When is the best time to book flights?

By the Farefika editorial team · Updated 28 October 2026 · 5 min read

Calendar with dates circled next to a model airplane and a world map

Everyone wants the magic day to buy a ticket. The honest answer is that there is no universal one, but there are reliable patterns that help you avoid paying the top price.

The myth of the cheapest weekday to book

You may have heard that tickets are cheapest if you buy on a Tuesday. Airlines adjust prices continuously with software, so the day you click "buy" matters far less than the day you fly and how early you book.

A sensible booking window

Treat these as rules of thumb, not guarantees:

Short-haul and domestic: start watching about two to three months ahead and aim to book roughly one to two months before you fly.
Long-haul: start looking around six months out and try to book two to five months ahead.
Peak dates (summer holidays, Christmas, Easter, big events): book earlier. Cheap seats on these dates sell first.

Why waiting too long usually costs more

Airlines sell seats in price buckets. As cheaper buckets sell out, the next fare is higher. On popular routes that means prices tend to climb in the final weeks. Off-season, quiet routes are the exception where late deals sometimes appear.

The day you fly matters more

Midweek departures, early-morning flights and returns away from Sunday evening are often cheaper. If your dates are flexible, compare a whole week of departures before you decide.

Use alerts and a price you are happy with

Decide what a good price is for your trip, set an alert, and book when the fare reaches it. Trying to catch the absolute bottom rarely pays off and often ends in a higher price.