When to buy international flights: what the evidence supports

Fares follow demand and seat inventory

Airlines sell each flight in price tiers (fare classes). As seats sell and the departure date approaches, cheaper tiers close and prices tend to rise, though they can also fall when a flight is selling slowly. Sales, competition and holidays move prices too.

General buying windows

• For international trips, many travelers see better prices when they buy a few months before departure, and the last few weeks are often the most expensive. This varies by route and season.
• Peak holiday and summer travel usually needs earlier planning than off-peak travel.
• Short domestic trips are generally priced on a shorter horizon than long-haul trips.

Does the day of the week matter?

The day you buy matters much less than the day you fly. Flying on a midweek day or at off-peak hours is more often cheaper than flying on a Friday or Sunday. Claims about a precise cheapest hour to buy have mixed evidence, so treat them with caution.

Practical ways to pay less

• Search with flexible dates and nearby airports.
• Set a fare tracker so you hear when a price drops to your target.
• Compare the total cost, including bags and fees, not just the headline fare.
• Avoid repeating identical searches many times in a row; it will not help you and can make it harder to compare.

How SplitWing models timing

SplitWing's timing section gives a modeled planning window for your route. It is a guideline based on general patterns, not a prediction. SplitWing's fare tracker can watch a route and email you when the estimated price reaches your target.