Early flights, cheap seats, less trauma
Thinking about a summer getaway? Whether you’re dreaming of golden beaches or a family battle royale at Disney, it’s officially “stop refreshing and actually book your flight” season.
Let’s break it down.
🗺️ For international trips
If you’ve got your sights set on Europe, Asia or anywhere outside the U.S., the sweet spot is two to six months in advance, depending on the destination. Not seven anymore.
Airline prices fluctuate faster than ever, and waiting too long means you’ll likely be hit with high demand and fewer seats. Then again, you might be able to score a last-minute deal if you don’t mind the last seat near the toilet.
Use tools like Google Flights, Hopper or Skyscanner to set fare alerts. Just plug in your destination and dates, and you’ll get notified when prices drop below a threshold you set. It’s like having a personal flight hacker in your pocket.
🇺🇸 For U.S. travel
The best time to book a domestic flight is 28 to 35 days before takeoff. Yep, just about a month ahead. Booking too early, say 90+ days out, can actually cost you more. I know, it sounds backward, but data backs it up.
- Book on a Sunday: You can save around 15% compared to buying midweek.
- Fly on a Wednesday: It’s consistently the cheapest day to travel, especially for round trips.
- Skip Fridays and Sundays unless you love crowds and overpriced tickets.
- Shop one-way tickets: For example, Phoenix to New York City round trip was $523. But booking a one-way ticket from Phoenix to NYC and then booking a separate ticket from NYC to Phoenix was $413.
🛫 Insider secrets
Always book the earliest flight your cranky self can tolerate. Flights after 3 p.m.? Up to 50% more prone to cancellations. Delays pile up throughout the day, and those afternoon and evening flights get hit the hardest.
📍 TL;DR
Does clearing your browser really lower flight prices?
I got a great question from Danielle in Austin: “Kim, every time I search for a flight and go back later, the price has gone up. Are airlines tracking me? If I clear my browser history or use incognito mode, will I get a cheaper deal?”