Why book tickets in advance?

Statistically, the best day to book flights was 59 days out, but the lowest fares were found anywhere between 37 and 87 days before departure. Another reason to book international flights in advance is to take advantage of price drops. Basic economy fares are still generally non-changeable on most airlines.



Booking tickets in advance is primarily a strategy for financial savings and peace of mind. In the travel industry, dynamic pricing models mean that fares for flights and trains generally increase as the departure date approaches and seat availability decreases. By securing tickets months ahead, you often lock in "Early Bird" rates that can be 30% to 50% cheaper than last-minute purchases. Furthermore, booking early ensures you get your preferred seat or cabin type, which is critical for long-haul journeys or peak holiday travel. Psychologically, having your logistics finalized well in advance reduces the "planning fatigue" associated with travel, allowing you to focus on the experiential aspects of your trip rather than fluctuating costs and availability.

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Early Bird Discounts: In general, booking your flight well in advance (around 1 to 3 months before your desired departure date) can often lead to better deals. Airlines tend to release a limited number of seats at lower prices, and as the departure date approaches and seats fill up, prices tend to rise.

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Airlines simply don't have as many award tickets for every flight – so booking early means you're more likely to get the dates, seats, class of service, etc. that you're after.

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Your best bet for finding deals on airfare is to be flexible, book deals when you see them or try to book them at least 21 days before your departure date. That way you're not stuck overpaying for flights. But keep in mind that the chances of finding cheap, last-minute flights are slim.

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The general rule is that for domestic flights, travelers should start searching for flight tickets one to three months in advance. For international flights, the best prices are typically available from two to eight months in advance.

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Average domestic airfare price by day
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically.
  • Saturday and Monday flights can help you avoid the Sunday rush.
  • Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally.
  • Book one to three months in advance.
  • Set a price alert.


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Time your booking right
“For domestic flights, if you're talking peak season, it's about three to seven months in advance,” he says. “For international flights — [it's] four to 10 months.”

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Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically. The cheapest days to depart if you're flying within the U.S. are midweek — generally Tuesday or Wednesday. For economy tickets, Tuesdays are about 24% lower than peak prices on Sundays, which translates to savings of about $85 per ticket.

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Despite what some travelers might think, booking a hotel in advance usually isn't a good idea. The savings aren't huge, but booking at the last minute knocks about 13% off the price of a hotel room, on average.

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Domestic airline prices are on the decline in 2023, finally retreating after spiking just a year ago. International fares are still high. After soaring in 2022, prices for domestic airline tickets are on the descent.

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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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The process is largely controlled by computer software and is increasingly being bolstered by AI, so price changes can happen at any second. That's why there's no specific time of day — or even a specific day of the week, for that matter — that's best for booking cheap flights.

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“If it's an off-peak season — not middle of summer, Christmas or New Year's — then booking about one to three months in advance is typically when cheap flights have the highest likelihood of popping up,” he said. “When you're talking about international travel, two to eight months in advance.”

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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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Generally, you should book domestic flights one to four months in advance. For international flights, you should book at least six months in advance. You'll want to give yourself more time for research for the latter than when traveling on domestic itineraries.

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There's no sugarcoating it: Airfare is expensive. And while waiting until the last minute might sound like a good idea, it typically is cheaper to book your flights in advance. We are seeing fewer last-minute deals than in years past, especially when it comes to flights, a Kayak spokesperson tells Travel + Leisure.

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Is there a cheapest month to fly? If you're looking for a bargain month to travel, February is your best bet. Flights in January closely follow February for being most affordable.

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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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Airfares flex like crazy, but in general it's wise to start looking for international flights at least four to six months before your trip, especially for travel in spring, summer, or fall.

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