Conde Nast: The Best Time to Buy an Airplane Ticket
by Paul Brady and Laura Dannen Redman of cntraveler.com
A recent study by Expedia and the Airlines Reporting Corporation suggests there might actually be an optimal time to buy airplane tickets.
Travelers often swap theories on the right—and wrong—time to book a flight. We’ve heard it all: The lowest fares are on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. ET. (No, Wednesdays at 1 a.m.!) You need to book at least two months before you fly. (No, you should look for a deal and fly at the last minute!) Websites like the now-defunct Farecast and Kayak suggest when you should buy, or if you should wait—like we’re all trading stocks—but there’s no guarantee. And according to George Hobica of AirfareWatchdog, “There is no secret time. You need to look four times a day—minimum—every day of the week, as far in advance as you can.”
