Is there a best time to book a flight?
Getting the best deals on flights is the prerogative of any budget-conscious traveler. Often finding flights at their cheapest can seem like an art form. From setting price alerts to daily checks, discovering the best time to book a flight can appear to be an elusive prospect. Another useful hack is to clear your computer cache or simply go incognito when searching for cheap flights as some websites increase the price when they see you return. The payoff is often significant, and you can end up cutting hundreds of dollars off the total cost of your trip.
So how far in advance should you book a flight to get the best deal? Or is the cheapest time to book a flight in the days leading up to your journey? We’ve put together a list of ideas, to help you get the best value for money when flying.
We also looked at what is the best time to book a hotel.
How far in advance should I book a flight?
Some people swear by booking their flights months in advance, while others argue that waiting till the last-minute is the cheapest time to book flights. If you are looking to travel domestically, according to data from 2.9 million airfares, the best time to book flights is, in fact, 54 days prior to the trip. Checking in and around the 54-day mark is more likely to help you get the best price. At this point, prices start to come down as carriers push to get the remaining tickets sold.
If you buy air tickets way more in advance, you could end up paying significantly more. Same goes for waiting till the last minute- if the demand spikes the prices might surge. Waiting for a last-minute deal and purchasing the ticket in the week of departure might also result in limited flight and seat choices.
For international flights from the U.S, the best time to book a flight is 76 days before departure. However, this figure changes dramatically depending on where in the world you want to go. For Asia, booking 160 days in advance gets you the best deal, whereas, for Africa, it’s 199 days. So make sure to do your homework on the place you intend to visit to get the best prices available.
When is the best day to book a flight?
As discussed above, often the most significant talking points when trying to get cheap air tickets is how far in advance you should book. However, the day and time you book your flights can have a significant impact on the cost and can help you save money.
Another interesting finding that might help save costs and get cheap air tickets is not only focusing on the best time to book a flight but also strategising the most ideal time to fly. Data from AI-based travel app Hopper confirms that the best time to fly for both domestic and international destinations is during weekdays. Hopper found that there are fewer promotional deals on flight tickets over the weekend. Opting to fly on a weekend can cost you an average of $9 on domestic trips and $10 on international air tickets more. They also found that flying on Fridays can cost you around 20 percent more than flying on Tuesdays.
However, it is important to note that these results were collated from millions of flights, and some airlines have their own discount days. So, if you regularly fly with one carrier, be sure to check these out. For instance, with JetBlue the best time to book cheap flights is generally Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
What month is the best to book flights?
Seasonal variations are one of the most significant contributors to the cost of flights. Everyone wants to get away during the summer months, so there is naturally a spike in price around this time. The same applies to Christmas and New Year, which are some of the most costly times to fly.
For the best results, book your flights in advance and try to get away during the shoulder or off-seasons. Not only is demand low for flights but you will also save yourself some money on accommodation.
According to a 2019 study by SkyScanner, in general, the best months to book cheap plane tickets are January, followed by February and August.
What is the best time to book a flight?
Deciding when to book your flight is just one element of getting discounted airfares, the other is choosing the right time to get the cheapest air ticket. According to reports, in general, you should avoid booking air tickets between 7 pm to 10 pm in the evening.
For the US, a SkyScanner study revealed that 6 am EST is the cheapest time of the day to book cheap air tickets and save money on airfares. For Asian countries, the best time to book a cheap flight is Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons or just after midnight.
Take advantage of technology
Most cheap air ticket providers like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights, have price tracking services. These services alert you when a price has gone up or down or when the current price of a flight is likely to expire. If you don’t fancy setting an early morning alarm, then this is the perfect solution. You can create price watches for the flights you are looking at and then book cheap air tickets once you get the notification.
Check out our list of some of the best travel websites to learn more.
Choosing the best time to book a flight
Unfortunately, the best time to book flights is not easy as the prices are dynamic. However, you can get some great deals if you follow the suggestions in this guide. How far in advance you book a flight seems to be one of the biggest price-determining factors, so make sure to get in early, but not too soon!
