CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Summertime travel is back but with everything costing more these days, getting the cheapest airfare possible is essential. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.
Ask around and you’ll likely hear differing opinions on when to book to get the best price. Some say the earlier the better. Others insist the key to saving the most money comes down to what day of the week you book your flight.
WCNC Charlotte turned to the experts at CheapAir.com for the answer. The online travel agency analyzed more than 917 million domestic airfares in 8,000 markets across the United States for its Annual Airfare Study and it turns out, there’s a formula for getting the best price on airfare.
The data shows flights departing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the least expensive.
According to CheapAir, the day you book that Tuesday or Wednesday flight makes no difference in the fare price.
While the early bird gets the worm, it turns out, they may pay more as a result. The numbers show if you’re booking six and a half months to ten months in advance, be prepared to pay more. While booking that far in advance will provide more choices in terms of seating and flight options, that choice will end up costing $90 more on average than the lowest ticket price offered according to the Annual Airfare Study.
Booking three weeks to three months in advance of your departure date is the sweet spot. That’s when airfare will typically be priced within 5% of the lowest ticket price offered.
When it comes to getting that lowest price offered, CheapAir’s Annual Airfare Study found the magic number is 64. The data shows on average, booking 64 days from your departure date will get you the best possible price.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.