CheapAir.com has published its 8th annual Airfare Study to reveal the best times to buy domestic airline tickets by unpacking 917 million airfares in more than 8,000 markets across the United States.

These insights provide tools to make shopping for flights a transparent experience by helping travelers understand when to book travel for the best value.

On average, the best day to buy a domestic flight is 76 days before departure, 12 days earlier than 2021. Fares changed 53 times after going to market, significantly fewer times compared to 69 times last year. There are multiple factors to consider when booking travel, including price, seating, and flight experience, and these all play a role in how far in advance to book for the best deal.

“Our goal has always been to make it easy for people to connect,” said CheapAir.com CEO Jeff Klee in a news release. “This year that is more important than ever as while it is safe again to travel, airfare prices are also rising. The information we are sharing today provides patterns and trends to help people make the best decisions that work for them and how they want to travel.”

Price Consideration

If price is the main consideration, CheapAir.com’s 2022 Prime Booking Window of approximately four months to three weeks in advance of departure is when travelers should book their flights. This sweet spot consistently yields the lowest airfare prices. Compared to last year, this window is one month longer to accommodate today’s climate of increased travel demand, labor shortages, supply chain issues, rising gas prices, and more. To be safe, the key this year is to book early.

This year’s study revealed additional insights to help travelers make the most informed decision when buying flights:

  • The cheapest day of the week to fly is Wednesday, saving on average $57 per airline ticket compared to the most expensive day, Sunday.
  • The least expensive months to fly are January and February, saving approximately $100 compared to flying around the Christmas holiday.
  • For summer vacation plans, August is the most economical month to fly offering better value without the crowds.

Depending on the travel destination, airfare prices can fluctuate more than the average. Travelers can utilize tools, such as CheapAir.com’s Best Time to Buy Flights Widget, to check specific itineraries for the best times to book travel. Additionally, consumers who book with CheapAir.com are covered by “Price Drop Payback,” which reimburses customers up to $100 per airline ticket if prices drop after purchase. CheapAir.com also makes it easy to purchase airfare with payment flexibility options from cryptocurrency payments to monthly financing.

For additional information, data, and insights on the best ways to save on airfare, check out the full CheapAir.com 2022 Airfare Study.

Source: CheapAir.com