Booking airfare is a game that must be played strategically. Book too early, and you could be missing out on price drops. Book too late in the hope of getting a last-minute deal and you could have sticker shock.

“You’re looking for the Goldilocks window,” writes The Washington Post in the article The Best Time to Book Flights for Every Vacation Season. Booking at just the right time depends on multiple factors including time of year, where you’re going and whether you’re flying domestically or internationally. 

First, let’s debunk a myth

There’s no single best day to book a flight. Deals pop up on any day at any time. But there are cheaper days on which to fly. Flying on the day of a major holiday is often markedly cheaper. Sundays and Mondays tend to be the most expensive days to fly domestically, while Wednesdays and Saturdays are the cheapest days to fly internationally, according to Nerd Wallet.  

Flights to trending destinations

“Getting to in-demand destinations at popular times will be expensive no matter how far in advance you book, so you’re out of luck if you’re flying to Paris for the Olympics or Tokyo for cherry blossom season,” writes The Washington Post.

But there are still some tips for getting the best deal possible. It’s a good idea to book three to seven months out. Sign up for airfare price alerts within that window. Google Flights, Skyscanner and Kayak are flight fare trackers highly favored by consumers.

If you’re not tied to a specific time of year, try casting your search net for the shoulder season to save some dough. 

Domestic and international flights during non-peak times

For a domestic trip not for a peak holiday or during a peak season, it’s generally safe to keep an eye out on flight fare alerts about one to three months in advance, according to Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report. The report says that to find a deal on international flights during non-peak times, booking between two and four months before your trip is the sweet spot. 

Spring and summer breaks

If you’re a college student looking for a warm beach on which to sunbathe or a parent booking a family trip, it’s best to start looking for spring break fares during the winter doldrums. For spring breaks in March, April or May, start looking for cheap flights in early February. “Google Flights data shows that prices for domestic trips in March and April are typically lowest 23 to 59 days before departure—meaning you’ll soon be seeing an uptick in prices,” according to The Washington Post.

The advice to start searching as early as February applies to summer trips, too. Basically, shop for peak fares during opposite seasons. 

Fall trips

The shoulder season just after the summer travel boom is often the cheapest time to travel domestically and internationally. But that rule doesn’t always apply for destinations that are popular for watching autumn leaves.

If you’re flying to a place that is sleepier in the fall, follow the rule of booking one to three months out for domestic trips and two to eight months for international destinations.

If you’re heading to a popular destination for leaf peeping, you’ll want to book about a month or two in advance. 

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s

For the Thanksgiving holiday, Google Flights data shows that domestic flights are priced at their lowest about 52 days prior. So, you should be booking by late September or October. If you’re flying internationally, book two to eight months out; Thanksgiving is one of the cheapest times of year to fly abroad, actually.  

While you’re globe-trekking during the summer, you should also shop for domestic fares for Christmas and New Year’s. Start looking on July 4. You should also add comparing annual travel insurance coverage to your list.

Instead of purchasing a travel insurance policy each time you go on a trip, consider an annual plan that can protect you for a year of travel. An AllTrips Prime annual travel insurance plan has Emergency Medical, Trip Cancellation, and Baggage loss benefits that can protect all your trips for 365 days. 

Get a quote on annual travel insurance today.

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