What is the best time to book cheapest flights?

The winter holidays aren’t even here yet but many people are already planning ahead to book their New Year vacations. As the festive season is going to start soon many people are also booking domestic flights for the upcoming holidays.  But, is it the best time to buy your tickets for holiday travel, or is it better to wait until closer to your expected travel date?

As many people are still exploring the options for booking cheap flight tickets amid the festive rush, the Google Flights could come to your rescue.

The Google Flights team last year examined five years' worth of airfare data to find patterns on the cheapest days to fly and the best time for booking your flights during each season, and some of those trends have changed in 2023. This gives an insight into the right time to book a flight ticket where you can get a cheaper deal.

Cheapest day of the week to fly

If you're planning to book a flight, you may be trying to find the cheapest option. According to Google, it's cheaper to fly in the middle of the week, rather than on the weekend. Flights that take off between Monday and Wednesday can be between 12 per cent and 20 per cent cheaper than weekend flights. Sundays are an expensive day to depart, Google says. You could also save roughly 20 per cent by booking a layover flight instead of a nonstop flight if you don't mind the extra time it takes to get to your destination.

Though you may've heard it's cheaper to book and pay for your plane tickets on a Tuesday rather than a Saturday, that's not necessarily true. If you are booking air tickets between Tuesday and Thursday instead of the weekend, prices have been only 1.9 per cent cheaper on average over the past five years, the search giant said.

Do flights get cheaper closer to your travel date?

To avoid a potential price increase, it's best to book your flight far ahead of time instead of waiting till closer to your travel date. Google says that if you're booking a domestic flight, the prices are generally at their lowest between 21 and 60 days before your trip. However, Google notes this may not apply to your specific destination.

Other ways to find deals using Google Flights

Google suggests comparing current prices to previous days to see if you're getting the lowest price. Search your destination on Google and compare current rate to similar flights over the past 12 months. Toggle on Track prices and include your travel dates and Google will send you an email if the prices change. If you don't have a specific week in mind, you can select any dates to get a notification if the price drops for flights departing in the next three to six months.

Apart from Google Flights, other travel websites like Skyscanner and Kayak can also help travellers see flight ticket prices on and around the planned travel dates. These tools help to scan multiple platforms and airlines to show the cheapest options. These tools also offer travellers the option to track flight prices and send out alerts when prices fall below average or high levels