Although it’s hard to believe, summer is just around the corner, and with it comes those warm, long days.
So, what does that mean for most families? Summer vacation!
But waiting until school is out to plan your summer trip makes your vacation seem more like an afterthought.
Now is the time to book your airfare, but not just any ‘ol day will do. Here are the tricks that’ll get you the best prices on airfare, giving you a little extra in your wallet to splurge.
Book In Advance
Getting a flight about 2-3 weeks in advance is optimal to snag the best deals, according to Skyscanner.
However, summer flights fill up the fastest, so Rick Seaney, founder of FareCompare, recommends booking your flights 3.5 months in advance if possible.
And since going international takes a lot more planning, start searching for airfare now. According to The Points Guy, April 23rd – 29th are the sweet spot days for booking flights.
If you are staying domestic, these are the perfect days to visit Disney World for all of the fun and none of the fuss, as Proud American Traveler has previously reported.
Or, if you’ve spent the last few summer vacations on land, how about hitting the sea, as Proud American Traveler suggests, with an all-inclusive domestic cruise.
Book On The Right Day
It may seem crazy that there’d be a specific day and specific time to get the best deal for a flight, but it does make a difference.
SkyScanner recommends Tuesdays for flying domestic, and Wednesdays for finding international deals.
And set that alarm clock, because purchasing your magical getaway is going to be offered at the best price at 5am—and at the most expensive price between the hours of 8pm and 11pm. You know, when everybody’s kids are in bed.
The Terrific Tuesdays
It’s long been rumored that flights have the best deals on Tuesdays—and it’s true!
One airline will often set a trend by offering the lowest fare, and then by Tuesday, all the other airlines will adjust their prices accordingly to offer a competitive rate, reports FareCompare.
By 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon, most airlines will have switched their fares to price-match their competitors.
So plan a late lunch break on your next Tuesday and surprise the family when you get home with that long-awaited trip to the steamy Bahamas or the cooler scenes of upstate New York.
Last-Minute Deals
Being a procrastinator may pay off with last-minute deals, but it’s not the best way to get the vacation you want.
Airlines often post last-minute deals for certain destinations when they need to fill the flight, but with only a limited amount of tickets.
So if you’re bringing along the kids, both sets of grandparents, all the cousins, and Aunt Edna, you’re probably going to be out of luck.
The other downside is you’ll be flying on the airline’s schedule, which isn’t ideal for most families who have to take time off work in advance.
But if you are the adventurous type who likes to wing it, or you’re flying solo, then you may benefit from the last-minute deals.
Cheap Days To Fly The Friendly Skies
So, now we know what time of day and what day of the week offers the best prices in airfare, but what days are the cheapest to fly?
Taking the traditional Monday through Friday off from work will cost you.
To get the cheapest domestic flights, you’ll want to fly out on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday.
For international, any weekday is best, but avoid the weekends.
So whether you’re going to hike the epic trails of New Zealand, hit the beaches of St. Thomas, or ride the rollercoasters in Orlando, now is the time to get the best airfare possible.
And a major bonus?
It will be nice knowing your vacation is already planned and purchased before school gets out—giving you and the whole family everything to look forward to and nothing to stress about!
Please let us know in the comments section if you have any tricks for booking the cheapest flights and where you’re planning to go for summer vacation!