When Is the Best Time to Book a Flight for the Lowest Price?
Are you on the lookout for the cheapest fare there is? The best timing in booking your ticket would be influenced with various aspects such as the choice of the destination or even the season of the year in which one is traveling.
Sometimes the specific day one books does not influence the price of the ticket, however the days selected for the travel do. Tuesday or Wednesday, when most people go to work and hence fewer travelers are booking flights, are the days that you should be travelling to avail a cheaper ticket. Luckily, both airline and discount travel websites allow you to see flight options over a range of days which aids in finding out the cheapest ticket.
How Come Airline Ticket Prices Are Not Uniform?
In order to make the most savings in terms of money, it is worth knowing what makes ticket prices to go up or go down. It is all about planning: in most cases, ticket prices do not get cheaper as one approaches the date of the flight. On the other hand, people who wish to make a booking way before the actual date, a period extending more than 5 months, can in some cases pay higher rates. The ideal time for sweet suggestions and doing those bookings is generally anywhere from three weeks to about two and a half months (21 to 74 days) before the travel date.
CheapAir.com also indicates that prices are at their peak before and after this window. However, factors like seasons and holidays would also come into play in determining airfare. There are resources such as Google Flights that will assist you in tracking the curves of the fares and help you know when it is the most opportune moment to book your flight.
What Are The Factors That Make The Prices Indices Change?
CheapAir.com Annual Airfare Study which Contains 2024 Version addresses the price dynamics of over 917 million flights & their trends across more than 8000 market states that the inter bus booking and departure time and season/holiday considerably unleashes the costs of flight prices. Price changing myths that the day of the booking changes the prices are laid to rest, however, the study establishes that the day of flying does make a difference; Wednesdays and Tuesdays usually have the cheapest flights, while Fridays and Sundays have the highest fares level at flying time.
Optimal Timeframes for Booking
CheapAir.com has come up with 6 priorities of booking classifying them based on the number of days before the departure time. In each zone so how do the prices compare:
1. First Dibs (206 to 315 days in advance): You will be in a position to choose more from the seating arrangements and other itinerary choices, however it will be approximately 36% over the lowest price available.
2. Peace of Mind (75 – 205 days): Average ticket fares are around 14% higher than the lowest fare rather significant number of flight choices remain.
3. Prime Booking Window (21 to 74 days): This is the most desirable booking period where prices are within 5% of their lowest point.
4. Push Your Luck (14 to 20 days): Now fares starts increasing and seat allocation reduces with a comfort of catch the lowest fare within a margin of about 8%.
5. Playing With Fire (7 to 13 days): While there are still cheaper last minute tickets, overall prices will be about 25% above the sale price. Alternative flights are also limited.
6. Hail Mary (0 to 6 days): There should be no reservations made during this duration rather only when absolutely compulsory. Prices are generally about 56% over the prime booking window.
Seasonal Considerations
These given moments for booking are not to be contested but prices differ according to the following periods of the year:
- Fall: It is the second busiest period in terms of traveling after summer in the entire calendar. However, in most cases, one can reserve about 55 days in advance for reasonable prices apart from Thanksgiving week requiring early to make reservations.
- Winter: Flights during the Christmas and New Year festive periods are generally overpriced irrespective of how early they are booked. Nonspecific winter travel during the winter is the cheapest and this is especially true in January. Discount fares best book on day 42 prior the travel date.
- Spring: Prices are subject to sudden increases due to spring break and that is why great foresight is encouraged. Flight fares in March and April are more expensive than those in May. Book highest 44 days in advance if you want to get the best price.
- Summer: Since summer is the season with highest travel volumes, it has an earlier booking period of about 35 days in advance which is exactly the most suitable period to seek the lowest fares.
Additional Tips for Booking Flights
Avoid taking too long to act on an earned discount in case of any offer. The rule in ticketing, is the longer one waits for the departure, the more expensive the tickets get. Actually on last minute bookings, there are possibilities of additional fees incurred such as luggage and seat selection.
Pleasingly, there is a provision of a travel reward credit card which will assist in averting those costs. This come in form of:
- Complimentary checked bag(s)
- Charges covered for TSA Pre Check or Global Entry
- Companions passes
- Elite frequent flyer status
- Free lounge access or other benefits in the flight
Self explanatory, such benefits will not cut the price of the ticket but rather what are related traveling expenses for that matter.
When Is the Best Time To Book?
CheapAir.com emphasizes that the best time to book a plane ticket is during the prime booking window of 21 to 74 days before takeoff – when prices are nearest to their lowest. Booking too close to flying out (specially between 0 to 6 Days) will be much costlier, on average by 56% if compared to what you would have paid if you booked in advance.
Why Do Airfares Fluctuate?
The fare will differ according to time of purchase, seasons, holidays, even the economy itself. Some contributors to these inflate prices are economic factors like a rise in fuel costs, which are affected with increasing demand.
How Can I Find the Best Deals?
For best deals, it is advisable to compare prices with the different airlines and booking sites. Booking in advance (3weeks to 2.5 months prior) increases the chances of getting low prices and optimal seats.
What’s The Best Day Of The Week To Book?
Unlike what many people believe, the day of your booking does not have an alarming effect on ticket prices, price differences of less than $1 existing among booking days.
What’s The Cheapest Day To Fly?
The best day to fly would be Wednesday, in which case travelers would save $102 compared to flying Sunday which is the highest day for travel. Tuesday follows as the second cheapest day to fly.
The Bottom Line
In order to get the best deal on fares, it is recommended that you purchase during the optimum period (between 21 to 74 days in advance of your trip) and that the departure day be on the Wednesday. Look at travel rewards card and weather frequent flyer mileage in order to gain further benefits.
