Planning an upcoming trip is exciting, but knowing you got the best deal possible? Even better. The 2024 International Airfare Study that just came out from CheapAir.com can help, as it reveals when you can score the best deals on international travel.
- They analyzed more than 917-million airfares around the world in 10 global regions to determine the peak and off-peak months for travel costs, the best time to find budget-friendly flights and the most wallet-friendly travel days.
- According to these travel experts, the key to getting the cheapest international flights is to plan ahead and buy during the “Prime Booking Window.”
- The cost of tickets changes often, but they say it’s very unlikely to go down once you’re within 21 days of the departure.
Key findings from the study include:
- The best time to book international flights for various regions has changed a lot since 2023. Last year, booking a flight to Europe 45 days in advance would usually get the lowest fare, but now, to get the best price, you need to book 10 and a half months (320 days) in advance.
- But in some places, like the Caribbean, Asia, South America and Canada, the opposite is true and you save by booking closer to departure. Travelers heading to the Caribbean can now get low fares just 29 days before departure, a lot less than the 56 days you needed to get the cheapest flight in 2023.
- For getting the lowest price on flights to Asia, you needed to buy 144 days ahead in 2023, that’s gone down to 71 days in 2024.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to book budget-friendly flights from the U.S.
- Overall, February tends to be the most cost-effective month for international travel, while July usually comes with a higher price tag.
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