National Cheap Flight Day is approaching, as the peak summer travel season comes to a close.
But don’t be fooled by the misleading moniker and rush to schedule your next trip.
“There is no specific day when flights will be at their cheapest,” Katy Nastro, a travel specialist at Going, tells CNBC Make. “That’s just not the case.”
Instead, according to Nastro, the optimum time to schedule air travel is always when you plan to fly. The Goldilocks window refers to the time when the best rates are typically available.
It derives its name from the fact that it is neither too far away nor too close to your travel date. The Goldilocks window for domestic travel is one to three months before your flight, while for foreign flights it is two to eight months in advance.
However, finding economical airfare requires more than simply timing. Here are three travel expert-approved recommendations for National Cheap Flights Day.
Practice, practice, practice:
If you know you want to go on a trip this year but aren’t ready to buy your tickets yet, you should still look into airfares. Doing this occasionally in the weeks or months leading up to your booking will help you gain your bearings and set your expectations for how much you’ll want to pay.
Nastro recommends comparing prices on websites such as Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Momondo.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re searching as long as you get a good sampling of those flights from multiple different areas,” according to her. “That will give you a better idea of what the flight prices are each week and month.
According to Gemma Jamieson, Skyscanner’s senior global PR manager, investing time in research can help you save money in the long term.
“Airlines are quite sophisticated about pricing and competing with each other. They’re watching data, they’re studying passenger behaviour, and they’re identifying these areas where they can be extremely competitive,” she says. “Doing a little bit of extra comparison, going a little bit further and shopping around for just a little bit longer than you might typically do could save you a lot of money.
Don’t drag your feet:
The worst error you can make while looking for cheap flights is waiting until the last minute and hoping that the price of the ticket you want will drop. This is especially true if you are considering holiday travel.
“Airfare tends to go in the upward direction, especially when we’re getting into peak season,” says Nastro. “During the holidays, you want to avoid booking at the last minute.
She wants to dispel the popular assumption that airlines will add seats at the last minute simply because an existing one is sold out.
“That’s not really how it works,” Nastro says. “There’s not an endless supply of backup flights that they can simply throw on the schedule.
Flexibility will save you money :
If you don’t have a certain destination or travel dates, you’re in the ideal position to get the cheapest airfare available.
“If you’re able to, keeping an open mind is the ultimate way to save money,” Jamieson explains. “People who have kept an open mind in the past have driven the rise of destinations like Croatia, which is now a sort of European summer vacation staple.”
Similarly, Nastro states that “flexibility will be your best friend when you’re looking for a really affordable flight.
If you don’t have a certain destination or travel dates, you’re in the ideal position to get the cheapest airfare available.
“If you’re able to, keeping an open mind is the ultimate way to save money,” Jamieson explains. “People who have kept an open mind in the past have driven the rise of destinations like Croatia, which is now a sort of European summer vacation staple.”
Similarly, Nastro states that “flexibility will be your best friend when you’re looking for a really affordable flight.
Jamieson recommends looking at not only round-trip choices, but also one-way flights in each direction to see if other airlines offer better deals.
“Explore your options,” Jamieson advises. “Split up your vacation so you don’t have to fly out and back with the same airline.