USA News Hub

THE specific days where you can get cheaper airline tickets has been revealed – but it’s a high-risk strategy.

Travel expert Caroline Bologna says there is a sweet spot between booking too early or too late, when you can get the best deals.

2

For those in the know, this is called the “Goldilocks Window”.

Caroline told the Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast: “There’s this term called the ‘Goldilocks Window’ – which I’m pretty sure Scott Keyes, who founded Scott’s Cheap Flights, which is now called Going.com – coined.

“[If you book] too late, we all know prices can skyrocket, but also you don’t want to book too early, because then you could be unnecessarily paying too much.”

Airline ticket pricing is dynamic, meaning they change due to demand and other possible factors.

She explained that people who are organised and get things done in advance can be at a disadvantage when booking tickets.

Similarly, those who book at the last minute can also lose out on the best deals.

Caroline advised booking domestic flights four to six weeks before flying, or even as much as eight weeks in advance.

While for international travel it was best to book three to five months before actually jetting off.

However, Caroline also issued a warning as there are exceptions to this.

She said: “There are always exceptions.

“Holiday season, summer travel – those are times you know are going to be crazy, so you’re going to want to book them pretty far in advance.”

Some people swear that you can get better deals if you book on a particular day, such as a Sunday or Tuesday, however Caroline rejects this saying that the experts she’s spoken to dismiss this as being a myth.

However, if you fly on particular days this can save you money.

Caroline said: “Every expert I’ve ever talked to says [traveling on] Tuesday and Wednesday — those midweek days — are the best.

“Early Saturday can be pretty good as well.”

There are also other advantages of flying on these days.

According to Caroline, not only are you less likely to have your flight cancelled or delayed due to fewer people flying but also your overall airport experience will likely be more relaxing.

She did though, acknowledge that not everyone has the flexibility of being able to fly on those days.

One of the hosts of the podcast, Noah Michelson, added that if you do fly on holiday, such as Christmas morning, you can save a pile of cash.

However, there is a huge risk with doing this – if there is a problem with your flight, either being delayed or cancelled, you may not make it home for the big day.

Other money-saving tips when it comes to booking flights also often come with potential snags.

While it may be cheaper to get a flight with a layover or with a budget airline these can be less than ideal in some cases and could mean you spend more time travelling or sitting in a cramped, uncomfortable seat.

Caroline said that ultimately, it all comes down to the individual and their priorities and needs as well as the money available they have to spend.

2