When to Book the Cheapest Summer Flights

This is the third summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are ready to travel. Over the past two years, so many vacation plans have been cancelled, only to be rescheduled and cancelled again. Now more than ever, increasing numbers of people are ready to pretend the pandemic is over and book some flights. So if you’re looking to fly somewhere this summer, here’s when to book the cheapest summer flights.

Opt for August

According to reports from Expedia and CheapAir, August is the cheapest month to travel this summer, with average ticket prices nearly 10% lower than July, and 5% lower than June. Not only will you get more for your money when it comes to airfare, but you’ll also miss the crowds in June and July.

And if August isn’t a possibility, at least try to avoid flying on the most expensive day of 2022: July 1st (the Friday before the 4th of July holiday). Average ticket prices for that day are 25% higher than average for the summer months, per Expedia’s report.

Timing is everything

Unless you get very lucky, you’ll end up paying more for booking last-minute flights. But when, exactly, is the best time to book them? The report from CheapAir found that the cheapest summer fares are available an average of 42 days before the trip.

Relatively speaking, this is a bit last-minute compared to spring and fall, where flights are least expensive when booked 76 and 77 days in advance, respectively. Meanwhile, to get the best winter fares, you’ll need to book 110 prior to your trip.

Be flexible

Flexibility is always a plus when it comes to getting the best airfare, and that’s especially true during the summer months. If at all possible, try to avoid departing on a Friday—the most expensive day of the week to fly. Instead, opt for a Tuesday if you can, which is the cheapest day of the week to fly this summer, according to Expedia.