Want to get the cheapest flight possible? The best time to book depends on a variety of factors, including where you are traveling and what time of year your trip will be.
In general, the day of the week when you book your ticket won't impact the price, but the days of the week on which you choose to travel will. Choosing a less popular travel day will allow you to book a cheaper ticket. Luckily, both discount travel websites and airline websites will let you search for flight options for multiple days at a time to help you select the cheapest fare.
Key Takeaways
- Consumers have a range of options when it comes to booking airline tickets.
- For the least expensive fares on flights to destinations in North America, book between three weeks and two and a half months before your departure date.
- Seasonal changes and holidays can create price fluctuations in ticket prices.
- The day of the week that you book a flight does not affect the price, but the days when you fly do.
- Using a rewards credit card to book could help you earn miles or points that you could apply to savings on future flights.
Why Do Airline Ticket Prices Fluctuate?
If you're interested in getting the best deal on flights, it helps to understand what causes changes in pricing. Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date or if you book too early—more than five months in advance. Instead, flights tend to be the least expensive when you book between three weeks and two and a half months (21 and 74 days) in advance of your departure date.
According to CheapAir.com, you can expect rates to be higher both before and after that period. There may, of course, be some compounding factors that can affect this. For example, seasonal changes and holidays can have a big impact on pricing at different times.
Using a free tool like Google Flights can help you stay on top of fare pricing trends so you can pinpoint the best time to book flights.
Discount airfare company CheapAir.com analyzes millions of flights and ticket prices each year. In its 2024 Annual Airfare Study, the company looked at fares for more than 917 million flights in over 8,000 markets. The results show volatility is the main reason behind the prices of flights.
The company found that ticket prices fluctuate based on the time span between the purchase and the flight, seasonality, and holidays. According to the study, the day of the week of your purchase is a myth and does not affect the price of tickets. However, the day of the week that you fly does matter: Wednesdays, followed by Tuesdays, are the least expensive for domestic flights. Fridays and Sundays are the priciest times to fly.
When to Book Airfare Based on Cost and Availability
From its extensive analysis, CheapAir.com identified six timeframes, or booking zones, for buying airfares based on the number of days before departure and what to expect during each of them. Here's how fares compare across each booking zone. The table below lists each booking period, the number of days in advance, and some of the key considerations for each.
| Booking Period | Days in Advance | Notes |
| First Dibs | 206 to 315 | You will probably have more choices for itinerary and seating, but you can expect to pay about 36% more than if you waited to get the lowest airfare. |
| Peace of Mind | 75 to 205 | Tickets cost about 14% more than if you waited for the lowest airfare. There are plenty of good options for seats and flights. |
| Prime Booking Window | 21 to 74 | This is the ideal time to hunt for bargains and book your flights as airfares average within 5% of their lowest prices. |
| Push Your Luck | 14 to 20 | Fares often rise as the most convenient options are sold out and the best seats are taken. It is still possible to find some lower fares, though they average 8% more than the lowest price. |
| Playing With Fire | 7 to 13 | Ticket prices are cheaper than if you wait until the last minute to buy your tickets, but it's still not the ideal time to buy. Tickets purchased now cost 25% more than their lowest price on average. Flight and seat choices are also limited by this time. |
| Hail Mary | 0 to 6 | Try to avoid booking flights during this period unless a last-minute emergency arises. You'll pay an average of 56% more than if you booked during the prime booking window. |
Seasonal Considerations
The general recommendations that CheapAir.com lays out in the six booking zones can be helpful guidelines for buying plane tickets for travel in the U.S. But the company notes they may change depending on the season.
- Fall: Fall is the second busiest travel season in the U.S. after summer, but you can usually wait a bit longer to book fall travel and still get decent deals. The average best time to buy is 55 days in advance. The exception is Thanksgiving week, for which you should book travel significantly earlier.
- Winter: Travel around the Christmas and New Year holidays will usually cost more than other times, no matter when you book your tickets. Otherwise, winter is the most affordable season in which to fly. A flight in January costs an average of $125 compared to traveling in November. Try to book ticketsfor winter travel 42 days in advance.
- Spring: Many people travel during a range of days for spring break, so the key to travel during this season is to plan ahead. In the United States, March and April tend to have more expensive flights than May. Booking spring flights 44 days in advance will help you get the best deal.
- Summer: This is the most popular season for American travel. CheapAir.com recommends buying your plane tickets 35 days in advance for summer travel to get the best prices.
Note
When comparing travel rewards cards, be sure to consider whether any blackout dates or other restrictions may apply for booking award travel.
Additional Tips for Booking Flights
While you shop around for the best possible flight, if you spot a bargain, take it. If you wait, it may cost you more money in the end. Generally speaking, the longer you wait, the more you'll end up paying. Even if you can find a reasonable base fare, booking close to your departure date could mean you end up paying extra for things like seat selection or luggage.
Another thing to consider is how a travel rewards credit card could help with saving money on airfare. For example, you may be able to find a card that offers perks such as:
- Free checked bags
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credits
- Free companion passes
- Elite status in frequent flyer programs
- Complimentary airport lounge access
- Free food and drinks onboard
- Complimentary in-flight WiFi
These kinds of benefits may not trim money off your actual ticket cost, but they can save you on other flight-related expenses. Checking out some of the best travel rewards cards can help you find one that offers the right combination of rewards, benefits, and costs.
When Is the Best Period to Book a Flight?
CheapAir.com's survey on airline ticket prices recognizes six booking periods. The best time to book an airline flight is the prime booking window, which is 21 to 74 days in advance. Airfares generally average within 5% of their lowest prices during this period. Compare that to last-minute bookings (between zero and six days in advance) when you'll pay an average of 56% more than the prime booking window.
Why Do Airline Prices Fluctuate?
There are a number of reasons why airline prices fluctuate. These factors include booking and flight seasons, holidays, seasonal changes, and overall volatility. For example, high fuel costs and consumer demand can push ticket prices up.
How Do I Find the Best Airline Ticket Prices?
The best way to find the cheapest airline ticket price is to shop around. Price your tickets with different airlines and agents. You can always consult individual airlines and traditional travel agents, or search online for the best price yourself. Emergencies can arise, but booking your ticket up to seven months in advance will get you the best seats and low prices. But the best time to book your ticket is the prime booking window, which is between 21 and 74 days in advance.
What Is the Best Day of the Week to Book Airline Tickets?
You may have heard that there is a cheap window of time during the week to book your airline tickets. According to CheapAir.com, that's a myth. The day and time of the week have no impact on ticket prices; the price variation between booking days averages less than $1.
What Is the Cheapest Day of the Week to Fly?
CheapAir.com has found that Wednesday is the least expensive day to fly and costs an average of $102 less than if you fly on Sunday, the priciest day to fly. Tuesday is the second cheapest day to fly, averaging $99 less than flying on Sunday.
The Bottom Line
Getting a great deal on flights means understanding what affects airfare pricing. Booking months in advance of your travel dates means you will have more choices for seats and itineraries, but airfares will be more expensive. Booking just a few days or weeks ahead will mean you have fewer options and more expensive fares.
The best time to book airfare is within a window of 21 to 74 days before you plan to fly, and the cheapest tickets are generally on mid-week flights. You can also save if you use an airline miles credit card to book flights that help you earn miles or points toward future air travel. You may also consider joining one or more frequent flyer programs to rack up additional money-saving miles.
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