When and how to book airline tickets?

Published on 3 février 2017

Quand et comment réserver ses billets d’avion ?

When organizing holidays or weekends, everyone looks for the best plan for a flight at the best price. So, what is the best time to go on vacation and book plane tickets? We have prepared our best tips for you!

1. Misconception: Booking Last Minute is Cheaper

We've all heard that friend who reveals that they once booked their ticket at the last minute and got their ticket to New York for €132. In reality, it doesn't really work like that.

If you are flexible on your dates and destination, it is true that you could have good surprises until the last minute and come across a great deal. However, this technique is still risky if you really want to go to a specific place and time. It would be a shame not to go because of "bad luck"...

2. Traveling Off-Season

Traveling off-season is obviously the first advice to give to someone who wants to go on vacation at the best price. Avoid school holidays if you can, that's the motto.

3. When to Travel?

There are times that are more favorable than others to go on vacation or weekend at the best price.

For medium-haul and long-haul flights, Saturday would be the least expensive day to travel. Not very practical if you only want to go for a weekend, but it is still possible to plan in advance, on weekends of 3 or 4 days, for example.

In general, it is also proven that November is the cheapest month to travel. Flight prices are 9.5% lower than average during this period. Good to know! Plus, November is a time when we often want to go on vacation: the back-to-school season has passed, the routine of the year is setting in, the weather is changing... in short, we just want to go, and luckily, it's at the best price!

4. When to Book Tickets?

There are many theories about the ideal time to book plane tickets. Here is our list of tips:

👉 In January, you will have the best deals on domestic flights

👉 In September, the best deals for "city-break" stays

👉 In December, the best deals for long-haul flights

If you have flexible dates, booking 5 to 6 months in advance will save you about 6% on the price of your ticket. If, on the other hand, you have no choice on your dates, you can book up to 10 weeks in advance. That's where you'll find the most interesting prices. If you go off-season, it is best to book 2 to 3 months in advance.

Finally, the golden rule is to book plane tickets during the week and not on weekends. Indeed, prices vary much more on weekends, so there is a risk of paying much more for your ticket without any real reason.

5. Some Tips

Our advice for booking your plane tickets is to set up alerts on comparators, travel websites, or airlines. You can also subscribe to newsletters, which will give you access to promotions.

You can also look into "pack" sales of hotel + flight, which may cost you less with a little luck. Don't forget to also monitor travel promotion sites, such as Voyage Privé, Voyages Pirates, etc.

Finally, don't forget that each destination has its rules: depending on the destination you choose, ticket prices will be higher or lower depending on the month you choose to travel.

You now have all the cards in your hand to find good deals to travel at the best price!