When’s the best time to book a flight?

Earlier this year Google debunked the myth that Tuesdays are the cheapest day to fly, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no rhyme or reason to booking a cheap flight.

Neither the day of the week nor the time you book will score you lower airfare. Airfare is dynamic and always fluctuating but the biggest driver of ticket prices is demand, which can be affected by a wide variety of things. Here are some main factors to help you determine the best time to book your next flight.

• The flight route: If you are flying a popular route or one with limited service, the ticket price will likely be higher. 

• The time of year: If you’re flying during school breaks, summer, or the holiday season, expect to pay more for tickets. Try building in some flexibility around travel dates or flying in the off-season. 

• Special events: If you’re flying for a special event, book your trip right away. Airlines know when there is a big event happening and prices will only go up.

How can I score cheap flights?

Airfare has been at an all-time high this year as post-pandemic revenge travel raged on. Luckily, prices are expected to come down in 2023. Here are some more ways to score cheap flights:

• Don’t wait: Though some people think booking at the last minute is a way to save on flights, in reality, that’s very rare. Waiting until the last minute usually means you’re paying more. 

• Domestic flights: Generally, the best time to book is 1-2 months out.

• International trips: For the best deal, book 6 to 8 months out. 

• Fly mid-week: Though there’s not one day of the week that’s the cheapest to fly, taking off mid-week tends to be cheaper. 

• Subscribe to Dollar Flight Club: Let us do the work for you and deliver flight deals directly to your inbox. Soon you’ll be flying to Paris for $30 or Hawaii for $179. Subscribe here.