When is the best time to find the best deals on airfare?
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- As oil prices continue to surge, NerdWallet says the cost of airline tickets is about 27% higher compared to this time last year, so we have ways to save.
Travelers have long searched for the "Magic Day" to book a cheap flight, but it turns out the biggest savings come from when you fly, not when you click to buy.
"There's a little confusion about Tuesdays and booking flights. Booking on a Tuesday is not going to get you a cheaper fare, but flying on a Tuesday can cost less," says Julian Kheel the founder of Points Path.
Kheel says the second cheapest day to travel is Wednesday followed by Saturday. That's because business travelers tend to fly on Fridays and Sundays, then on Mondays and Thursdays.
As far as when you should book?
Kheel says there is a sweet spot for savings and booking super early doesn't necessarily pay off.
"During holiday periods when there's high demand, you will want to booked way in advance, but during a normal calendar year, one to three months is the sweet spot for domestic flights. Three to five months in advance is ideal for international travel," he says.
When it comes to holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New year, Kheel does recommend booking at least three months in advance for travel within the United States, but better to book even earlier than that.
And when booking, check out Points Path, the first award flight search engine.
It has a browser extension that runs on top of Google Flights and shows you the price for flights using cash as well as points or miles so you know which is the better deal.
And here are some more ways to save:
- It pays to be flexible with your travel times. Early morning flights tend to be cheaper.
- If possible, also be flexible when it comes to your destination. Consider alternate, less expensive places similar to your original destination.
- If you book a flexible fare, continue to check for cheaper flights after you book. If you find one, cancel and re-book to get that lower price.
- You can also set a price alert notification using Kayak.
Re-checking rates and re-booking is also a great hack to get the best rate on hotel reservations.
