives you a healthy balance of price and flexibility – outside of peak season.
- For standard weekends away, aim for 3–4 weeks before departure.
- For midweek business trips, 1–3 weeks can still work.
- For big family trips in December, book months earlier if you can.
2. Watch patterns on your specific route
Johannesburg ⇄ Cape Town behaves differently to Johannesburg ⇄ Durban or Cape Town ⇄ Durban. Airline competition, events and public holidays all affect how prices move.
If you fly a route often, start paying attention to what feels expensive vs normal. That pattern is more useful than any global rule from another country.
- Use a comparison tool to check the same route on different dates.
- Notice when morning flights vs evening flights are cheaper.
- Track a few sample dates so you get a feel for the range.
3. Avoid booking at the very last minute, unless you have to
There are rare last-minute deals, but they are the exception, not the rule – especially on busy routes or Sunday evening flights back to Joburg.
Airlines know when a flight is nearly full. Close to departure, prices often go up as the cheapest fare classes sell out.
- If you know you’re travelling, don’t gamble on tomorrow being cheaper.
- Aim to book once you see a price that looks fair for that route and season.
- The cost of waiting too long is usually higher than the chance of a miracle bargain.
4. Be realistic about peak periods
School holidays, long weekends and December coastal migrations push demand way up. On these dates, the best time to book is: much earlier.
Leaving peak-season bookings to the last minute can mean paying thousands more or losing the times you actually want.
- For December coastal holidays, think in months, not weeks.
- For Easter and long weekends, try to lock in flights as soon as dates are firm.
- If you’re flexible, consider flying a day earlier or later around the peak.
5. Use alerts and regular checks instead of constant refreshing
You don’t need to live on flight sites. Set alerts or simply check in every few days once you’re in the right booking window.
When a price drops into the lower end of what you’ve seen for that route, that’s usually your cue to book.
- Avoid obsessively checking multiple times a day – it creates stress.
- Focus on the overall price range rather than chasing R50 differences.
- Remember to factor in baggage and time-of-day convenience as well as price.
6. Stop believing the “only on Tuesdays” myth
Those headlines come from old, global datasets and don’t reflect current South African airline pricing. Modern yield management changes prices constantly based on demand, not just the day of the week.
You can absolutely find good fares on Fridays, Sundays or any other day – if you’re booking in a sensible window.