When is the best time to book a flight? Does it matter where I’m traveling? Finding the best deals on flights takes a lot of research and know-how. But if you’re a consistent traveler you’ll want to do all you can to ensure you get the most from your money. Here are a few ways that you can start researching to save the most money on your next flight:
1. Book months in advance. If you know you travel to your family’s home every Thanksgiving, don’t delay purchasing a flight. For shorter, domestic flights you should book at least seven weeks ahead of your trip. If you are going on vacation and traveling to another country, it’s best to plan ahead. The general rule is you’ll find the best price on international flights 18-months in advance.
2. Use Google Flight tracker. Google Flights is a good resource for finding the best airline deals. Google Flights will search all the airlines traveling to your destination and find the best price based on the dates you select. The engine will also give you prices on other days, to help the flexible traveler compare rates. You can even save your searches and track prices on Google Flights, to ensure the best possible deal.
3. Book on the right day. Yes, there are better days to buy your flight than others. Most experts agree buying on Tuesday around 3pm is the best time to find deals. Those deals, however may stick around until Thursday, but usually no later. Kayak is a great resource when booking a flight. The website includes a price trend box on your search and will also give you a “confidence estimator.” That means they will let you know if they think the price will go up or down.
4. Talk to your airline. Did you book a flight only to find the price dropped a few days later? Call your airline. Most airlines will give you the lowest price, but you have to ask for it. It can be daunting checking prices every day, but I’ve found savings over $100 when I’ve booked flights doing a simple 30 second search each day.
5. Use Twitter. Twitter is a great way to save on airline deals, especially if you are flying last minute. Some deals only last a few hours, making Twitter and other social media the place to go. Usually airlines will advertise them on their Twitter feeds since it’s the go-to social media for short notice information.
6. Buy one-way flights. This can be tricky. But some experts say you can save on flights by purchasing the departure and return flights separate. If you have flexibility in your schedule you can find better deals by purchasing flights one at a time, because prices vary by day and time of the year.
7. Cancel and rebook. If an airline won’t give you the lowest price check to see their cancellation policy. Many airlines will offer you a free refund if you cancel a flight. If you find a lower price and the airline won’t budget, take advantage of the cancellation policy and re-book your flight using the new low price.
8. Use an airline-friendly credit card and sign up for rewards programs. Apply for an airline credit card that will give you air miles for signing up. Using these credit cards will help for longer flights, and they are an extension of the airline’s frequent flyer programs. Building up miles may give you a free flight or some extra perks. Don’t forget to sign up for an airline’s frequent-flyer’s program if you fly often. In addition to building miles, airlines will also offer special promotions for members.
Do you have secretes for finding the best airline prices? Post them in our comments here or share them with us by Tweeting @TravelCareAir!
