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Is It Better to Book Flights Last Minute or Early? Here's What Experts Say

Travel Tips | 18 Jun 2025

Is It Better to Book Flights Last Minute or Early? Here's What Experts Say

Generally, booking flights 1 to 3 months before your trip offers the best prices. Last-minute deals are rare—often more expensive—unless you're traveling during off-season or using specific tools. Want to learn how to get cheap airfare last minute or find the best time to book flights? Keep reading.

Pros of Booking Early

1. More Seat Choices

Booking early ensures access to better seats and more flight availability.

2. Lower Average Fares

Data from Expedia shows domestic tickets booked 28 days before departure can save up to 24%.

3. Lock in Holiday Pricing Early

For peak periods (summer/holidays), experts recommend 3–6 months in advance for domestic, and up to a year ahead for international travel.

When Last-Minute Flights Are Cheaper

Off-Season Routes

Last-minute deals can emerge for non-peak destinations. Pack light and stay flexible.

Mistake Fares

Airlines occasionally publish glitch fares at steep discounts—some as much as 75–90% off.

Airlines Filling Empty Seats

Occasionally, seats go unsold close to departure. If airlines don't hit full capacity, they might drop prices to fill them.

“Booking last-minute flights can be more expensive, but award flight deals do surface via miles a few weeks or days out."

Cheapest Days to Fly and Book

Fly midweek — particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Travelers can save $56–$60 per ticket.
Book early on Tuesdays — historically one of the lowest-fare days according to Expedia's Travel Hacks report.

Tools to Predict Price Drops

Use these tools to monitor price trends and make smarter booking decisions:

Google Flights: Compare date grids and track values over time.
Hopper: Predicts future flight prices and advises when to buy.
Cheap Deals Fare Deal Predictor: Proprietary tool that tracks route-specific trends daily.

Bonus Strategy: Leverage Miles for Last-Minute Flights

Last-minute trips can actually be cheaper when using frequent-flyer miles or credit card points. Airlines sometimes release award seats just weeks before departure. For travelers asking "how to book cheap flights last minute", this strategy can pay off—especially in off-peak seasons.

Quick Recap: When to Book for the Best Deals

Booking Strategy	Best Timeframe	Advantage
Early Booking	1–3 months domestic, 3–6 months intl.	More seats, better rates
Last-Minute Deals	1–3 weeks before (off-season, miles)	Mistake fares, award seat deals
Mid-Week Flights	Book & fly Tuesdays/Wednesdays early AM	Consistent savings
Use Tools	Ongoing	Alerts, predictive pricing, insights

Final Takeaway: Book Smart, Not Just Early

The best time to book flights depends on route, seasonality, and how flexible you are:

For most travelers, booking 1–3 months ahead is optimal.
If you're chasing last-minute cheap airfare, focus on off-season routes or award bookings.
Always fly midweek, and set alerts via Google Flights, Hopper, and Cheap Deals Fare.