CheapAir’s When to Buy Tool Tells You the Best Time to Book Cheap Flights
Flight prices fluctuate a lot, so if you want a great deal, you need to arrive at the right time. The When to Buy tool on CheapAir.com shows you the most profitable window for booking cheap flights between two cities.
CheapAir examined 1,336,030,117 air tickets to the US on about 3 million different flights every day of the year. For each trip, they found the cheapest rate offered every day, from 320 days to a one-day trip. They found that the “best booking window” for cheap flights is usually 21 to 122 days before departure:
This is the zone for bargain hunters. During those 90 days, fares fluctuate wildly, sometimes from day to day. Travelers are advised to frequently check prices during this period and buy when a bargain appears.
They also offered some insight into other time frames:
Peace of Mind (113 – 196 days to go): The Peace of Mind zone offers a balance between flight options and price. Travelers pay on average $ 20 more per ticket than the Prime Booking Window, but they also have more flight options to choose from.
Try Your Luck (14-20 days): Rates can vary widely between two and three weeks. Depending on how crowded the flights are, travelers can get a fantastic deal, or they can pay significantly more. Popular flights during peak season are unlikely to offer low fares in this area.
Virgin Mary (0-13 days before departure): in rare cases, the Virgin Mary zone offers the best price. However, after 7-13 days, travelers pay an average of $ 75 on top of the Prime Booking window. 1-6 days before that, the premium will rise to $ 200.
However, their new tool gives you more detailed information based on destination and origin. Just plug in the two cities and you have a line graph showing what prices will look like over time. See for yourself using the link below.
When to buy tickets | CheapAir