The Best Time to Book Flights

If You’re Traveling Over the Summer

If you’re looking to travel this summer, book your flights right away because there will almost certainly be more fare increases to come. Extra hint: Pelletier recommends taking earlier morning flights because rain delays are a lot more common in the summer.

When to buy: Three months before your departure, depending on where you’re going. More than any other season, buy early because gas prices are notoriously high. Prices usually only go up as the summer progresses.

Bonus tip: Extend the summer for better prices—if you can book your vacation for May or September, you’re likely to save as much as 25-50 percent on air and hotel. You can also find deals when certain regions have slow seasons because of school schedules. For instance, Northeast schools are usually in session through mid-June, so beaches in New England offer deals in early June. Southeastern schools start back in mid-August, so beach destinations in South Carolina and Florida may offer late August deals.