When Should You Book Your Flight? A Travel Pro Shares Game-Changing Advice

Itching to travel somewhere new? Before you even think about booking a fancy hotel or visiting that national park, you need to check the flights. Simply put, if a flight is way outside of your budget, you’re not going. However, instead of kissing your dream vacation goodbye, a little bit of planning can go a long, long way. In fact, with strategic timing and know-how, it’s possible to find a reasonable rate for your next getaway. 

“I tell our clients while spontaneous travel can be exciting, the planner almost always gets rewarded,” explains Kristen Kellogg, co-founder of Salt & Wind Travel in California. 

But how? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Kellogg is sharing her top tips for finding an excellent airfare rate. With these top tips and tricks, you’re officially cleared to land the vacation of your dreams.

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1. Plan Ahead

Seriously. While we love the spontaneity of booking a last-minute flight somewhere, there’s always the risk that you’ll pay a premium. 

“This strategy of getting a great deal on last-minute flights is mostly a myth in today’s algorithmic pricing world in my opinion,” Kellogg explains. “Airlines now use sophisticated dynamic pricing models that typically increase prices as departure dates approach, especially for popular routes.”

As a general rule of thumb, she recommends booking a domestic flight between two to five months in advance and international flights up to six months before. Of course, that might change if you’re traveling during peak season.

“For summer California coastal trips or holiday travel to places like Palm Springs or San Diego, you’ll want to book at least four to six months ahead,” she says. “The same applies for Mexico’s high season between November and April—especially for popular destinations like Los Cabos or Puerto Vallarta.”

Though booking a flight months in advance might give someone pause, Kellogg says there are plenty of ways to get some peace of mind. “Consider booking a fully refundable ticket so you maintain flexibility if prices drop significantly later,” she recommends.

2. Shift Your Schedule

Everyone might be working for the weekend, which can often make flights from Friday through Sunday in-demand—and expensive. If you have a flexible schedule, mid-week travel can potentially help your bottom line. “One client recently saved nearly $200 by shifting their travel dates from Saturday to Saturday to Tuesday to Tuesday,” Kellogg says.

Time of day can also be a big fare-changer. In fact, Kellogg says early morning searches (a.k.a. flights between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m.) often reveal newly released fare sales before they’re widely promoted.

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3. Piecemeal Your Route

Want to hear a secret? While roundtrip routes might be easier and more convenient to book, they’re not always the cheapest. “Many don’t realize that booking separate one-way flights—sometimes on different airlines—can be cheaper than round-trips,” Kellogg says. “Check your options before choosing round trip flights.”

However, before you book a flight, make sure you understand the full picture. “A great flight deal to LAX might seem appealing for a Santa Barbara trip, but only if you are going to Santa Barbara and staying in town and your plans don’t include needing a rental car,” Kellogg adds. “Additional transportation, fuel, and time could offset any savings.”

4. Be Flexible

Though planning ahead can help lower your costs, quick trips do pop up. That’s exactly why it’s important to keep an open mind.

“If you must book last-minute, focus on flexibility rather than hoping for a miracle discount,” Kellogg says. “The biggest mistake is fixating on a specific carrier or rigid dates without considering alternatives.”

She also recommends looking into smaller airports. “Instead of LAX, look at Burbank or Long Beach,” Kellogg adds. “Rather than SFO, check Oakland and San Jose. These alternatives often have better last-minute availability and sometimes lower fares.”

Spontaneity and savvy spending? Consider us sold.