Don't look now, but Thanksgiving is only 62 days away. If you're planning to travel for the holiday season, you may be wondering when you'll need to travel with plane tickets. Is it better to buy them as soon as possible, or should you wait until the holidays are approaching?
Google Flights recently released its key insights on Travel data and trends in 2024which provides analysis on the best times to fly and buy plane tickets. Google has aggregated four years of airfare data and trends to provide U.S. travelers with a comprehensive guide on how to get the cheapest flights possible and the best times of year to travel.
Learn more: Use your iPhone to easily monitor flight delays and cancellations
What are the cheapest days to travel?
If you're considering booking a flight, especially during the holiday season, you're probably trying to find the most economical option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available when you fly on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest dayaccording to historical flight data. Flying early or mid-week can save travelers 13-20% on airfares compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday being the most expensive day to fly.
Do layovers on flights save you money?
It's perhaps no surprise that flights with stopovers are cheaper than nonstop flights, but you may not realize just how significant these savings can be. Google Flight data shows that travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a stopover instead of a non-stop flight.
What day of the week is the cheapest to book flights?
There are certainly cheaper days to fly, but there are no truly cheaper days to book. “There aren't many benefits to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week,” according to the Google report.
Google Flights indicates that Tuesday is generally the cheapest day of the week to bookaccording to the data, but Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday.
Is it cheaper to book flights well in advance?
To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it's best to book your trip well in advance, especially if you have to travel on a specific day or time. There are some trends you can analyze to decide whether it's better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations, and travel dates.
For domestic flightsprices are generally at the lowest between 21 and 52 days before your trip — with 38 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average.
For international flightsprices are generally the lowest between 50 and 101 days before your trip, but it's usually best to book as early as possible. According to Google, “average prices don't drop significantly before departure, but they typically start to increase within 50 days of the flight itself” when it comes to international travel from the United States.
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When is the best time to book a flight regardless of the season?
Here's what Google says about the best times to book vacation flights and vacation trips to some popular destinations.
Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights during the Thanksgiving holiday are typically available 26 to 59 days in advance, with 45 days being the cheapest, meaning it's best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October.
Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights during the winter holidays are usually available between 36 and 72 days in advance, with 58 days being the cheapest. It is best to book your Christmas or holiday trip in the second half of October.
Summer vacation: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are generally available 13 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average.
Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 and 59 days in advance, with 44 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average.
When is the best time to book a flight to Europe?
International flights to Europe from the United States are generally cheaper 50 days or more before departure, with 94 days being on average the cheapest day to book. As with all international travel, it is generally best to book as far in advance as possible.
When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean?
International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the only exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. This is because flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days being the least expensive.
What are the top destinations for vacation travel?
Google also published information on the most searched destinations for each stay.
Thanksgiving: The most popular destinations for travel departing between November 24 and December 1 include Orlando, Florida; Cancun, Mexico; New York; Tokyo; London and more.
There are more national locations represented on the Thanksgiving list.
Christmas and New Year: The most popular destinations for travel departing between December 22 and January 5 include Tokyo; Orlando, Florida; Cancun, Mexico; Miami; New York and more.
For Christmas and New Year, it seems people are more interested in traveling abroad, based on the top searches on Google Flights.
For more, check out CNET's picks for the best travel credit cards in 2024. You can also explore The 12 Travel Essentials You Should Always Pack And worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
