One of the questions I get the most from readers (as well as friends and family) is: What is the best day and time to buy a domestic air ticket in the USA?
There are a lot of opinions out there about this, so let’s start with the experts who monitor this kind of data all day long. First, let’s start with the 800-pound gorilla. According to Google: “On average, flights that depart on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday have been 12% cheaper than weekend departures. If you exclude international destinations, the potential savings jump even higher to 20%.”
In terms of how far out you should book for a trip within the United States, Google says: “For U.S. domestic flights, prices have usually been their lowest 21-60 days out, with average prices bottoming out 44 days before departure.”
This means you don’t want to book too far ahead and definitely not wait until the very last minute.
According to Going.com (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights), who has an excellent airfare deals newsletter, they say: “For domestic travel, it’s recommended to book 1–3 months in advance. For international flights, the ideal booking window is 2–8 months before departure. If you’re planning a trip during peak seasons, such as Christmas or spring break, consider booking even earlier to lock in lower fares.”
When is the best day of the week to book a flight?
Going.com also puts a hammer to the myth that the best day of the week to buy a plane ticket is Tuesday. That used to be true in the 1990s (I purchased many) but it’s not anymore. “There’s a long-standing myth that Tuesdays are the best days to book flights. However, this is no longer true. Airline prices are updated constantly, and deals can appear on any day of the week.”
I tell my friends all the time that the best way to find the best airline deals, no matter where you’re traveling to, is to first know the typical price. Then set a fare alert, sign up for a variety of newsletters that feature deals, or follow travel bloggers on social media. When there’s a good deal, buy it.
If you’re worried about a better deal coming down the pipeline, then don’t purchase a Basic Economy or non-refundable ticket. The major carriers like American, Delta, and United (as well as others) allow customers to cancel their tickets for a travel credit with no penalty (thanks, pandemic). So, if you find a better deal, just cancel your ticket, rebook, and take the savings as a credit for a future flight (usually has to be used within a year).
