Airfare Six Booking Zones
Six Booking Zones
CheapAir.com, a company that offers discounted airfare, performs price research on millions of flights and tickets each year. As part of the CheapAir.com study, the company analyzed flight prices for more than 917 million departures across 8,000 different markets.
As a result of CheapAir.com's extensive research, the company was able to determine six different booking zones for airfares, each of which is determined by the number of days before departure, as well as what travelers can anticipate during each of these zones.
Zone 1 : First Dibs : 203-315 days in advance
If you wait until later in the season to purchase your ticket, you will save approximately $50 compared to the price you pay now. The fact that you will probably have more options in terms of your itinerary and seating arrangements, is a positive aspect of this time of year.
Zone 2 : Peace of Mind : 116-202 days in advance
If you waited for the cheapest possible airfare, you could save about $20 on your ticket price during this time. However, there are still a large number of excellent options for seats and flights.
Zone 3 : Prime Booking Window : 21-115 days in advance
The prices of airline tickets are, on average, within 5% of their all-time lows during this time period. Now is the perfect time to go shopping for deals and to make airline reservations.
Zone 4 : Push Your Luck : 14-20 days in advance
The prices of tickets typically go up during this time. There are no seats available on the flights that are the most convenient, and the best seats have already been taken. On the other hand, you could get lucky and find some more affordable options during this time.
Zone 5 : Playing with Fire : 7-13 days in advance
Even though the price of tickets during this time period is, on average, $135 less expensive than it would be if you waited until the very last minute to buy them, it is still not the best time to purchase tickets. There is a restricted selection of flights and seats available at this time.
Zone 6 : Hail Mary : 0-6 days in advance
Unless there is an unexpected emergency, you should make every effort to avoid booking flights during this time period if at all possible. If you made your reservation during the prime booking window, you could have saved an average of $220 by doing so.
Seasonal Considerations
When it comes to purchasing airplane tickets, the general recommendations that CheapAir.com lays out in each of its six booking zones can serve as helpful guidelines. However, the company makes the point that they might shift depending on the time of year as well.
Fall Season
You can typically wait a little bit longer to book your travel for the fall, and you will still get good deals. 69 days in advance is on average, the best time to make a purchase. The week of Thanksgiving is the one exception, and you should make your travel plans well in advance for that week.
Winter Season
Almost without exception, the price of travel during the Christmas and New Year's holiday seasons will be higher. Otherwise, winter can be a relatively inexpensive time to take a trip. When planning a trip that does not involve holidays, you should try to purchase your plane tickets 94 days in advance.
Spring Season
Because people take their spring break on such a wide variety of days, the best strategy for traveling during this time of year is to make advance preparations. It is recommended that you purchase your tickets 84 days in advance.
Summer Season
This is the busiest time of year for travel throughout the United States. During this time, it is recommended that you purchase your tickets 99 days in advance through CheapAir.com.
Special Considerations for Booking Flights
Keep in mind the hints and windows of time that have been provided by CheapAir.com while you browse for the flight that suits your needs the best. However, there is one more thing that you need to keep in mind.
When you find a good deal, don't hesitate to seize it. If you wait, it's possible that you'll end up spending more money on yourself in the long run. The longer you wait, the higher the final price will be, which might not be ideal for your financial situation.
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https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/113015/do-plane-tickets-get-cheaper-closer-date-departure.asp
https://www.cheapair.com/blog/cheapair-coms-annual-airfare-study-reveals-the-best-time-to-buy-airline-tickets