Best Time to Book Flights in 2026 (and How to Get the Best Deals)

Best Time to Book Flights in 2026 (and How to Get the Best Deals)

Last updated: April 18th 2026

The average domestic round-trip fare was $384 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But timing your booking right can save 25% or more (Expedia/ARC).

That's meaningful. On a $400 ticket, 25% is $100 back in your pocket.

But here's what most "best time to book" guides don't tell you: if you're booking with credit card points, the timing rules are completely different. The cheapest cash window (1 to 3 months before departure) is often the worst time to find award availability. Cash fares and award seats follow opposite patterns.

This guide covers both. When to book for the lowest cash price, when to search for the best award flight deals, and the day-of-week and month-by-month patterns that can save you money regardless of how you're paying. Pointhound tracks award availability across 21 airline programs and 200+ airlines, so you can see when seats open up and act before they're gone.

When Should You Book Domestic Flights in 2026 with Cash?

When booking with cash, the best time to book a domestic flight is 34 to 86 days before departure, with 42 days out being the statistically optimal single day to buy.

CheapAir's analysis of billions of airfares found that the prime booking window runs from about 3 weeks to 2.5 months before departure. Book earlier and you're paying the "first dibs" premium (36% more than the prime window). Book later than 21 days out and you're paying roughly 26% more than the prime window.

The Expedia/ARC 2025 Air Hacks Report, which draws from ARC data covering 54% of global air trips, puts the savings more precisely: booking 34 to 86 days out saves an average of 25% compared to booking outside that window.

For holiday travel, the windows shift. Google's flight data shows that each peak period has its own pricing curve.

• Standard domestic — Start monitoring 3–4 months out. Best booking window: 34–86 days, optimal at 42 days (CheapAir, Expedia/ARC).
• Spring break (Mar/Apr) — Start monitoring 2–3 months out. Best booking window: 28–61 days, avg 43 days (Google).
• Summer travel — Start monitoring 4–5 months out. Best booking window: 2–3 months before departure (Hopper).
• Thanksgiving — Start monitoring in September. Best booking window: ~35 days out, 24–59 day range (Google).
• Christmas/New Year — Start monitoring mid-October. Best booking window: ~51 days out, 32–73 day range (Google).

The takeaway: for most domestic trips, start watching prices 3 to 4 months out and book when you see a price you're comfortable with in the 5 to 12 week range. Don't wait for a last-minute miracle.

When Should You Book International Flights in 2026 with Cash?

The best time to book international flights depends on your destination, with booking windows ranging from 3 months for nearby regions to 6 months for long-haul destinations.

International flights require more lead time than domestic. CheapAir's international study breaks it down by region:

• Mexico/Caribbean — Best booking window: 2–3 months out. Start monitoring 4 months out.
• Europe — Best booking window: 120–160 days (4–5 months). Start monitoring 7–8 months out.
• Asia — Best booking window: 90–120 days (3–4 months). Start monitoring 7–8 months out.
• South America — Best booking window: 70–100 days (2.5–3.5 months). Start monitoring 5 months out.
• Australia/New Zealand — Best booking window: 120–180 days (4–6 months). Start monitoring 8 months out.

Hopper's research suggests starting to monitor international fares 7 to 8 months before departure, then booking 5 to 7 months out for Asia/Oceania and 3 to 6 months out for Europe.

The common thread: international prices move earlier than domestic. If you wait until 6 weeks before a trip to Europe, you've likely missed the best pricing. Start watching early, set a price alert, and book when fares dip into your target range.

What Day of the Week Should You Book and Fly?

Sunday is the cheapest day to book flights, saving 6% on domestic and up to 17% on international fares compared to booking on Monday or Friday.

That's the finding from the Expedia/ARC 2025 Air Hacks Report. The savings are more pronounced on international tickets.

For the day you fly, midweek wins consistently. Google's data shows Monday through Wednesday flights are 13% cheaper than weekend departures. Hopper puts specific numbers on it: flying midweek saves an average of $67 per ticket on domestic routes, $166 to Europe, and $126 to Asia.

Expedia's data adds nuance. The cheapest day to fly domestically is Saturday. The cheapest day for international departures is Thursday.

A caveat worth noting: the booking window matters far more than the booking day. The difference between booking on a Sunday versus a Wednesday might save you $20. Booking 42 days out versus 7 days out could save you $100 or more. Focus on the window first, then optimize for day of week if your schedule allows.

When Should You Book Flights with Points? The Rules Are Quite Different!

Award flight timing follows an inverse pattern to cash fares: the best award availability appears 10 to 11 months before departure and again in the final 1 to 2 weeks, not during the 1 to 3 month window where cash fares are cheapest.

This is the most important insight for anyone who uses credit card points, and no other "best time to book" guide covers it.

Why Award Timing Is the Opposite of Cash Timing

Cash fares are cheapest 1 to 3 months before departure. That's the prime booking window backed by billions of data points. But for award flights, that same window is often the worst.

Airlines release a limited number of award seats on each flight. By the time you're 1 to 3 months out, most of those seats have been booked. The availability that remains is often in less desirable routings or at higher mileage costs.

Going.com's State of Travel 2026 report puts it directly: "the cheap-cash window is often the worst for award space." Points value is also slowly decreasing over time, making 2026 a year to use points rather than hoard them.

The Two Best Award Booking Windows

Window 1: Schedule release (330-361 days out). Most airlines release their schedule, including award seats, 330 to 361 days before departure (AwardWallet). This is when you'll find the widest selection of award seats, especially for premium cabins like business and first class.

Airlines release availability at their local midnight. ANA and JAL release at Japan midnight. Cathay Pacific at Hong Kong midnight. Lufthansa at Central European midnight. If you're trying to book a popular route in business class, knowing when new seats drop can make the difference between getting the flight and missing out.

Window 2: Last-minute releases (1-14 days out). Airlines release unsold premium seats as award availability close to departure. A business class seat that was blocked all year might suddenly open up a week before the flight. This window is unpredictable, but it can yield lie-flat seats for economy-level miles.

Pointhound Premium Flight Alerts catch these last-minute releases and notify you via SMS or email. You can set up alerts for over 70,000 routes we track, so you don't have to check manually every day.

What Are the Cheapest Months to Fly in 2026?

The cheapest month to fly overall is August, based on historical pricing data from Expedia and ARC.

That might sound counterintuitive for a summer month, but Expedia's analysis found that August edges out other months on average fare. Late summer demand drops off as schools start, and airlines discount to fill seats.

The broader trend is encouraging. Going.com's State of Travel 2026 report notes that June 2025 was the second-cheapest airfare month on record when adjusted for inflation, and 2026 is expected to continue that trajectory. BTS data shows the 2024 annual average domestic fare at $384, with Q2 2025 down 3.8% from Q1.

Here's how months generally stack up for domestic travel:

• Cheapest — January, February, August, September. Post-holiday lulls, back-to-school drops.
• Moderate — March, April, May, October, November. Shoulder seasons, mixed demand.
• Most expensive — June, July, December. Peak summer, holiday travel.

The holiday surcharge periods are narrow but steep. Thanksgiving week, the two weeks around Christmas, spring break (which shifts by school district), and the weeks around July 4th all see spikes. Book these during the windows listed in the domestic timing table above.

Summer 2026: Why Booking Sooner Matters

Geopolitical crises are causing fuel and kerosene prices to fluctuate, and that volatility is showing up in ticket prices. Jet fuel costs have risen sharply since late February 2026, and airlines are passing those costs along.

The numbers for summer 2026 are already visible. Domestic summer fares are trending roughly 15% higher year-over-year. International routes are worse: flights to London are running 30%+ above last summer, and other European capitals are 20% or more higher (IATA). Several major airlines have also raised checked bag fees by 20% or more this spring, with first bags now at $45 one-way on Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue.

For award travelers, the impact is mixed. Airlines like ANA and JAL have introduced fuel surcharges of roughly $164 per segment on long-haul routes, which increases the cash portion of award tickets. On the other hand, rising cash fares make points redemptions more valuable by comparison. A business class seat that costs $6,000 in cash but 60,000 points is a better deal at today's prices than it was six months ago. You can compare award options across all programs on Pointhound.

What this means for booking timing: The standard advice is to wait for the optimal window. But when fares are trending upward due to fuel costs, waiting can cost you more than the potential savings from better timing. If you're planning summer 2026 travel and see a fare you're comfortable with, book it. Many airlines now offer free or low-cost changes, so a "book now, adjust later" approach makes sense when prices are climbing.

This doesn't mean the booking windows in this guide are wrong. They're based on years of data. It means that in a rising-fare environment, the early end of each window is safer than the late end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there really a cheapest day to book flights?

Sunday is statistically the cheapest day, saving 6% on domestic fares and up to 17% on international versus booking on Monday or Friday (Expedia/ARC). But the advance purchase window matters far more than the day of the week. Focus on booking 34 to 86 days out before worrying about which day you click "buy."

How far in advance should I book an award flight?

As previously mentioned, the best time is 10 to 11 months out, when airlines first release their schedules and award inventory. A second window opens in the final 1 to 2 weeks before departure, when airlines release unsold seats. The 1 to 3 month window that's ideal for cash fares is usually the worst for award availability (Going.com).

Are flights getting cheaper in 2026?

The picture has changed since early 2026. Through mid-2025, fares were on a downward trend: the 2024 annual average was $384 (BTS), and Q2 2025 came in at $386, down 3.8% from Q1. But fuel price volatility since late February 2026 has pushed summer fares up roughly 15% year-over-year domestically, with international routes up even more (IATA). Off-peak and shoulder-season travel remains more affordable, but peak summer and holiday pricing is higher than 2025.

When do airlines release award seats?

Most airlines open their schedule 330 to 361 days before departure (AwardWallet). Award seats are released at the airline's local midnight in many cases. Partner award availability (booking through a different airline's program) tends to be narrower than what's available through the airline's own loyalty program.

When should I book summer 2026 flights?

If you haven't booked yet, do it now. Summer 2026 fares are trending 15%+ above 2025 levels due to fuel costs, and prices are unlikely to drop before peak season. The standard advice to book 2 to 3 months before summer travel still applies, but in a rising-fare environment, earlier is better. August remains the cheapest summer month if your dates are flexible.

Do fuel surcharges affect award flights?

Yes. Some airlines add fuel surcharges to award tickets, which increases the cash you pay on top of your points. British Airways, Lufthansa, and (as of 2026) ANA and JAL all charge fuel surcharges on award bookings. Others like United and American do not. When comparing award options, check the total out-of-pocket cost, not just the points required. Pointhound shows the full cost breakdown for every deal.

Timing Matters, but Knowing Where to Look Matters More

For cash bookings, the data is clear: book 5 to 12 weeks out for domestic, 3 to 6 months for international, and fly midweek when you can. These rules haven't changed much in years.

For points travelers, the real advantage is knowing when award seats open. That means watching for schedule releases 11 months out or catching last-minute drops in the final two weeks. If you want the full walkthrough on how to book a flight with points once you've found availability, read our beginner's guide to booking flights with credit card points.

Setting Pointhound Flight Alerts for your next trip is a smart first step. You input your travel dates and get notified when award seats open on your route, so you don't have to guess the timing yourself.

Sources

• Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). "Air Fares." Accessed March 2026.
• CheapAir. "The Best Time to Buy Flights." Updated annually.
• CheapAir. "When Is the Best Time to Buy an International Flight?" Updated annually.
• Expedia/ARC. "2025 Air Hacks Report." 2025.
• Expedia. "2026 Air Hacks Report." February 2026.
• Google. "Holiday Travel Trends 2025." 2025.
• ARC. "ARC + Expedia 2025 Air Hacks Report Partnership." 2025.
• Going.com. "State of Travel 2026." 2026.
• Hopper. "2025 Travel Booking Hacks." 2025.
• AwardWallet. "How Far in Advance Can You Book Airline Award Tickets?" Accessed March 2026.
• IATA. "IATA Warns Soaring Fuel Costs Will Push Airfares Higher in 2026." 2026.
• GMA/ABC News. "Best Time to Book Thanksgiving and Christmas Flights." 2026.
• LoyaltyLobby. "ITA Airways Joins Star Alliance on April 1, 2026." March 2026.