THE BEST TIME TO BOOK FLIGHTS FOR LOWEST FARES

Airline pricing feels like a mystery, but there’s actually a method behind the madness.

Data from travel search engines like Google Flights, Hopper, and Skyscanner shows that there is a best time to book flights to get the lowest price.

Whether you’re planning a holiday getaway or just looking to stretch your travel budget, knowing when to book can save you serious cash. This guide breaks it down so you don’t have to guess any longer.

Best Days of the Week to Book Flights

You might have heard that Tuesday is the magic day to book flights. That advice still holds up, but there’s a little more to it.

When to Book

• Tuesday or Wednesday tend to offer the lowest fares.

• Airlines usually release deals on Monday nights or early Tuesday mornings.

• By midweek, other airlines have matched prices, creating a mini fare war that benefits travelers.

This doesn’t mean every flight will be cheaper on those days, but your chances of finding a deal are much better.

It’s not about scoring a last-minute miracle. It’s about shopping when the airlines are adjusting their pricing to stay competitive.

When to Fly

If you have flexibility in your travel dates, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are consistently cheaper than others.

These days tend to be less expensive because most people prefer flying on Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays.

Business travelers often book early in the week, and weekend trips create demand spikes on Fridays and Sundays.

Midweek and Saturdays are quieter, and that usually means lower prices.

Best Time of Day to Book Flights

Flight prices fluctuate throughout the day as airlines update fares and inventory changes.

Here’s what works best:

• Book flights in the early morning, ideally before 8 a.m.

• Late-night bookings can also uncover lower prices, especially after 10 p.m.

These time slots often have less online traffic, which can reduce dynamic pricing based on demand.

While there’s no perfect hour that guarantees a cheap ticket, booking during off-peak browsing hours means you’re less likely to compete with thousands of other travelers all looking at the same routes.

Also, skip weekend shopping if possible. Saturdays and Sundays typically bring higher search volume and fewer new deals. Most airline price adjustments happen during the workweek.

How Far in Advance to Book

How early you book has a major impact on price, especially for peak seasons and international routes. Here’s a breakdown based on real fare tracking data.

For Domestic Flights

• Start checking prices 2 to 3 months before your trip.

• The sweet spot for most travelers is 45 to 70 days in advance.

• Booking too early (more than 4 months out) can be just as expensive as booking too late.

For International Flights

• Begin shopping 3 to 8 months in advance, depending on the destination.

• Flights to Europe, Asia, and South America usually drop to their lowest within the 120 to 160-day window.

• If you’re flying during peak seasons like summer or the December holidays, lean toward the earlier end of that range.

Last-minute bookings might work for ultra-flexible travelers, but they’re risky if you have fixed dates or need to travel during popular times.

Holiday Travel Booking Tips

Airfare during the holidays is a different beast. Demand is high, deals are scarce, and prices spike as the calendar moves closer to the travel date. Planning early is the only real strategy.

Thanksgiving:

• Book flights by mid-September.

• Prices start creeping up in October and rarely drop after that.

• Consider flying on Thanksgiving Day itself for better fares and less airport chaos.

Christmas and New Year’s:

• Aim to book by early October.

• Holiday travel in late December is one of the most expensive times of the year.

• Flying on the holiday itself (December 25 or January 1) can save money compared to the surrounding days.

Spring break and summer:

• Book 3 to 6 months ahead for popular destinations.

• Start looking in January or February for spring trips, and by March or April for summer travel.

Booking holiday travel early also gives you better flight times, more seat choices, and sometimes better cancellation policies.

Tips for Booking Flights with a Dog

Bringing your dog along? Timing still matters, but you’ll also need to factor in airline pet policies, limited in-cabin space, and added fees.

Here’s how to book flights strategically when your dog’s coming with you.

1. Book Early (Even Earlier Than Usual)

• Airlines have a limited number of in-cabin pet spots per flight, often 2 to 4 max.

• Once those spots are gone, you’re out of luck or stuck with cargo (which most people try to avoid).

• Book your ticket and call the airline immediately to reserve your dog’s space in the cabin.

Ideal timeline:

• Domestic flights: Book at least 2 to 3 months out.

• International flights: Book 4 to 6 months ahead to deal with paperwork and vaccination timelines.

2. Avoid Peak Travel Times

Flying during holidays or peak seasons not only means higher prices, it also means busier planes and more chaos at the airport.

• Stick to midweek flights (Tuesday or Wednesday) when the airport is calmer.

• Choose early morning or late evening flights, especially in warmer months, to avoid extreme temperatures on the tarmac.

If your dog is small enough to fit in the cabin, this helps avoid airline temperature embargoes for cargo hold pets.

Seasonal Price Trends

Prices go up and down with the seasons, but not always in the way you’d expect. Some of the cheapest travel months happen to fall in quieter parts of the year, which can work in your favor if you’re flexible.

Cheapest Months to Fly

• January: After the holidays, demand drops hard, and airlines lower fares to fill seats.

• September: School is back in session, summer vacationers are done, and fall hasn’t fully kicked in yet.

Most Expensive Months to Fly

• June, July, and December are peak travel times.

• Families vacation during school breaks, and everyone’s heading home for the holidays.

Best Shoulder Seasons

These are the sweet spots where the weather is still good, crowds are thinner, and prices are lower.

• April to early June
• Mid-September through early November

If you’re not tied to school schedules or strict vacation dates, these are great times to travel on a budget.

Tools That Actually Help You Book Smarter

You don’t need to check prices five times a day. Let the tech do the work for you.

• Skyscanner: Helpful if your dates or destinations are flexible, and it offers an “Everywhere” search to find deals you may not have considered.

• Google Flights: Tracks price changes, lets you compare flexible dates, and sends alerts when fares drop.

• Hopper: Uses historical data and algorithms to predict when a flight is likely to rise or fall in price.

What About Incognito Mode?

There’s a rumor that airlines raise prices if they see you searching for the same flight repeatedly.

While this sounds shady enough to be true, most travel pros agree there’s no consistent evidence to support it.

Price changes are more likely due to seat availability, demand, and algorithmic fare updates, not your browser history.

Final Tips to Score a Deal

Still want to stack the odds in your favor? Here are a few ways to maximize savings without getting overwhelmed.

• Be flexible with dates: Even shifting by one day can make a big difference in price.

• Check nearby airports: Flying in or out of a different airport within 50 miles can cut costs.

• Use points or miles for expensive routes: Save your rewards for peak season or long-haul trips.

• Book one-way tickets separately: Sometimes, two one-ways on different airlines are cheaper than a round-trip.

• Avoid peak booking windows: Try not to book during lunch hours or evenings when search traffic is highest

Wrap-Up: Best Time to Book Flights

Booking flights doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive if you know when to act. Here’s the quick version:

• Book domestic flights about 2 months ahead.

• Book international flights about 5 months ahead.

• Try to book on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays.

• Lock in holiday travel early to avoid price spikes.

• Use flight tracking tools so you don’t have to constantly refresh your screen.

• Being flexible, using the right tools, and knowing when prices usually drop can save you hundreds and make your trip planning much less chaotic.

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The post The Best Time to Book Flights For Lowest Fares appeared first on Digital Nomad and a Dog.

2025-06-12T21:44:00Z