In response to Watanabe and Moller’s claim to have devised a complex mathematical equation to calculate the optimum booking time for flights. Skyscanner’s CEO, Gareth Williams, commented:

“The cost of flights can shift significantly dependent on seasonal fluctuations, availability, promotions and new route launches - our job would be a lot easier if it were that straight forward!

“With budget airlines, flight prices almost always increase the closer you get to the departure date, so you will often get a cheaper fare booking as soon as you can, well before 8 weeks prior to departure if possible.

“With scheduled airlines it’s not so clear cut, although more seem to be adopting the budget model of pricing.

“My top recommendations to help consumers find the best fare are to avoid school holidays, fly mid-week, consider flying indirectly as you can save hundreds of pounds by adding only a couple of hours to your journey, look for flights just after term time starts as airlines often slash fares in these so called ‘shoulder seasons’ and finally – consider purchasing two single fares as these can work out cheaper than buying a return ticket.”