Knowing when to book your flights to save you the most money has become more confusing with all the new algorithms, ever-changing world events, and weather disruptions.
And while there’s so much conflicting information on the Internet, these tips from Conde Nast’s most recent article on saving money on flying should simplify it, making it easier to choose the best options quickly.
1. Best times to book.
A recent report by Google Flights analyzed the last five years of historical airfare data suggesting that the lowest fares are between 20 to 60 days out, with the lowest price around 44 days before departing.
Scott’s Cheap Flights call this time frame the Goldilocks Window, which typically falls between one to three months out for domestic flights and two to eight months for international flights.
Add a few months if you’re traveling during popular times like July, August, or Christmas.
2. Myth — There are no best days to book.
This used to be accurate, but not anymore.
These days, airfare is run on complex algorithms that account for hundreds of ever-changing factors like consumer demand, oil prices, competitors’ prices, and other factors that change by the second.
Though there’s no longer a reliable best day to book, there are cheaper days and times when traveling.
Generally, flying domestically on any of these days is cheaper: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and during these months: January, February, March, October, and November.
Those travel days tend to be cheaper because business travelers avoid them, and the months are less popular for vacationers (except for domestic flights around Thanksgiving).
Internationally, the best days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
One noteworthy change is the increased flexibility many airlines offer regarding changes or refunds, so booking well in advance and making changes later is a better option.
3. Are there ‘best’ times to fly? Yes.
Very early morning, midday, and late night flights offer the best deals, and International red-eyes will save you a bunch.
4. Should you wait until the last minute for better deals?
No. Prices can rise as much as 25 percent two weeks out and up to 30 percent in the final week.
Gone are the days of last-minute deals; however, unexpected price drops are becoming more common again, and you can sometimes get great deals if you’re prepared to be flexible and aren’t relying on finding a cheap flight closer to your travel date.
But booking as far out as possible is still advisable to avoid the stress of uncertainty and the possibility of much higher costs.
You can locate the best flights through SkyScanner which is a metasearch engine and travel agency based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The site is available in over 30 languages and is used by 100 million people per month. The company lets people research and book travel options for their trips, including flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Thanks for reading!
