Start planning your holiday travels now: Discover the best times to secure the lowest airfare in 2024

Now is the moment to begin tracking and booking your holiday flights.

At TPG, one of our primary objectives is to assist you in finding the lowest airfare. However, your success in uncovering great airline deals hinges on several factors.

Flights during the holidays, spring break, and peak summer times tend to be significantly pricier. While there are strategies to improve your chances of landing better deals, many commonly shared tips are simply inaccurate.

Have you ever come across the idea that booking a flight on a specific day of the week guarantees the lowest fares? Perhaps you recall a relative who claims they snagged a fantastic deal by checking flight prices at the stroke of midnight on a Wednesday. Or maybe your friend insists on setting a reminder for 1 p.m. on Thursdays when searching for flights.

That legend is simply unfounded.

Although rumors (and so-called "studies") abound, here’s what airfare experts reveal about how timing affects flight prices, enabling you to make the most of your savings.

Now is nearly the best time to secure your holiday flight bookings.

Historical data indicates that the window for finding optimal prices on domestic holiday airfare is just around the corner. I highly recommend that readers begin their flight searches now, set up Google Flights alerts, and seize deals as soon as they appear.

To secure the best prices for holiday travel, my top recommendation is to start monitoring flights three months in advance. Aim to book your Thanksgiving trips by early to mid-October and your Christmas trips by Halloween. And of course, if you spot a good deal before then, don’t hesitate to book it.

According to travel booking platform Hopper, the best practice is to book your flights anywhere from 25 to 150 days before your departure date.

This aligns with Google’s findings as well. "For domestic trips, average fares tend to be lowest 38 days ahead of your flight," stated James Byers, group product manager of Google's search team, in a 2024 travel trends report. "Historically, the lowest price range is between 21 to 52 days prior to departure."

Based on their search and booking analytics, Google reports that prices for Thanksgiving are at their lowest 45 days before departure, while Christmas prices hit their lowest 58 days prior. This reinforces my advice to book Thanksgiving trips in early October and Christmas trips later in that month.

I really like using Google Flights because you can set alerts for specific destinations (like Grandma's place in Des Moines during Christmas week). Right now, I’m setting alerts for flights back to California for the holidays.

In the example below, I’ve set a Google Flight alert for a trip lasting 12 days from December 21 to January 2. I’ll receive a notification if the fare decreases.

Google informs me that current prices are "high," so it seems wise for me to hold off on booking.

I appreciate Google Flights' feature that displays a price trend graph for similar travel dates; it might assist me in choosing the best dates to return home for the holidays.

Additional tips for holiday air travel:

Is there a particular day that tends to offer cheaper flight prices?

We frequently receive the question: "What day is the cheapest to book a flight?" There’s a widespread belief that certain days yield better flight deals, but studies indicate this is a myth.

While there's no specific day deemed the best for booking, certain windows exist when airlines reduce prices, as noted by Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer travel expert at the booking app Hopper.

Hopper analyzes a decade's worth of data and 80 trillion flight price points to suggest optimal booking times for various routes and dates.

"Generally, we advise travelers to begin tracking prices for domestic flights three to four months prior to departure," Schwimer stated. "Aim to finalize bookings one to two months in advance."

For international travel, the booking period is slightly longer. You should start monitoring prices six to seven months before your trip and aim to book three to five months ahead. This guidance comes from both Hopper and TPG.

"When traveling internationally, early planning is crucial for securing the lowest airfare," said Hayley Berg, Hopper's chief economist, in a separate interview. "Many travelers tend to either book international flights too far in advance or at the last minute, leading to significantly higher costs for their tickets."

Keep in mind that the approach shifts significantly when you use points and miles for bookings. Airlines typically release award seats for highly sought-after business and first-class options either when flight schedules are published or close to the departure date.

Regarding whether a specific day is cheaper for booking, Schwimer noted that "there isn't a single day or a golden rule for when to make reservations."

Berg affirmed this perspective.

"A widespread belief is that booking on a Tuesday will secure the best fare for travelers," she explained. "The truth is, prices fluctuate frequently and vary based on route, travel dates, and other factors, meaning no single day can assure you the lowest price."

What is the optimal day for travel?

While airfare prices vary depending on your booking time, flying midweek is typically less expensive than weekend travel. However, Sundays can also present good deals.

"Traveling midweek can help you save nearly $100 on your fare," Schwimer stated. "So when planning your trip, consider adjusting your dates to midweek instead of flying on weekends. If you can be flexible and choose a Tuesday or Wednesday over a Friday or Saturday, you'll enjoy substantial savings on your journey."

Berg shared a similar perspective.

"Travelers who opt for midweek flights, particularly on Wednesdays, can save an average of $56 per ticket on domestic flights year-round," she noted. "Savings can exceed $60 per ticket during peak spring break and summer vacation periods, while flying midweek during the holidays can save you $100 or more."

Schwimer also offered valuable advice about taking the earliest flight of the day. Those early departures can lead to significant savings. Although waking up at 4 a.m. is tough, the thought of saving money makes it easier to rise early.

"We always suggest booking the first flight of the day, not just to avoid delays and cancellations, but also for better pricing," she explained.

According to Bob Harrell, an airfare consultant at Harrell Associates who studies airline pricing, airfare costs can vary from Monday to Friday. This fluctuation occurs as airlines assess customer demand and booking trends to determine whether to open or close specific fare classes and adjust existing prices.

So, how can you leverage this information to score better airline ticket prices?

Consider using a price tracking tool for real-time updates to help you find the lowest fares. Platforms like Google Flights and Hopper's "Watch This Trip" can assist you in monitoring the price of your chosen route before making a purchase; they will alert you when prices drop to the lowest point for your trip.

When to schedule your holiday travel

Optimal times to secure flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas

As mentioned earlier, October typically offers the best deals for holiday airfare.

"We advise people to begin monitoring prices in August," Schwimer noted, "but our usual deadline for booking is around mid-October, typically by the 14th." She also mentioned that "the latest booking date we recommend for both Thanksgiving and Christmas is usually by Halloween."

In line with this, a Google Flights booking trends report indicates that average flight costs around Christmas tend to be lowest about two months prior to departure.

As the holidays draw nearer, prices are likely to increase, making it wise to book as soon as possible. However, I highly recommend setting alerts on Google Flights to track prices. Additionally, using refundable points or miles can be beneficial in case a better deal arises. If booking with an airline that offers flight credits for price drops, locking in a lower cash rate can be a smart move.

Optimal times to secure flights for New Year's Eve

Similar to Christmas travel, Hopper advises securing your New Year's bookings by Halloween at the latest.

This applies to "almost all major winter holidays," Berg stated. "We suggest booking even earlier. I would recommend securing that New Year's Eve trip before Halloween too."

Ideal times to book flights for summer vacations

Berg mentioned that prices generally decrease about one to two months prior to departure, but last summer, we observed numerous last-minute travel deals — including to Europe.

"Prices fluctuate often," Berg noted. "Don't delay booking, as fares can nearly double in the final three weeks before departure."

For those planning summer travel, Hopper suggests keeping an eye on flight prices at least three to four months prior and booking one to two months ahead of your travel date.

If you're looking to travel internationally next summer, the booking period is naturally longer, especially for long-haul transpacific flights.

"For trips to Asia and Oceania, we advise booking five to seven months in advance," Berg stated. "For Europe and other destinations, booking three to six months ahead is ideal for securing the best rates."

Optimal times to book flights for spring break

The optimal time to arrange your spring break getaway mirrors that of summer trips. You should start keeping an eye on prices for your chosen destination three to four months ahead, depending on when your family's break occurs. Set alerts on Google Flights for your planned trips.

For instance, if your spring break is in March, aim to book by early February. Being flexible can also be beneficial in this scenario.

Keep in mind that demand spikes during the spring break season after the winter lull. Many individuals delay their bookings and end up paying more than necessary.

According to Hopper, airfare rates typically drop one to three months prior to departure but can surge rapidly in the last three to four weeks before spring break.

What about accommodations?

Hotels are unique in that you can often wait longer to find great deals.

"We frequently observe last-minute bargains for hotels in major cities. This is particularly true during holiday weekends," Schwimer shared with TPG. "During the Christmas season, you can often discover fantastic last-minute offers in large urban areas if you hold off on booking.

"Of course, this may not always be the best for planning," Schwimer added, "but we have noticed some excellent deals emerging in that last-minute period in bustling metropolitan areas."

Final thoughts

Although there's no specific time or day that guarantees the lowest airfare, the best strategy is to travel midweek, particularly on Wednesdays, for both domestic and international flights. Weekend travel often comes with a higher price tag, although Sundays can sometimes offer deals.

Additionally, it's advisable to book domestic flights one to two months in advance.

For international journeys, aim to make your reservations three to five months before your departure date for optimal pricing.

If you’re planning to use airline miles, keep in mind that it’s never too early to start checking and booking your flights.