Best Time to Buy an International Plane Ticket Based on 1 Million Flights
Last weekend, we shared the results of the 2018 CheapAir.com Airfare Survey . The study looked at 917 million different airline tickets and made several determinations as to when is the “right” time to buy if you want a great deal.
Last week, results were released with some specifics for domestic flights, and this week , special results for international flights.
The number of airline tickets reviewed for this study was significantly less than what the site used for internal results. While the entire study looked at 917 million rates, there were only 1 million international rates available on the site. That is, while this information is probably a good resource, your experience may differ slightly from these results.
The site has also broken things down by where you fly to. The main booking window changes depending on the country you choose (and remember they give you the average!), As does the cheapest and most expensive time to fly there.
Here’s a rundown of what they found and you can check out the full study (with other directions) here . For this information, all flights depart from the USA.
Canada
For Canada, the site recommends travel bookings between 3 weeks and 5 months prior to departure, with the best time to buy is 66 days on average from travel date. The cheapest month to travel to the country is October and the most expensive time is July.
Mexico / Central America
If you are looking to travel to Mexico, it is best to book your tickets 2 weeks to 6 months before departure, with the “best” time to buy 70 days prior to travel date. The cheapest month to fly is September and the most expensive is December.
Caribbean
The best time to book a ticket to the Caribbean Islands is from 1 to 11 months before departure, and the most favorable time is 207 (!!) days before the travel date. The cheapest month to travel is January and the most expensive is December.
Europe
If you want to travel to Europe, the best time to book your ticket is 1.5 to 8 months from the date of travel, with the “best” time coming 160 days before departure. The cheapest month to travel is March and the most expensive is July.