Everyone knows that Tuesday is the best day of the week to buy aircraft tickets…or maybe it’s Sunday. In any case, there must be the best day of the week to buy flights, right?
When it comes to booking flights, conventional wisdom is abundant. The problem is that most of this is based on assumptions, outdated facts, and good old-fashioned self-fulfillment.
Set aside all of that and examine data from two new studies that suggest the best time of the week to buy airline tickets and how far in advance you should book your flight.
When Is the Best Time to Book a Flight?
Travelers have traditionally been encouraged to book flights on Tuesdays in order to get the best airline deal. There was a time when this was correct. A decade ago, airlines usually started fresh promotions on Tuesdays, and they were fast to match each other’s pricing. This could lead to low-cost flights on Tuesdays. If an airline announced a new sale.
This advice, however, is no longer valid. Airlines do not always match their competitors’ sales, and they do not always release sales on Tuesdays. Now, depending on whatever study you read, the best day of the week to book airline tickets varies.
According to a recent Expedia survey, the best day to book flights is Sunday. Expedia discovered that when comparing Sunday flight costs to Friday flight fares, consumers save 5% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights. Sunday has been the best day of the week to book flights for the previous four years.
Another recent Google analysis discovered that flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays were 1.9% less expensive on average than flights on Saturdays and Sundays. However, Google’s conclusion in revealing the study results was: “There isn’t much value in purchasing your tickets on a certain day of the week.” We agree with this advice. The best day of the week to book airline tickets is when a flight discount becomes available. And that will not be consistent on any given weekday.
When is the Best Time to Book a Domestic Flight?
According to a CheapAir.com 2022 study, the best time to buy aircraft tickets for domestic travel is roughly 76 days before your departure date. Keep in mind that this is an average, not that you should log on exactly 76 days before your trip. In reality, CheapAir.com’s peak booking window is quite expansive: 127 to 21 days in advance, which the business claims are approximately a month longer than the prime booking window in its 2021 study.
When tickets for domestic flights are first issued, around a year before the flight, the price is higher. According to CheapAir.com, those costs will gradually fall until they reach their lowest point in the peak booking window (approximately four months to three weeks before the journey), after which they would likely skyrocket.
When is the Best Time to Book an International Flight?
Overall, reserving earlier rather than later is preferable for international travel — ideally, six months before your intended flights, according to Expedia. However, there is some geographical variation. CheapAir.com discovered the best times to book for the following destinations:
- Canada: 300 to 3.5 months prior to departure
- Mexico: 4.5 to 1 month prior to departure
- The Caribbean: 5 to 1.5 months before departure
- Central America: 5 to 2 months before departure
- South America: 4.5 to 1.5 months before departure
- Europe: 6.5 to 1 month prior to departure
- Africa: 10 to 2 months prior to departure
- Oceania and the South Pacific: 10 to 9.5 months prior to departure
- Asia: ten months prior to leaving
- Middle East: 10 to less than 2 months before departure
As you can see, booking ahead of time is usually preferable. The actual trick to obtaining a cheap international ticket is to avoid peak travel times, such as summer and big holidays (don’t forget – this covers holidays in your destination as well as your own).
When Is the Best Time to Book a Flight for Summer 2023 Travel?
Unfortunately, there aren’t many offers for summer flights because it’s generally one of the busiest times of year to travel. According to Expedia and Hopper, airfare prices will surge during the holiday season. In an ideal world, you’ll want to book flights for summer vacation as soon as possible, preferably at least six months in advance. Expedia and Hopper do highlight that costs will likely peak in June and then fall during July and August, so search for late-summer travel to obtain the best airfare rates.
When to Book Flights for Holiday Travel in 2023
You might think it’s a little early to be thinking about holiday travel, and you’d be correct in general – the best time to book flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas is typically in September. But it never hurts to get an early start on tracking airline prices so you can book as soon as you locate a good deal.
Now, if you travel on a regular basis throughout the year, we have a little tip for you: Consider booking your holiday flights now — or whenever you discover a good offer — but make sure to book a fare that will give you a credit if you cancel (usually, this means avoiding basic economy).
If prices fall between the time you book and September, you can cancel your initial ticket and use the credit to book the lower rate. The only disadvantage is that you will still have some credit, which you may use to treat yourself to a future flight. Just don’t let that credit go to waste!
Is There a Cheaper Day to Book a Flight Than Others?
There used to be some validity to the idea that certain days were better than others for getting cheap flights. According to the booking app Hopper, research reveals that this is more of a fiction anymore. The software discovered that this applied to less than 2% of journeys and resulted in a 6% savings.
“There is no one day or ‘golden rule’ about when to book that applies to all travel,” said Hayley Berg, Hopper’s head economist. Hopper recommends the best time to book specific routes and dates based on eight years of data and 70 trillion flight fares. A popular misconception is that “booking on a Tuesday” guarantees a passenger the best pricing. The reality is that rates change so frequently and are dependent on the route, travel dates, and so on that there is no one day that guarantees you the best price.
TPG recommends starting to monitor rates 3-4 months before your vacation date and booking 1-2 months in advance for domestic trips. We recommend starting to watch rates 6-7 months in advance for international travel and booking 3-5 months in advance.
According to Bob Harrell, an airfare analyst who examines airline pricing, there may not be a single day to ensure cheaper tickets and airfare prices may fluctuate Monday through Friday.
According to Harrell, airlines use customer demand and booking trends when deciding whether to offer or close certain types of tickets and whether to raise or lower existing fares.
So, how can you put this knowledge to use while purchasing plane tickets?
To book at the best price, we recommend using a price tracking tool that provides real-time alerts on price changes.
When Is the Best Time to Travel?
While airfare prices vary depending on when you book, flying midweek is likely to be less expensive than flying on weekends.
“Travelers who fly midweek, usually on Wednesday, can save an average of $56 per ticket on domestic airfare throughout the year,” according to Hopper data. “Midweek savings spike over $60 per ticket during busy spring break and summer vacation months, while flying midweek over the holidays can save you $100 or more.”
The same is true of international travel: According to Hopper, a weeklong long-distance journey departing midweek costs $70 less than the identical vacation departing on a weekend.
When Is the Best Time to Book Flights for Summer Vacation?
If you haven’t already, now is the time to book your flights for summer vacation. Finding international ticket prices or deals during popular summer travel periods needs five to six months of preparation ahead of time.
“If you’re traveling over a popular spring or summer long weekend, book three to four months in advance for the best prices and availability,” Berg suggests. “Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends tend to see sold-out flights and high prices if you don’t plan ahead.”
Set a Google Flights alert for your favorite routes now to check airline prices if you are planning a trip. If you’re getting a decent deal, Google Flights will notify you. If rates are currently high, you should wait a few days before booking. You might get lucky and find a price reduction.
Ultra-long-haul flights to Asia and Australia often have the lowest prices closer to five months before your departure date. In other words, the opportunity for some summer flights is rapidly closing.
However, you still have time to plan domestic summer vacations because you won’t need to book them as soon.
Two to three months before your departure date is the golden spot for summer travel. There’s no pressing need to book an August vacation right now. However, it is critical to begin following pricing.
There are still bargains to be had.
TPG offers weekly deals to Europe. Subscribe to our email to stay up to date on the latest bargains. JetBlue recently advertised a sale with round-trip coach flights to Amsterdam from New York starting at $475.
This summer, according to Hopper, domestic flights will cost an average of $350 per passenger. That’s down more than 10% from $400 a year ago, but it’s still higher than the pre-pandemic norm.
To maximize savings, book midweek departures in July. For both spring break and peak summer vacation, flying during the week rather than the weekend can result in savings of more than $60 per ticket.
When it comes to the holidays, those same midweek flights might save you anywhere from $80 to $130.
Is It Possible to Book a Flight More Than a Year in Advance?
The simple answer is no. Most major scheduled airlines make their flights available for booking 330 to 361 days in advance.
Flights on American Airlines and Delta Air Lines can be ordered 331 days in advance, while flights on United Airlines can be purchased 337 days in advance. Some airlines, including as Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit, open their reservations for flights six months in advance on average, at various times throughout the year.
How to Find Low-Cost Last-Minute Flights
As the trip date approaches, airfare often rises, sometimes dramatically. The cheapest fares are frequently subject to a 21-day advance purchase requirement. As a result, last-minute flight offers are uncommon.
Here are some ways to explore if you need to travel quickly and your destination is set. Take note that these are some of the same tactics used while looking for low-cost flights in general.
#1. Consider Flying to or from a Different Airport
Examine itineraries to and from other airports that are adequately accessible. Positioning yourself at a different departure point may provide you with more flight alternatives and reduced pricing. Similarly, arriving at a different airport may result in a lower price. Flying into Chicago Midway, for example, may be less expensive than flying into Chicago O’Hare, or traveling into London Gatwick rather than London Heathrow.
#2. You can be an early bird or a night owl.
Cheaper flights are frequently available at inconvenient times, such as early morning or late at night.
#3. Be Prepared to Change Planes
Flights with one or more stops can be less expensive, especially with long layovers.
#4. Use spontaneity to your advantage.
If you’re looking for low-cost flights for a last-minute trip, Google Flights’ Explore function is your best buddy. Simply enter your departure airport and dates into Google Flights, leave the destination field blank, and click “Explore.” Google will show the lowest cost for all places worldwide.
The Bottom Line
There have been studies, and the results are equivocal. By purchasing flights on Sundays, you may be able to save money. Perhaps reserving midweek will save you some money.
One thing is certain: getting cheap flights no longer entails reserving on the “right” day. Instead, you should use tools and flight trackers to locate the best travel pricing. If you’ve booked a fare with no change costs, continue to monitor flight prices for decreases. This is where you can truly save money on your flights.
- WHAT DAY ARE FLIGHTS CHEAPEST TO BOOK? All You Need To Know
- How Far in Advance Should I Book a Flight in 2023?
- When to Buy Plane Tickets 2023: Best Easy Guide
- BEST TRAVEL APP FOR FLIGHTS: Best App for Flights, Hotels & What You Should Know
- When Is the Best Time to Book a Flight? What You Should Know
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