Travel / Guide

When to Book Flights: Timing That Actually Saves Money

There is no magic day of the week to buy a ticket, but there are booking windows and travel days that reliably cost less. Here is what we watch when we look for deals.

Booking windows

  • Domestic trips: roughly 1 to 3 months ahead is usually the sweet spot. Booking very early rarely helps, and the last two weeks are usually the most expensive.
  • International trips: start watching 3 to 6 months out, earlier for summer in Europe.
  • Holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break fill up early. Watch prices from late summer and book when you see a fair price instead of waiting for a miracle.

The day you fly matters more than the day you book

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are often cheaper to fly than Fridays and Sundays, when business and weekend travelers crowd the planes. Early morning and late evening flights also tend to cost less.

Be flexible on one thing

You do not need to be flexible on everything. Pick one: dates, departure airport or destination. If you can fly from two nearby airports, or shift your trip by a few days, you will see far more deals than someone locked into one exact itinerary.

Set alerts, then act

Price alerts and deal pings do the watching for you. When a fare drops into your range, book it. Hoping for an even lower price is how most people end up paying more.

See today's flight deals

More travel guides