What’s the trickiest part of being an urban navigator? The first thing that comes to mind is how to save on flight tickets. Getting the best deals in the frequent flier miles and clicking on the lowest rates of the season is a top priority for the frequent traveler. If you are not being careful about best time to book a flight, you might eventually spend a lot more than on your budget!
It’s a subtle art to harvest the booking websites and clinch the cheapest deals even during the peak season. Fliers need to be extra certain on various aspects, such as when to book and how to utilize hidden tricks, such as utilizing a proxy server for the purpose.
There are a whole lot of other things going on that must be accounted for, as you can expect from a gamut of competing websites trying to entice you. If you are wondering about the particulars before heading over to the airport lounge, we have collected all that you need to know en route to the airport. So, let’s have a look at the insider info that gets you gathered cosily on your flight seat as you plan your next destination, domestic or internationally.
Is there a Golden Day when You Get the Tickets at the Lowest Rate?
There’s a lot of contention at online resources on when the best day to book a flight during a week is. Travelers are often misled into believing mansplained theorems on waiting for a golden hour for the proverbial cock to crow! Your adviser may put in a huge deal of research into proving why Tuesdays are better than Saturdays, but in the end, you find the help hitherto to no avail!
Not long ago, Tuesdays happened to be the cheapest days because airlines used to release new sale offers, but all that has changed with time! These days, the mush-sought sale offer on flight tickets may take place on any random day, and unless you are lucky, you might lose out on the hit-or-miss opportunity on any given day.
Google Flights still recommends that you may have your best luck at the spell between Tuesday and Thursday, where you can get the tickets at a marginally reduced rate, something in the range of 1.9% for the savings queue. However, you might want to believe a data set from Expedia that shows Sunday could be the best day in the week, with domestic travelers saving up to 5% and international travelers up to 15% on average. Nevertheless, it’s still not a 100% Golden Day, and if you are not following all the tricks in the book, the Sunday could turn out to be very expensive!
Whether you are traveling mid-week or at the weekends, you need to calculate a wide range of different factors such as the route, the booking service, the airline operator, and even the cookies on your computer! All things considered, let’s dive deeper to decode this mystery.
The Best Time to Book a Domestic Flight at the Cheapest Rate
We did the legwork and consulted the historical domestic flight data on Google Flights. Research shows that typically, the best time to buy plane tickets is set in a range of 21-60 days before departure, depending on your urgency. On average, the lowest prices are achieved at approximately 44 days beforehand. According to Expedia, this period spans between 28 and 35 days before departure. Our recommendation is to set your booking calendars to at least one month prior and stick to the plan.
Getting back to the first question best time to book a flight, when is the tentative best day of the week to make the most you can save? Comparative flight data research on various websites shows that around mid-week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you should be able to save up to $85 for a round-trip. If you miss this window, the next feasible option is to book from Saturday to Monday (except maybe Sundays), putting up to $50 in savings for your travel kitty.
How Many Days Should You Wait to Save on International Booking?
International trips are a game apart from the domestic scenario because the average rates are always higher. So, you need to be an excellent planner and look up your calendar ideally six months in advance to save up to 10% (according to Expedia). However, if you have a trip coming up sooner than that, your best bet should be to book at least 1.5 months in advance. The duration from 1.5 months to 5.5 months before your departure (46 to 164 days) has been hailed as the ‘Prime Booking Window’ by CheapAir.
Also, you would have to take into account the holiday season because most people book international flights in the November-December session. So, you might want to set your calendar to book the tickets for January and February, as these are the cheapest months when the holiday rush has slowed down. As for the day-to-day calendar, research shows that flying out on a Thursday can help you save approximately 6% ($60) on round trips.
Country-Specific Information on the Best Time to Book a Flight
Here is a list of the best time to a book ticket to common international destinations.
- Plan your bookings from the US to Europe at least 130 days before departure. Research shows that prices tend to be the lowest within the window between 50 and 180 days.
- To visit Canada, set your booking calendars to at least two months before the travel date.
- Likewise, plan your trip to Mexico at least two months ahead.
- For those who intend to visit Central America, set aside at least 70 days before you book the ticket.
- As for South America, the right window is to book your tickets 80 days before the intended departure.
- If you plan for a Caribbean getaway, plan at least 70 days ahead of the travel day.
How Do You Save on Flight Bookings for the Summer Holidays?
Summer is the peak time when most people in the USA plan international vacation travel. The best time to book a flight in the USA for summer trips is tentatively assumed to be at least two months ahead of the travel date. Since it is a peak season, you should expect steep price hikes if you are not planning early. Summer rates are significantly higher, at least three times than what airlines charge during the beginning of winter. For example, a round-trip booking from California to Spain in June is estimated to be approximately $2,900. The same ticket will cost you around $900 in September.
How Do You Save on Flight Bookings for the Holiday Season?
A few months following summer, the holiday season happens to be yet another hectic phase in flight booking. Right now, you may think that Thanksgiving and Christmas are yet far away. However, if you plan ahead, this could be the best time for holiday bookings.
On a general note, you should at least book 70 days in advance before the holidays begin. Start by comparing booking websites, and don’t let a good deal fly past! As a rule of thumb, the earlier you grab the tickets, the better your chances of saving on the deals are. So, evoke the booking sleuth in yourself, and make use of the best time to book a flight in the USA for holiday travels.
What Could Be the Worst Days to Book Flights?
Given all the data so far, you must be wondering about the worst day and the best day to book a flight. The ARC 2023 Report states that Friday happens to be the most expensive day in this respect. Whether you are planning on domestic or international travel, Friday should be a strict no-go unless you have urgent priorities. If you are curious about what’s so un-special about Friday, here’s what you need to know!
It should be evident that weekends observe a strong uptick in the rush for a plane seat, especially in domestic travel. So, as the demands spike up, do the tentative prices for getting an airline seat on the final weekday. Airlines gauge that people won’t mind paying up oodles of extra cash because of the weekend rush, and so there’s rarely a ticket sale offer that you would find on Fridays.
Statistically, you should be expecting to pay out at least 5 -15% more for Fridays. The upward tempo is carried well over on Saturdays. Unless you are planning at least two months ahead, these two days of the week could be real wallet-burners! If you are in a rush, you should try to find a favorable weekday other than Friday and Saturday for the best time to book domestic flights in the USA.
Insider Tips from the Frequent Traveler
So far, we have provided all the general info you need to save on airline costs for domestic and international travel. However, being frequent travelers ourselves, here are some insider tips from our formal handbook for saving costs. Hope this helps!
- Research flight price patterns whenever you get the opportunity. This way, you would be on track with the up-trends and down-trends, making the most use of the latter.
- Use web app services such as Google Flights and Hopper to stay updated on price changes.
- Avoid direct booking from airline websites. Instead, you should insist on booking sites such as SmartFares, Hopper, CheapOair, and CheapAir.
- Remember to delete the cookies on your browser for every fresh search. Airline operators use these cookies to estimate your travel rush and hike the prices.
- Use a proxy server or a VPN to check flight booking status.
- Look up package deals that combine hotel booking with flight tickets. You should be able to find a whole host of amazing discounts from various sources.
- Use the airmiles accumulated on your credit card to save on flight costs.
- Follow the 24-hour rule to cancel the tickets if you get a better price somewhere else.
Best Airlines Booking Services to Get the Best Deals
Being frequent fliers, we recommend the following online services to check out the best time to book a flight in the USA.
- SmartFares
It’s one of the most popular options for smart travelers to check out the best deals on air tickets. Also, you can get amazing discounts on the flight booking website. ReeDiscount has sorted out the latest SmartFare coupon codes so that you can get an additional rebate whenever you purchase a ticket. The web app often offers huge price cuts when traveling to select destinations such as Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, Bangkok, Paris, and more!
- CheapOair
CheapOair remains busy, with millions of users across the USA checking out their airline booking status at the site. The impressive features of the web app service let you book tickets in a breeze, and that too at the best rates, often the cheapest! To top it all, you can also use CheapOair Promo Codes to utilize rebates on the existing price.
- Qatar Airways
Users who intend to book tickets directly from the airline’s website should prefer Qatar Airways. The website has an explore section to help users plan their trips across major international destinations at affordable rates. In addition, the plane operator also offers massive discounts where you can save up to 30 – 65% on your next vacation. We also provide you with the latest Qatar Airways deals to save up on ticket costs, even on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cheap Flights
What is the best day to get the cheapest fares?
Historical data suggests that booking on Sundays can be the best time for the cheapest deals.
Which is the most expensive month for international destinations?
The December holiday period is the most expensive time of the year.
Which is the cheapest month to get flight tickets?
Just after the peak holiday period, January is the cheapest month for cheap bookings.
What is the best way to get the lowest prices?
You need to plan ahead, at least three months in advance. The more stretched-out your plan is, the better your chances are of grabbing the lowest rates.
What is the deal about red-eye flights?
Overnight flights (red-eye flights) are usually cheaper because the demand for these tickets is comparatively lower.
Do I get discounts on plane tickets?
Yes, you can use the services at ReeDiscount to avail of discount coupons on ticket booking websites and airline operators.
Will it be more affordable to buy tickets in groups?
No, buying individual tickets would be a better option. With group purchases, you have to pay out a standard fare for all the seats together. However, for individual bookings, you can avail yourself of discounts on each seat, lowering the total cost.
How do you get updates on the latest deals?
You can subscribe to newsletters from booking websites if they are available. Also, you can stay updated on the respective apps.
To Conclude Best Time to Book a Flight
Planning your travels well ahead should help you grab the best deals on ticket-booking websites. Remember to compare prices and grab the best travel deals as soon as you see it! The next time when you check the same deal, you will usually find it priced higher. Being a smart traveler, you should also apply coupon codes to the tickets and grab the additional discounts fast!
Happy flying up with discounts on your travel kitty!