Tips for Buying an Airplane Ticket

 Non-Holiday Travel

Buying an airline ticket can be expensive if you do not buy it at the right time. Timing matters when booking a plane ticket. If you buy a ticket during the right period, you can save significantly. According to CheapAir.com, the average cost for domestic flights was least expensive 47 days ahead of the flight. However, prices increase an average of $111 if you wait until two weeks before the flight. Keep in mind that airfares vary widely based on destination, day of the week, and time of year.

Holiday and Summer Travel

If you plan on flying to a popular beach or other well-travelled destination during the summer, you might want to buy your tickets early. For domestic flights, this might mean booking around Thanksgiving and Christmas. For international flights, plan even farther ahead. Keep in mind how many people you will be traveling with, because that will make tickets more expensive as you will need to plan further ahead if several of you want seats near each other. Kiplinger.com says, “If you see a good price, don’t wait for it to go lower because it’s more likely to rise than drop.” And Airlines Reporting Corp. found that the best time to book a ticket for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel is around October 8-10.

International Travel

If you plan on travel outside the U.S., you will likely find prices more expensive. Buy international plane tickets very early! For good prices on international airfare, definitely book more than 90 days in advance. According to CheapAir, book tickets to Europe at least 276 days ahead of the flight; to the Caribbean, at least 144 days in advance; at least 318 days ahead for Asia; 262 days for Africa; 251 for Mexico; 244 for the South Pacific; 213 for the Middle East; and 96 days ahead for Central and South America (Kiplinger.com).

Other Tips on How to Save on Airfare

The more flexible you are with departure and arrival times, the more you can save. Morning or late night flights are less expensive. FareCompare.com has found Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday flights more economical. Flights with connections are less expensive; but, if you want a nonstop flight that departs at a reasonable hour for you, book early to ensure a good price.

Also be aware that prices may decrease after you book your flight. Depending on the airline or travel agency, you could receive a rebate on your plane ticket if you alert them of the new and lower price. However, re-booking your flight for a lower rate is not always worth it because added fees could outweigh your rebate.

READERS, what do you think?

1.     Have you found any good ways for booking cheap plane tickets?

2.     If you have flown anywhere, how did you buy your plane tickets?

References:

Forgione, M. (2014, October 23). How Early Should You Buy Airline Tickets to Get the Lowest Price? LATimes.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015, from http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-airline-ticket-buying-report-20141022-story.html.

Huddleston, C. (2015, February 18). Best Times to Buy Airline Tickets. Kiplinger.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015, from http://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T059-C011-S001-best-times-to-buy-airline-tickets.html.