Thanks to the post-pandemic travel boom, you might have noticed that airfare prices have skyrocketed over the last few months. While (most) travel restrictions are something we can leave behind in 2022, expensive air tickets are unfortunately here to stay – at least for a while. Luckily, knowing the right time to purchase them can help you save tons. Here’s how:

It’s all about the timing

Some might say it’s best to book way in advance when demand for a certain flight might not have built up yet. Others might tell you to book closer to the date (as late as possible, even), so that airlines might drop their prices to increase their load factor. But what does the data say?

According to online travel shopping company Expedia, Sundays are the best days to score cheaper tickets. Fridays are the worst – costing you 5% more on domestic flights and 15% more on international routes, compared to Sundays. While there’s not a sure-fire day to get cheaper tickets, it’s always good to keep this in mind when booking flights.

Results from Expedia’s research also found that Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week for flight departures. Departing at the start of the week could cost you 15% more on domestic flights and around 10% more on international flights. This is because travelers tend to prefer departing on Sundays and Mondays, so the demand for flights on these days is higher.

Flight status data from 2022 shows that flights after 3 p.m. are 50% more likely to be canceled – so try to schedule your flights earlier in the day.

Length matters

The best time to book your flights depends on whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally. Domestic or short-haul flights tend to have more predictable pricing, while international or long-haul flights could fluctuate and end up costing more if you don’t book at the right time.

• Domestic or short-haul Booking too far ahead could end up costing you 10% more, if it’s a domestic or short-haul flight. For such routes, it’s best to book one to four months out from departure. Domestic fares often rise around three to six months from the flight, so booking too early might cost you more. Popular tourist spots often see price-matching between airlines, especially among low-cost carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, and AirAsia, that need more passengers to cover their costs. With these, you might want to keep an eye out for sudden price drops. If budget airlines aren’t your thing, full-service carriers like British Airways have short-haul sales a few times in the year – typically in February/March and after the northern hemisphere summer.
• International or long-haul You can save up to 10% if you book international flights as least six months ahead. Traveling across borders require much more planning than taking a local holiday, so it’s good to plan ahead when it comes to international or long-haul flights. Deals often appear one to two seasons before departure, so you might want to book your summer trip during winter and spring.

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Other tips

To ensure you’ve covered all bases for getting cheap flights, you could set up price alerts and trackers on airline or ticket aggregator sites. You could also sign up for airline newsletters, so you’re informed of seasonal sales.

Lastly, avoid peak season travel and be aware of blackout dates, such as Christmas Eve, when many discounted fares don’t apply.

Source: Expedia, Jack’s Flight Club