Best Days and Time to Buy the Cheapest Flights

Have you ever wondered why flights change price about as often as the price of gas changes? Why did the price go up or down in a matter of days, or even hours? Do you wonder why you paid $100 more than the person sitting next to you on your flight? How far in advance should you book a flight to get the best price? Here are some answers and tips that I found awhile ago and keep handy whenever I'm thinking about flying somewhere!

The best time to Buy Airline tickets is Tuesday at 3pm Eastern (which ironically right about now as I'm posting this! :P)

Here’s why:
An airline will typically kick off an airfare sale late Monday.

• Other airlines join in to stay competitive
• Price matching is usually complete by early Tuesday afternoon
• Newly discounted airfares hit reservation systems by 3pm eastern

(Source http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/when-to-buy-travel-advice/)

How soon should I buy my tickets?
Don't buy your tickets too early or too late, or you'll be paying too much. If you buy your tickets more than 3 1/2 months in advance, the prices haven't been "managed" yet and you will likely pay too much. Don't wait too long either, prices will shoot up around 14 days before a flight to take advantage of last minute planners or business people who must travel and are willing to pay higher prices.

What day of the week should I fly?

Flight prices also depend on what day of the week you fly. Since people want long weekends and want to get the most out of their vacations, Fridays and Mondays are the busiest days to fly, and the most expensive. The most unpopular days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, which make them cheaper as airlines lower their prices to fill these flights.

For more information on buying airline tickets to get the best price, check out these resources:

http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/when-to-buy-travel-advice/
http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/tips-from-air-travel-insiders/