In just the past few years, the travel industry has changed tremendously. Yet, there’s one aspect that’s remained the same: people are looking to save money. Yes, while we all wish money were no object so that we could plan the trip of our dreams without restrictions, the fact is that booking a flight can be pricey. Luckily, timing can help savvy travelers score great deals.
Continuing my series looking at the best time to book travel, let’s talk about when you should be buying flights. First, we’ll hop into some of the data and then I’ll add a few tips from my personal experience. Ready? Let’s go:
How Far in Advance Should You Book a Flight?
What the Data Says
About the Data
When it comes to timing your flight booking, we have fresh insight on the subject. Each year, the travel site Expedia publishes a new report, which it prepares in partnership with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). So, what does it say — and how can you save money on flights beyond this guidance?
When to Book
In terms of how far in advance to book your flight, the study found that the sweet spot for booking domestic trips tends to be 34 to 86 days in advance (or roughly one to three months out). Surprisingly, for international flights, the ideal booking window is just 18 to 29 days in advance. Obviously, this advice flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that booking as early as possible would be better, but Expedia found that passengers could save 17% in this window versus booking three month or more in advance.
If that short turnaround has you nervous, you’re not alone — and we’ll talk more about that later.
When to Fly
Of course, the days you travel on matters, and the results on which days are best may be a bit surprising. For domestic travel, starting your trip on a Saturday was found to yield savings of more than 17% versus the most expensive day, Sunday. Funny enough, this latest advice is an update from previous guidance of flying on Wednesday… which itself was revised from Friday. Meanwhile, after previous data said that the best day to fly internationally had moved from Thursday to Wednesday, this has now shifted back to Thursdays. In this case, savings versus Sunday itineraries were around 15%.
What Day to Book On
As you may have heard, the day of the week you choose to buy your flight can also be a factor in your fare. Furthermore, the research continues to find that Sunday is the best day for booking. In fact, domestic fliers were able to save as much as 6% by booking on Sunday while international flight savings were closer to 17%. Mondays and Fridays are the days you’ll want to avoid booking flights on.
Of Note
Although this data is definitely interesting, it’s worth keeping in mind that it is subject to change over time. What’s more, the results are based on averages and, thus, may not apply in every situation. Ultimately, while this may help you set a basic course, it’ll be up to you to navigate the best path from there.
My Experience and Tips for Savings on Flights
Explore Airport Options
For most people, booking a flight just involves selecting the nearest airport to where you live, the closest airport to where you’re going, and looking at what’s available. However, while that’s a great starting point, you can save more by widening your search.
Specifically, it may be worth exploring alternative airports. Obviously, this is common in cities like Dallas, New York City, Chicago, or others that have more than one major airport to begin with, but there are other times when looking at a close-enough city may be beneficial.
In my case, while I love the Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), it does have limited options and can be a bit pricey to fly out of at times given its size. Meanwhile, if I’m willing to drive up to Kansas City or St. Louis, I not only have a greater selection of airlines and destinations but can also usually find better fares.
That’s exactly what I did recently, driving my wife to STL to catch a direct Southwest flight (that we booked with points) rather than pay a premium for an itinerary with connections from SGF. Similarly, as I discovered on a trip to New York, Northwest Arkansas (XNA) has direct flights to LaGuardia. So, despite the two-hour drive, we managed to save time and money by making the trip.
Obviously, this plan may not work for everyone. Still, it may be worth exploring if you’re looking for a deal.
Try Flexible Date and Fare Calendars
Did you know that some airlines will actually help you find the cheapest time to fly? It’s true! While not every carrier site offers such a feature, be sure to look for flexible date or fare calendar options when booking. Ideally, this will allow you to see a table of which travel dates have the best deals. For example, here’s a look at what Delta’s Flexible Dates view looks like if you toggle on the “My dates are flexible” option:
Even better, if you’re not sure what time of year you want to fly but want a deal, there are options for that as well. In the case of Delta, in addition to the Flexible Dates view, they also have a Price Calendar. As you can see, this reveals that flying this same itinerary in March is currently significantly cheaper than the dates in April:
Even better, if you’re not sure what time of year you want to fly but want a deal, there are options for that as well. In the case of Delta, in addition to the Flexible Dates view, they also have a Price Calendar. As you can see, this reveals that flying this same itinerary in March is currently significantly cheaper than the dates in April:
Overall, tools like these can be greatly beneficial when exploring booking options — so be sure to keep an eye out for them. Meanwhile, if your preferred airline doesn’t offer any such tools, you can try third-party options such as Google Flights instead.
Try Price Alerts
Speaking of Google Flights, it can be a great tool for not only seeing how current fares compare to the average but also for setting up alerts so you can be notified of price fluctuations. Granted, these figures are usually based on the lowest available fare, meaning that those with a preferred carrier may see their results skewed. Still, it can be a good overall indicator.
Consider Rebooking for Less
If you’re looking for a small silver lining to the awful pandemic we all lived through, then updates to airline booking policies may be one of them. In the past couple of years, several domestic carriers have adjusted their terms to now waive cancelation and change fees for customers.
In theory, this means that you could potentially cancel your flight if you find a better price and rebook it for less. However, there is a bit of an asterisk on this as there are some exclusions to this policy. Therefore, I’d be sure to read the terms closely before pursuing such an option.
Personally, I’ve only done this with one airline: Southwest. That’s because, even with the latest round of updates from the airline, Southwest allows flyers to rebook for better fares and bank the credit. But, while I haven’t tried it with other airlines, it may now be possible thanks to policy updates. Just be sure to look into it before booking.
Remember to Compare Apples to Apples
Here’s the thing about looking just at fares: it probably won’t tell you the whole story. That’s why it’s vital that, before booking a “deal,” you look more closely at what the fare includes. For example, while airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant offer killer base fares, you’ll likely need to pay to select a seat, bring on a carry-on, or even print your boarding pass. On the other hand, these may be things that are already bundled into what other carriers are quoting you.
This isn’t to say that discount carriers won’t save you money — they certainly can (and have for me in the case of Allegiant) be true. All I’m saying is that it’s important to consider the true cost and not just react to the fare you see. Also, as someone with a bit of experience with ultra-low-cost carriers, it also helps to go in with your expectations primed. That way, you won’t be shocked by the “nickel and diming” you’re in for.
Don’t Stress Yourself Out
Finally, even though Expedia says that booking international travel just a few weeks out can save you money, that sounds a little too close for comfort in my opinion. That’s why I’d advise that it’s better to get a flight you like at a price you’re happy with than it is to drive yourself mad trying to get a better deal — and running the risk of ending up with a worse itinerary for more money.
One thing I’ll often do is set a target price based on my research and tracking. That way, if I end up getting near that target, I feel like I won even if the price does eventually dip lower. Of course, if you are able to take the above advice and rebook for lower fares, go ahead and keep tabs on the prices for updates. Otherwise, be satisfied, let it go, and enjoy your trip!
When it comes to booking a flight, there are several factors that will dictate when the best time to book is. The good news is that, with this latest data and a stable of tools and tricks at your disposal, you can go about finding your best bet.
With that said, as I mentioned, be sure not to stress too much about potentially lost savings. Instead, just do your best and be happy with the deals you do get without sweating those you didn’t.
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