The Optimal Time to Secure Your Flight Booking

As a travel editor, one of the most frequent questions I encounter from friends and family when they’re planning flights is: “If I wait, will the fare increase or decrease?”

The response varies based on your timing for searching and booking. Generally, the ideal time to purchase a domestic flight is one to two months in advance. For international flights, booking six to eight months ahead is recommended. Yet, numerous factors can influence the rise (or fall) of an airline ticket’s price.

“The pricing models used by airlines are intricate,” says Mark Crossey, a U.S. travel specialist associated with the flight tracking and booking platform Skyscanner. According to Crossey, demand is the primary factor affecting airfare.

In this context, several factors that can impact airfare fluctuations include:

• The flight route: Are there numerous flights operating between the chosen airports, or is the service somewhat sparse? In the latter case, finding a good deal may prove challenging. Conversely, more competitive routes tend to have lower airfares.
• The time of year: Are you planning to travel during peak seasons like summer or the holidays? If so, expect prices to remain high as your travel date approaches.
• Special events: Is there a significant event happening, such as a festival, major sporting event, or conference? If that’s the case, airfare prices are unlikely to decrease.
• The booking window: How far in advance are you booking? If it's a long way off, prices can still vary significantly. The closer you get to the flight, the less likely prices will drop.

Airline tickets generally become available for purchase up to a year before the departure date, marking the start of the pricing fluctuations.

During the pandemic, airfares were heavily influenced by a dramatic decrease in demand, leading to equally drastic price drops. However, post-pandemic, travel surged unexpectedly, causing a significant rise in demand (coupled with other factors like limited aircraft availability, rising oil costs, and inflation), which resulted in skyrocketing airfares.

The positive news is that airfares reached their peak in April 2023 and have been declining since then.

In September 2023, airfares were 13.4 percent lower than in September 2022 and 6.5 percent below prices from September 2019, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. This downward trend has made airfares significantly more affordable—at least for now.

If you’re set on a particular destination or timeframe, begin monitoring flights early to familiarize yourself with the typical price range. This way, you’ll recognize a great deal when it arises—and can seize the opportunity when a tempting fare appears.

The optimal time to purchase airline tickets is ultimately a blend of strategy and a bit of luck. While we can’t do much about luck, we can certainly assist with your strategy. Fortunately, experts who analyze flight data extensively have shared some tips to boost your chances of snagging cheaper flights. Here’s their advice.

How far ahead should you book a flight for the best price?

For domestic flights, the ideal time to book is one to three months in advance, while for international trips, it’s best to secure your tickets two to eight months ahead.

“We refer to these as the ‘Goldilocks windows,’” says Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, in conversation with Dinogo. “Not too early, not too late—just perfectly timed.”

If you plan to travel during the holidays, over spring break, during peak summer times, or for popular events like Mardi Gras or major music festivals, it's wise to book a bit earlier—aim for three to six months in advance for domestic trips and four to ten months for international journeys.

When deciding how far in advance to book your flights, there isn't a single perfect moment (like exactly 60 days prior to your departure), but rather an ideal window or timeframe, as mentioned earlier, during which you should actively search for flights and finalize your booking before prices escalate.

What is the best day of the week to purchase airline tickets?

While you might have heard that Tuesdays are the best days for lower flight prices, the consensus now is that there isn’t just one day of the week when great deals are guaranteed. Discounts can be found every day.

According to Crossey from Skyscanner, your chances improve slightly earlier in the week. “Airfare tends to follow a weekly cycle, with the lowest prices usually appearing at the start of the week, while the highest prices are often seen later,” Crossey explains.

Most Affordable Day of the Week to Fly

As per travel booking platform Hopper, traveling midweek usually offers the best fares. Tuesday and Wednesday are generally the least expensive days for domestic flights. For international travel, flying midweek is also the most economical option. Hopper suggests departing earlier in the week (Monday to Wednesday) and returning later (Tuesday to Thursday) for international trips.

Tips for Finding the Best Airfare Deals

When hunting for flight prices, tweaking your travel dates, applying filters, and utilizing various search tools can help you discover more appealing fares.

Experiment with different dates using a flight search tool

There are numerous flight search tools available, but one of the most comprehensive options is Google Flights. Its standout feature is the Calendar tool, which enables travelers to view the complete range of airfares throughout each month. Keep in mind, Google Flights is a search tool rather than a booking platform, so users find flights and prices there and then book directly with the airline.

Google Flights has recently introduced a new feature that alerts you to the best times to book your flight. For some time, Google has been informing users whether airfares are low, average, or high compared to historical trends. More recently, for routes with sufficient data, it now indicates when the most affordable booking times typically occur. For example, it might inform you that booking two months ahead usually yields the best prices, and whether you're currently within the ideal timeframe for budget-friendly fares. “Alternatively, you may find that prices often decrease as the departure date approaches, prompting you to wait before making a reservation,” Google stated.

While Google Flights is quite helpful, it’s always wise to compare prices with other platforms like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Momondo.

If you have a specific airline in mind—perhaps due to a loyalty program or preferred routes—you should also check directly with that airline to see their complete selection of available flights.

Set up a price alert to monitor fare changes

Flight search platforms like Google Flights and Kayak feature a price-tracking tool that enables users to set an alert for price changes on their desired routes. This is an excellent way to monitor your flight for the best deal.

Secure a flight deal for 24 hours

For flights booked at least seven days before departure, the Department of Transportation mandates that airlines operating within, into, or out of the United States allow customers to cancel without penalty within 24 hours. So, if you spot a great fare, you can hold it for 24 hours while you continue your search or finalize your travel plans.

Customize your search based on travel preferences and requirements

If you plan to travel with checked luggage or prefer nonstop flights, you can filter your search results to focus solely on flights that meet your criteria.

You can refine your search based on the number of stops, flight duration, airlines (which is useful for excluding carriers you definitely do not wish to fly with), and specific departure and arrival times. Additionally, you can filter based on the number of checked bags, helping travelers find the best deals tailored to their needs. (For example, I often travel with two small children, so shorter flight durations and fewer stops matter more to me than the lowest possible prices.)

You should also consider searching multiple origin or destination airports to broaden your options. For instance, Kayak allows you to automatically include nearby airports within a specified radius with just a click.

Discover affordable fares by destination

On Google Flights, there's an Explore feature that lets users input their origin city and browse destinations within a certain timeframe—like a “one-week trip in the next six months.” This is excellent for generating ideas for future travels. You can also enter a broader area, such as Hawai‘i or Europe, to view airfare snapshots across various cities and airports.

Subscribe to an airfare deal newsletter

A great way to snag airfare deals is by subscribing to deal newsletters like Going.com and Dollar Flight Club. These services actively search for incredible flight offers and notify their members as soon as fantastic deals arise. This is especially useful when you're still in the brainstorming phase of your trip planning.

Enroll in frequent flier programs

Members of airlines' frequent flier programs often receive emails about the latest airfare sales. This can be a smart way to catch a good deal as soon as it becomes available.

Do flight prices decrease at the last minute?

While airfares can fluctuate significantly in the months leading up to your trip, prices are very unlikely to drop once you're just a few weeks away from your flight.

The truth is that last-minute deals are not as common as many travelers believe. According to advice from Going.com, “In general, waiting until the last minute to book flights is unlikely to save you money. After about three weeks before departure, prices tend to increase significantly, regardless of the route.”