Empty Skies Ahead: Finding Airfare Deals With Flexible Travel Dates
Empty Skies Ahead: Finding Airfare Deals With Flexible Travel Dates - Finding Airfare Deals With Flexible Travel Dates
For domestic flights, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the cheapest days to fly. You’ll typically find lower fares departing on these days compared to peak travel times like weekends. The ideal booking window is 21-60 days in advance for domestic economy flights.
When flying internationally, it pays to be more flexible. Prices fluctuate more depending on the destination, season, and local events. Europe and Asia tend to be cheaper in the off-peak winter months. Search at least 2-3 months in advance for the lowest economy fares.
Use Google Flights to easily view prices by day. Select your route and click on the date grid to see color coded prices. Green means cheap, red signals expensive. Toggle between “departure dates” and “1 week” to see various date combinations.
Check both nearby and alternate airports. An airport one hour away could have much lower fares, especially for regional airports prone to high pricing. Don’t limit yourself to your closest airport.
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- Empty Skies Ahead: Finding Airfare Deals With Flexible Travel Dates - Finding Airfare Deals With Flexible Travel Dates
- Empty Skies Ahead: Finding Airfare Deals With Flexible Travel Dates - Off-Peak Perks: Unlocking Affordable Flights During the Shoulder Season
Empty Skies Ahead: Finding Airfare Deals With Flexible Travel Dates - Off-Peak Perks: Unlocking Affordable Flights During the Shoulder Season
The shoulder season offers a sweet spot for finding flight deals. This is the period between peak and off-peak seasons when tourism dips in popular destinations. Airfare prices tend to be lower as demand decreases. You'll avoid the crowds, heat, and inflated hotel rates of summer. The weather is often ideal in spring and fall with moderate temperatures.
Focus your search on shoulder seasons based on the region. Europe's shoulder runs from March to May and September to November outside of Easter and summer holidays. You'll find deals on flights heading to Greece, Spain, Italy and Croatia. Asia's shoulder falls between September to November and March to May excluding Chinese New Year. Flights to Thailand, Japan, and Bali offer savings.
The Caribbean has a long peak from mid-December to April. Look for deals in late spring and fall. Mexico and Costa Rica have mild weather year-round, so any month can yield deals outside of Christmas and Easter holidays. Alaska and Canada peak in July and August. Visit in May/June or September for deals.