On the second day of the National Day holiday, the average ticket price on the platform began to drop significantly, 20% cheaper than on the 1st. On the 3rd and 4th, ticket prices continued to fall, reaching the lowest point of the holiday period.

Starting from the 5th, return demand rose, and prices gradually climbed, reaching the highest peak of the holiday on October 7th. Low-priced airfares also drove "spontaneous" last-minute bookings. Data from Qunar shows that last-minute hotel bookings in popular cities increased by 30% year-on-year during the holiday period, with Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, and Xi'an among the cities with higher last-minute booking volumes.

These travelers typically book 1 to 2 days in advance and place more emphasis on value for money and destination maturity. However, it should be noted that cheap outbound fares do not necessarily mean the whole trip is cost-effective, as return ticket prices may rise. The platform suggests that travelers who have secured low-priced tickets during the holiday period can return early or choose to travel after the holiday to avoid the peak. If planning to travel during the holiday, it is advisable to focus on the low-price window from October 3rd to 4th; if time is flexible, returning after the holiday on the 8th or 9th when prices fall would result in lower overall travel costs.

Industry insiders say that lower ticket prices during the middle of the National Day holiday is a pattern seen in previous years. This year, the holiday duration is ample, passenger flow is more dispersed, and there are more low-priced routes with larger discounts. For citizens who have not yet planned their trips, seizing the ticket price window on the 3rd and 4th allows them to avoid the peak at the beginning and end of the holiday while saving on transportation costs, easily unlocking a cost-effective National Day trip.