For domestic flights in March and April, Google said, prices are typically lowest 23 to 59 days before departure, hitting their lowest price 38 days out. Summer vacation. For domestic flights in July or August, prices are typically lower 14 to 44 days out, hitting rock bottom 21 days before takeoff.

In 2026, airfare pricing is controlled by sophisticated AI algorithms that change rates thousands of times a day, but a few "sweet spots" still exist. Generally, ticket prices are lowest mid-week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), both for the day you book and the day you actually fly. Regarding the specific time of day, there is a long-standing "travel hack" that prices often drop around midnight or 1:00 AM in the airline's home time zone as unpurchased "reservations" are released back into the system. However, for 2026, the most reliable way to find lower prices is to book the first flight of the day (6:00 AM or earlier) or "red-eye" overnight flights, as these are often priced lower to incentivize travelers to take less convenient slots. Monitoring prices for 24–48 hours after a major weekend demand rush is also a high-value strategy, as airlines often adjust their inventory on Monday evenings.