Everywhere I go, people ask me, “Joel, what does a Fareologist do?” “Fareology,” I always tell them. This typically prompts a quick, fruitless visit to the dictionary, after which they ask, “And what is fareology?”
Fareology is the application of data science to airfare and other travel-related data. Here at Bing Travel, we collect millions of airfares every day. We collect millions of hotel rates every day. And each morning I show up at work, hunker down in my cubicle, boot up my supercomputer, turn on my enormous wall of monitors and check out what the data are trying to tell me.
I have dashboards that answer questions such as, “Can I afford to take off to Maui for a week?” or “How much did I overpay for my tickets to Boston?” or “What’s the hot new destination that everyone’s suddenly buying tickets to?” I check out our Airfare Deals pages for interesting new record lows. I look at the “Farecast 100,” a lovingly-compiled index of airfares in 100 popular markets that helps me keep my finger on the broad pulse of fare trends. I watch the Rate Indicators to find screaming hotel deals. I check my e-mail and my answering machine and my @fareologist Twitter to find out who needs urgent fareological aid and to see how I can help them.
And people need my help! Here are some examples:
• “How do airfares out of Phoenix for travel in July compare to last year?” (Answer: down 17%)• “What city has the best hotel discounts over July 4th weekend?” (Answer: Las Vegas, where premium hotels are down 34% from last year!)• “Is it too late to get cheap tickets for Mardi Gras?” (Answer: Sorry, Mardi Gras was in February.)• “I’m still obsessing about a trip I took from Dallas to Denver from September 2, 2007, to September 9, 2007. I paid $200 for my ticket. Could I have gotten a better price by waiting?” (Answer: You could have gotten your ticket for $179 if you’d bought the second week in August.)
Luckily, these are the types of questions I like to answer. I like data! I like helping people! I like making smart decisions! I like travel! And, above all, I like using data to help people make smart decisions about travel.
I’ll be here twice every week, answering your questions, sharing what I know, and helping you save money. Do you have any burning fareological questions? Leave me a comment on the blog or send me a tweet, and I’ll see what I can do.
Happy travels!
Hi,
This is awesome stuff! Is this applicable to USA only? Would you be able to help us out in India?
Thanks
Any chance you will upload a pic of your supercomputer and wall of monitors? :)
@varun I don't currently have India airfare data. Hopefully someday!
@mario It looks a lot like the "Ultimate Computer" here: meatfighter.com/.../index.html
Thanks for providing such a service.
Brilliant idea that only a select few could provide. I am assuming that it's world wide??
Even if not - you will assist many travellers.
As a general rule, if I am traveling in mid July, how early should I buy a ticket. I am going from Houston to Ft. Myers.
@yaninayoga Right now the air predictions are mostly focused on trips originating in the US (but including international destinations). Hopefully we'll be able to expand that soon.
@michaze As a general rule, you should be shopping now -- prices tend to go up in the last few weeks before a trip. Also as a general rule, the more flexible you are with your travel dates, the better chance you have of finding a ridiculously low fare.
For instance, if I look right now,
for 7/18 - 7/25 the cheapest is $296 ($298 nonstop)
for 7/21 - 7/28 the cheapest is $236 ($238 nonstop)
Be flexible!
I'm looking to travel to Las Vegas in September. Any advice on when to purchase? Should I go with a hotel/flight package or a la carte? Any good websites for travel advice? Thanks!
I don’t know for sure.
as its july now and alittle to late for me to book a holiday for july, when would you recommend booking for next years july vacations, i would love to go to new york shopping.
Wish I had all those infos but we can always count on you to compile them for us right!
how i get
when it post?
hi joel,
i'm planning a weekend trip in mid-October from Chicago to San Francisco (friday night departure from CHI, sunday departure from SFO). when is the best time to purchase tickets? right now flights are in the low 300s, but i'm wondering if it will get any better. i know it's still three months out...
thanks!
My wife's mother's family has decided (somewhat at the last minute) to have a family reunion in GA in the beginning of August. Is there any place one can potentially get last minute deals on airline tickets for specific dates?
In general, I keep hearing "$200 is too much to pay to go to [X], I hear you can go to [nearby place Y] for $100". Is the difference one of flexibility in travel dates (it's more expensive to fly in on 7 Aug. and back on 10 Aug rather than "whatever is cheapest in early/mid August), the location (is it that much cheaper to fly from NYC to South FL rather than GA or North FL, even though the latter are closer?), did the person making this statement hear wrong (e.g. $100 was really $149 + taxes) ... or all of the above?
I am traveling to LA from Charleston, SC. My dates are flexible, but I do have to be there March 1st, 2010 to March 5th, 2010. What is the best/cheapest way to get these tickets?
