Guide ·
When to book flights
Book when the fare fits the trip and the date is unlikely to get cheaper for a reason you can name. Holidays and peak weeks do not reward endless waiting.
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There is no universal cheapest Tuesday. There is a point when waiting stops helping. Photo via Unsplash.
There is no single cheapest day to buy a plane ticket. There are seasons when seats are scarce, and those seasons get more expensive as they fill. There are ordinary weeks when a fare sits still for a while and then jumps because a cheap booking class sold out.
The practical rule is to search early enough to have a choice, set a price you would regret missing, and buy when you see it on a fare that matches your bag and your need to change plans.
Holiday weeks
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and school breaks
Buy when you see a fare you can live with. Do not wait for a miracle
Ordinary international
A trip a few months out with some date flex
Watch for a few weeks, then buy a fare that includes your bag
Last few weeks
Domestic trips that are not a holiday
Prices often rise as seats go. A good fare now can beat a hope
| Option | Best for | What to weigh | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday weeks | Thanksgiving, Christmas, and school breaks | Buy when you see a fare you can live with. Do not wait for a miracle | Check holiday dates, affiliate link for KAYAK |
| Ordinary international | A trip a few months out with some date flex | Watch for a few weeks, then buy a fare that includes your bag | Watch a normal trip, affiliate link for Expedia |
| Last few weeks | Domestic trips that are not a holiday | Prices often rise as seats go. A good fare now can beat a hope | Search near-term flights, affiliate link for KAYAK |
Timing by trip type
A simple watch
Search the trip once and write down the total for the itinerary you would actually take, not the 6 a.m. departure you will not survive. Check again a couple of times a week. If the fare drops, buy or rebook only if the change is worth the hassle. If it rises and your dates are fixed, stop browsing and purchase.
Holiday weeks and three-day weekends are the exception. Waiting for a drop inside the last month is how people end up on two stops at a bad hour.
Read how to find cheaper flights for the search itself, and free-cancellation hotel bookings so the hotel can stay flexible while the flight is not.