Get the timing right on your purchase of airline tickets and you can save a lot of money -
So when is the optimal time to buy a ticket to get the lowest price? CheapAir monitored fares for about 5 million flights in 2014 over a booking period ranging from 320 days in advance to one day in advance. Its researchers found that fares for domestic flights were lowest 47 days in advance.
That's an average, though. There's actually a prime booking window between 114 days and 27 days before departure when fares for U.S. flights are the best. "Way more often than not, the best fare for a domestic trip will be offered at some point during that window," says CheapAir CEO
Fares shoot up an average of
Of course, there are exceptions. Although there is a prime booking window when fares typically are lowest, the best time to buy airline tickets can vary greatly depending on destination, time of the year and travel days. In certain cases, it's better to purchase tickets before the prime booking window. Here are some guidelines:
Book early for summer, holiday and family travel. CheapAir recommends booking flights for summer travel to popular destinations and flights around
Book very early for international travel. Fares for international flights don't drop much from the time they open for sale 335 days before departure, according to CheapAir. About 90 days before departure, fares start climbing dramatically. For flights to
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Be flexible. The CheapAir study looked at lowest possible fares without regard to airline, flight time or number of stops. You'll usually save the most money by booking flights with connections, or flights that are early in the morning or late at night. Also, flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays tend to be cheaper, according to FareCompare.com. You can use a flexible search option on travel booking sites, such as the ones at
Watch your fare after your buy. Many airlines and online travel agencies will give you a rebate (usually in travel credits or vouchers) if your flight's price drops below what you paid. You can sign up on Yapta.com to receive alerts if the price falls on a flight you've booked. Be aware, though, that some airlines can charge hefty fees for re-booking a flight to get a lower fare. It's not worth it to make a change if the fee outweighs your rebate.
However, if you book a ticket through CheapAir, you can get a credit of up to
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Cameron Huddleston is an online editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. .