How far out to book cheap international flights?

Typically, the best time to book a flight is one to two months out for domestic trips. And for international flights, the best time to book is six to eight months out. However, there are many factors that can lead to an increase (or decrease) in the price of an airline ticket.



For the best international fares in 2026, the ideal "Goldilocks Window" is 2 to 8 months before your departure. Booking more than 10 months in advance often means you pay a "premium for certainty" before airlines begin their competitive seat sales. Conversely, waiting until the last 3 weeks is risky, as prices for international routes tend to skyrocket once the lower-tier fare classes sell out. For peak summer travel (July/August), you should aim for the earlier side of that window—around 6 months out. If you are traveling during shoulder seasons like March or October, you can often find great deals just 3 months in advance. A pro-tip for 2026 is to use Google Flights' "Track Prices" feature to wait for a dip in the fare before committing to the purchase.

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The best time to book a flight is one to three months before your departure for domestic airline tickets and two to eight months prior for international flights. “We call these the 'Goldilocks windows,'” Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, tells AFAR. “Not too early, not too late—just right in the middle.”

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While the cheapest day to actually pay for airfare can vary from one week to the next, Expedia data shows consumers who book airfare on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save approximately 5 percent on domestic flights and 15 percent on international airfare.

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Time your booking right “For international flights — [it's] four to 10 months.” If you're traveling during an off-peak season, you're going to want to look at airfares one to three months in advance for domestic flights, and two to eight months ahead of the flight for international trips.

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For international trips, you generally need to book further ahead of time: Start gauging these flight prices six to seven months in advance while planning on booking three to five months in advance. When you're traveling internationally, planning ahead is key to getting the cheapest airfare, Berg said.

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Flying to Europe in 2024 without spending a fortune is in the cards after a long stretch of sky-high prices. Airlines have added new routes between the U.S. and Europe and announced plans to increase flights on some routes next spring and summer.

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Best time to buy: Three to 10 months before your travel date. Cheapest months to travel: February and March. Most expensive months to travel: August and December. Fares in spring and fall tend to be marginally better — roughly $25 less — than those in winter and summer.

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Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to Book
In general, flights were slightly cheaper at midnight earlier in the week (Monday through Wednesday). However, this is only applicable to about 1.6% of U.S. markets, meaning that it's not likely you'll find the same savings on your specific route.

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Generally speaking, you should start looking for international flights about 10 to 11 months in advance of your travel dates. The key is to check regularly so you can see as prices fluctuate from week to week or month to month. You should aim to book about five to six months in advance.

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How often do airlines update airfare information online? The airlines update fare information 3 times a day. They do not necessarily change airfare prices all three times, but they certainly can, and often do.

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The cheapest months to travel are:
  • November – early December.
  • Late January – March.


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It mostly comes down to supply and demand. Demand is contributing to higher prices as travel continues to surge post-pandemic, Berg said. Sustained strong demand in 2023 continues to put additional pressure on prices, especially to and within regions where travel has only recently reopened like parts of Asia.

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At midnight, fewer people travel and there is low last-minute reservation so to fill them, they release multiple offers. With these discounts, you can set aside some amount.

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Tuesdays may not be favorable for booking, but if you're hoping to score major savings, booking your departure on a Tuesday or Wednesday is a surefire way to do so. Mid-week flights offer the best deal prices in comparison to flights departing the rest of the week.

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Top 10 International Budget Airlines
  • EasyJet.
  • Jetstar Airways.
  • WestJet.
  • Eurowings.
  • Scoot.
  • Southwest Airlines.
  • Ryanair.
  • Air Asia X.


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Spring break. 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.

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resulting in lower prices and the cheapest day of the week to fly. So, you guessed it, that means the most expensive days to book flights are those days when most travelers are heading out – or coming home. That means flying Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays will typically be more expensive.

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