CheapAir.com's Annual Airfare Study Reveals the Best Times to Buy Domestic Flights This Year

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Mar 30, 2022, 08:36 ET

With rising airfare prices, insights help travelers get the best deals possible

CALABASAS, Calif., March 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CheapAir.com today published its 8^th annual Airfare Study to reveal the best times to buy domestic airline tickets by unpacking 917 million airfares in more than 8,000 markets across the United States. These insights provide tools to make shopping for flights a transparent experience by helping travelers understand when to book travel for the best value.

On average, the best day to buy a domestic flight is 76 days before departure, 12 days earlier than 2021. Fares changed 53 times after going to market, significantly fewer times compared to 69 times last year. There are multiple factors to consider when booking travel, including price, seating and flight experience, and these all play a role in how far in advance to book for the best deal.

"Our goal has always been to make it easy for people to connect," said CheapAir.com CEO Jeff Klee. "This year that is more important than ever as while it is safe again to travel, airfare prices are also rising. The information we are sharing today provides patterns and trends to help people make the best decisions that work for them and how they want to travel."

If price is the main consideration, CheapAir.com's 2022 Prime Booking Window of approximately four months to three weeks in advance of departure is when travelers should book their flights. This sweet spot consistently yields the lowest prices for airfare. Compared to last year, this window is one month longer to accommodate today's climate of increased travel demand, labor shortages, supply chain issues, rising gas prices and more. To be safe, the key this year is to book early.

This year's study revealed additional insights to help travelers make the most informed decision when buying flights:

The cheapest day of the week to fly is Wednesday, saving on average $57 per airline ticket compared to the most expensive day, Sunday.
The least expensive months to fly are January and February, saving approximately $100 compared to flying around the Christmas holiday.
For summer vacation plans, August is the most economical month to fly offering better value without the crowds.

Depending on the travel destination, airfare prices can fluctuate more than the average. Travelers can utilize tools, such as CheapAir.com's Best Time to Buy Flights Widget, to check specific itineraries for the best times to book travel. Additionally, consumers who book with CheapAir.com are covered by "Price Drop Payback," which reimburses customers up to $100 per airline ticket if prices drop after purchase. CheapAir.com also makes it easy to purchase airfare with payment flexibility options from cryptocurrency payments to monthly financing.

For additional information, data and insights on the best ways to save on airfare, check out the full CheapAir.com 2022 Airfare Study.

About CheapAir.com

Headquartered in California, CheapAir.com is powered by a team of 50 travel enthusiasts who use cutting edge technology and superior customer service to simplify the way people shop for travel. Our proprietary airfare shopping engine provides an easy-to-understand view of flight and fare options from across the web, to make trip planning easy and joyful. Only CheapAir provides full apples-to-apples comparisons so you can see and book across different airlines and different flights, not just the lowest fares, but also the best value flights based on quality, comfort, and inflight amenities. For expert travel advice, deals and inspiration, connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

CEO Jeff Klee started CheapAir.com in 1989 from his college dorm room after getting a crash course in the airline industry while planning a backpacking trip through Europe on a student's budget. CheapAir.com still takes a creative approach to helping travelers to find the best trips. Along with its sister company, AmTrav for Business Travelers, CheapAir has helped over five million people buy plane tickets with confidence.

Press Contact:
Geetha Kerlin, [email protected], 917-596-0004

SOURCE CheapAir.com