Airfare Secrets: Getting the Best Price on Air

Quit leaving work on Friday for your flight.

Updated February 2025

Getting the best price on air is a moving target nowadays. But with our airfare secrets, and not-so-secret insider tips, you can avoid being the one who paid too much for your airfare. To save as much money as you can, follow these tips for getting the lowest price on airfare. This advice is based on actual data from Expedia. Ignore the myths and follow the facts.

Tip 1: Research

Use a site like Google Flights that aggregates flights from many airlines. You can see different airlines and fare classes. It will tell you if fares are historically low or high. If your dates are flexible, you can see which dates will save you the most money. Also, don’t forget to look at alternative nearby airports.

Once we find the flight we booked we hit the “Track Prices” button and enter our email address. As prices go up and down, we receive alerts. Google Flights even tells if the prices are typically high or low for that flight. Finally, if your plans are flexible, there is a nice grid that allows you to see the lowest priced date combinations to get the best price on air.

Tip 2: After You Book Set a Price Alert

Most U.S. airlines now allow you to change flights without a change or cancellation fee. Avoid airlines that do not permit this. After checking the rules on your chosen airline, book your flight. Be sure you understand the fare rules and change or cancellation policy.

Then after you book set a price alert on Google flights or a similar site, so you can rebook when the price drops. Depending on the airfare and the fare class you book, you will likely receive the difference as an e-credit for a future flight.

We need to know when that fare drops and checking all the time is time-consuming. The flight alerts make it easy. When the price goes down, we go back to the airline site and rebook, getting the difference back in e-credits.

Doing this has saved us hundreds of dollars.

Tip 3: Which Days of the Week Have the Best Prices?

To get the best price on air, generally avoid flying on Mondays and Fridays when business travelers fill the skies. Expedia says the least expensive days to fly are Saturdays and Thursdays. For international flights, Thursdays are best. For domestic flights, Saturday is best.

Tip 3: When to Get the Best Price on Airfare?

We have long told people the best time to book domestic air is one to three months before the trip and Expedia’s research confirms this.

Interestingly, for international travel the best fares are found eighteen to twenty-nine days before the flight. However, waiting that long does risk the flights you want being unavailable.

For peak season dates like spring break, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, you should book three to seven months out for domestic and four to ten months for international. Many factors, such as the popularity of the flight, can impact prices. And don’t be afraid you are paying too much because you will use Tip #1.

Tip 4: Get The Best Price on Air for a Cruise

We have seen hundreds of people on a single cruise miss it because a storm blanketed the nation on the day the cruise began. That’s why we always recommend you fly in a day or two before the cruise starts rather than the day of the ship’s departure. Trust us, it relieves the worry of missing your cruise departure and you can start your cruise relaxed and happy.

Given the recent performance of certain airlines, it makes more sense than ever. In fact, Expedia says that flight cancellations doubled in 2024!

Think about all the people who missed their cruises when Southwest melted down. Last summer’s Crowdstrike fiasco ruined the travel plans of people all over the world. It’s worth it to go a day early and spend the night in a nearby hotel. Travel agents keep lists of hotels that have shuttles to the cruise port.

Once you know which flights you want, check to see how much the cruise line’s airfare price is. More and more, cruise lines are offering great prices on published fares. Even if it is the same, most cruise companies guarantee they will take care of you if your air goes awry, and you miss the boat. However, some of the cruise line air programs are easier to use and more flexible than others. Some cruise lines, especially those offering “free air” may put you on an undesireable itinerary with many layovers.

Tip 5: Ask Your Travel Agent to Look For Consolidator Fares

Consolidator fares are somewhat like wholesale. They are regular seats on regular flights that still earn frequent flier miles. Basically, the airlines sell some of these seats in bulk to the consolidator who offers them through travel agents. The savings are more common on international than domestic flights. At times our clients have saved thousands of dollars on airfares by using a consolidator. Ask your travel advisor to check for you.

Tip 6: For Getting the Best Price on Air –Nonstop Charter Flights

If you are going to popular vacation spots, especially in Mexico or the Caribbean, there are travel companies who offer great resort and air packages with charter non-stop flights. These are available for popular destinations like Cancun, Jamaica, and Riviera Maya. Packages with nonstop charter air are possible out of airports such as Chicago, Lansing, Cleveland, Detroit, and more. Ask your travel advisor to research this option for you.

Tip 7: Know Your Rights

While it does not cover everything, the Department of Transportation has done a good job of pushing airlines to agree to provide you more rights when you fly. Check out the Airline Customer Service Dashboard.

These programs are free to join. For airlines like Delta, your miles never expire and you get extra perks like free wi-fi on many flights. Most airlines offer similar programs.

More facts from Expedia:

August is the cheapest month to travel, February and March are the most expensive.
Booking on a Sunday can keep more in your wallet.
Average ticket prices were down in 2024 from the year before. Because new flights are coming online, it is expected that average costs will decrese more in 2025.
The difference between premium and economy has come down. It’s more affordable than ever to upgrade.
Avoid crowds by traveling during quiet periods. Tuesday is the quietest day of the week to travel, and February is the quietest month.