When to Buy Airplane Tickets

Depending on who you ask, there are myriad opinions about the best time to buy airplane tickets at the cheapest price, but these days and times can vary even further depending on the destination. Expedia recently conducted a study in conjunction with the Airlines Reporting Corporation to determine the best days and times to buy airfare based on the traveler’s destination and schedule.

The two companies collected data from Jan. 1, 2016, to Oct. 24, 2016, and found Sunday is the best day to book tickets if you’re planning a trip more than 21 days in advance. For those looking to travel to Europe during the summer, the best time to start researching prices and booking is 99 days in advance, especially if you’re planning summer travel.

Travelers who have fixed days for travel (e.g., around holidays such as Christmas or Easter) should start looking for flights well in advance. The study suggests beginning a search 54 days in advance for the winter holidays and 75 days in advance for spring dates. Summer travelers should begin their search 76 days in advance while fall travelers can wait and book up to 47 days ahead of time.

Results from the study also show the generally less expensive days for air travel are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.