So, When Should You Book a Flight?
In order to get the best deals on airfare you should book your flight a few months in advance.
Domestic flights in the U.S. go on sale 11 months prior to their departure. This makes the ideal
time frame to schedule your flight between 25 to 150 days in advance.
Yes, booking your flight closer to the plane’s departure might sound like a more adventurous
way to travel. However, we can’t all be manic pixie dream girls, and sometimes finding cheap
flights is every bit as important as satisfying your wanderlust. In short, last minute booking is
adventurously expensive and more of a hassle. By booking in advance, you’re giving yourself
more room to explore cheap flights to Paris, Rome, or Tokyo.
You also have a wider variety of days on which to book your flight. When you choose to book at
the last minute, you miss out on the ability to book weekday flights which may be cheaper.
But why the 150 day cut off? Why not book 200 days in advance?
As mentioned above, flights go on sale around 11 months prior to departure. However, their
prices don’t begin to fluctuate until they’ve been on the market for at least five months. That’s
why to book a flight more than 150 days in advance is to buy a flight at full price.
In comparison, you should book your flight 25 days in advance at least. This is because 25 days
gives you a better chance of buying lower-cost airfare while also benefiting from the likelihood of
needing to change your flight schedule.
Many spontaneous travelers have learned the hard way that changing your schedule can be
incredibly costly the closer you get to departure. Virtually all airlines will charge you a hefty fee
for changing your departure date. That being said, when you choose your flight only 25 days in
advance, you’re less likely to need to cancel or make any changes to your itinerary or route.
It can be challenging to find flights that are not only in your price range but also work for your
schedule. Hopefully, now that you know how far in advance you should book a flight, that task
will be a little easier.
Whether you’re booking in advance or at the last minute, CheapOair will help you find the best possible flight options.
