Airfare can be a major expense, so it’s important to know when to buy plane tickets in order to get the best deal. In this article, we’ll discuss the best time to buy plane tickets, as well as some other factors that can affect airfare prices.
When to Buy Plane Tickets
Domestic
CheapAir.com conducted a study in 2022 and found that, on average, 76 days before your departure date is the best time to buy domestic airline tickets. It’s important to remember that this is just an average and that you don’t necessarily need to start planning your trip 76 days in advance.
According to CheapAir.com, the best time to book a flight is anywhere from 127 to 21 days in advance, which is about a month later than the best time to book a flight in the 2021 study.
When tickets for domestic flights are first made available, typically a year before departure, they are priced at a premium. According to CheapAir.com, these costs will gradually decrease, reaching a minimum around the ideal booking window (again, this is around four months to three weeks before the flight), after which you can expect a significant increase.
International
If you want to get the best deals on international flights, Expedia recommends booking as far in advance as possible, preferably six months in advance. However, there is some variation across regions. The best times to book a flight to the following locations were identified by CheapAir.com:
- Mexico: Four and half months to a month before departure
- Canada: Three hundred days to three and half months before departure
- Central America: Five months to two months before departure
- The Caribbean: Five months to one and half months before departure
- Europe: Six and half months to a month before departure
- South America: Four and half months to a month and a half before departure
- Oceania/South Pacific: Ten to Nine and half months before departure
- Middle East: Ten months to just under two months before departure
- Africa: Ten months to two months before departure
- Asia: Ten months before departure
As you can see, making reservations ahead of time is recommended. Furthermore, avoiding summer and major holidays (remember, that includes holidays in your destination as well as your own) is the real trick to finding good deals on international airfare.
How Come Airline Ticket Costs Change So Frequently?
Knowing what factors influence airfare fluctuations will help you find the best deal. It’s all about the timing. To be more specific, airline tickets rarely go on sale closer to the departure date. Instead, if you can be flexible with your departure date, booking a flight four months to three weeks in advance is likely to save you the most money.
CheapAir.com claims that after that time, fares will increase.
Of course, there could be additional variables that play a role here. Seasonal shifts and holidays, for instance, can have a significant effect on pricing at various times of the year.
The Best Time to Buy an Airline Ticket Could Be Anytime
As much as I hate to state the obvious, the best day to buy plane tickets is when they are inexpensive. Consider this from the viewpoint of the airline. Do you think airlines would offer their best deals on the cheapest day of the week if everyone knew which day of the week or date on the calendar was the cheapest? Or, to maximize profits, maybe they’d raise prices just a little bit on that day.
Instead, when airlines need to fill seats, they offer discounted fares. Perhaps a new route has just begun service, and the airline is trying to fill empty seats. It could drive ticket prices to the ground. We saw this firsthand when Norse Atlantic Airways began offering flights to Europe for as little as $120 round-trip.
Or, the airline may have priced its tickets too high for too long, resulting in a flight with many empty seats. If there are still empty seats on that flight, you can bet the airline will lower the price.
Seasonal Considerations
If you’re looking for some guidelines when shopping for plane tickets, check out CheapAir.com’s six booking zones. However, the firm stresses that they may alter based on the time of year.
- Fall: Booking a trip in the fall allows you to avoid peak prices and still get good deals. On average, the optimal time to buy is 69 days ahead of schedule, except for the week of Thanksgiving, when earlier reservations are recommended.
- Winter: Christmas and New Year’s travel will always be more expensive, but other than that, winter can be a great time to get away on a budget. Plan on buying your plane tickets 94 days in advance for non-holiday travel.
- Spring: Planning ahead is essential for a successful trip during the Spring when a large number of people embark on vacations at different times. Get your tickets as far in advance as you can, preferably 84 days.
- Summer: Summer is the peak travel season in the United States. When planning your trip, CheapAir.com suggests you buy your tickets 99 days in advance.
Helpful Hints for Booking Flights
Keep CheapAir.com’s suggested strategies and booking windows in mind as you search for the lowest possible fare. Another thing to keep in mind is to never pass up a good deal. It’s possible that putting off a decision will end up costing you more money. On the other hand, it might not be good for your finances to wait too long because the price will increase.
Using a credit card with travel perks could be another option for cutting costs on air travel.
And while these perks may not reduce the price of your plane ticket, they can help you save money in other areas. You can find the best travel rewards card for your needs by comparing the features, benefits, and costs of the top cards in this category. Blackout dates and other restrictions on booking award travel are important factors to consider when comparing travel rewards cards.
Where To Find Discounted Airfares
The myth of the “best day to book a flight” has been busted; now, let’s talk about the real ways to save money on airline tickets.
#1. Flexible Flight Reservations and Rebooking
Standard economy and higher-class tickets on U.S. airlines no longer incur a fee to be changed. That means you can plan ahead and save money by reserving your trip at a lower rate as soon as the price drops.
The first step is to book a flight as soon as you have an idea of when you might be leaving. Choose a ticket that can be altered or canceled without penalty. Check the fare class carefully before you make your purchase because basic economy tickets cannot be modified or refunded after the first 24 hours.
Check the cost of that specific flight regularly. Change your flight with the airline to the cheaper ticket if you notice a price drop. Don’t forget to use your flight voucher before it expires; otherwise, you won’t get a refund for the difference in price. This plan presupposes that you have plans to use the voucher in the near future; if you don’t, then you should look elsewhere.
#2. Money-Saving Travel Guarantee from Capital One
The Capital One Travel portal is a useful tool for eligible Capital One credit cardholders to use in their search for low-cost airline tickets.
In order to determine the best time to purchase a flight, Capital One collaborates with the flight data service Hopper to analyze billions of flight prices every day. When you use Capital One Travel to look for flights, you’ll get advice on whether you should reserve your seat right away or hold off.
If the Hopper-powered price predictor tool suggests that you book now, Capital One and Hopper are so sure of their model that they are offering free price drop protection to customers. If the price of your flight drops within a certain window of time after you’ve booked it, Capital One will automatically issue you a travel credit of up to $50.
You can earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when you book through Capital One Travel.
How to Find Low-Cost Flights at the Last Minute
Nearer to the departure date, airfare tends to rise, sometimes dramatically. The best deals on airfare are usually only available if purchased at least 21 days in advance. Therefore, last-minute flight discounts are uncommon.
Here are some options to consider if you have to make a last-minute trip with a set final destination. It’s important to remember that some of these tactics are shared with the search for low-cost airfare in general.
Consider Flying to or From Alternate Airports
Look into flights to and from other airports that are within reach. Changing your departure point might open up more affordable flight options. Similarly, you might be able to save money by using a different airport as your point of arrival. It’s possible to save money by departing from and arriving at airports other than the two most popular ones in major cities like Chicago’s O’Hare and London’s Heathrow.
Be an Early Bird or a Night Owl
Less convenient times to fly, such as early in the morning or late at night, typically have lower flight prices.
Be Willing to Change Planes
It’s possible to save money by taking a flight route with one or more stops, especially if the layovers are lengthy.
Use Spontaneity to Your Favor
The Explore feature on Google Flights is your best bet for finding last-minute deals on airfare. Input your airport of departure, and travel dates, and click “Explore” on the Google Flights search page without entering a destination. Google will show you the lowest price for worldwide travel.
Is There a Preferred Time of Year to Book a Flight?
The airfare prices surveyed by CheapAir.com are broken down into six distinct booking windows. The optimal time to purchase airline tickets is between 21 and 115 days before departure. During this time, airfares are typically within 5 percent of their all-time lows. If you wait until the last minute to book (between zero and six days in advance), you can expect to pay an extra $220 on average.
What Causes Airfare Price Changes?
Airline ticket prices can change for a variety of reasons. Booking and flight seasons, vacation times, seasonal shifts, and general volatility all play a role. For instance, as demand for travel decreased due to restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prices fell. Increases in both fuel costs and consumer demand have a similar effect on ticket prices.
In what ways can I locate the most affordable airline tickets?
The best way to find the most affordable plane tickets is to compare prices. Compare the costs of various airlines and booking services. If you want to find the best price, you can ask specific airlines, use a regular travel agency, or do some research on your own online. However, the earlier in advance you book your ticket, the better. If you want to get the best price on your plane ticket, you should buy it as far in advance as possible—preferably between 21 and 115 days.
When During the Week Should One Purchase Airline Tickets?
There is supposedly a time of the week when plane tickets are at their lowest price. CheapAir.com claims that is not the case. Tickets are the same price regardless of the day of the week or the time of day.
Conclusion
There have been studies, but the findings aren’t clear. Flights booked on Sundays could end up being cheaper for you. Perhaps you can get a better rate if you travel during the week.
But in reality, it’s now obvious that flying for less no longer requires knowing the “right” day to fly or buy plane tickets.
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Buy Plane Tickets: References
