When To Book That International Flight

If you’re planning a trip overseas this year, mark your calendars now.

In a new report, Cheapair.com tracked over 900 million airfares from 2018 to determine the best time to buy a ticket when flying internationally.

According to their findings, across all overseas destinations, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the cheapest days to fly, while July and December are the most expensive months. And it’s never good to book within three weeks of your scheduled travels — unless you’re willing to pay extra.

Here’s a breakdown of prime booking times, according to Cheapair.com:

Canada

Prime Booking Window: 43 days to 10.5 months before departure

Best time to buy: About 115 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US415 ($593)

Cheapest months to travel: January and October

Most expensive months to travel: July and December

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday, Wednesday

Mexico

Prime Booking Window: 21 days to just under 10 months before departure

Best time to buy: About 80 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US451 ($645)

Cheapest month to travel: September

Most expensive month to travel: December

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday, Wednesday

Caribbean

Prime Booking Window: 21 days to 238 days before departure

Best time to buy: About 99 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US566 ($809)

Cheapest month to travel: September

Most expensive month to travel: December

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday, Wednesday

Central America

Prime Booking Window: 20 days to 202 days before departure

Best time to buy: About 78 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US624 ($892)

Cheapest month to travel: September

Most expensive month to travel: December

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Wednesday, Tuesday

South America

Prime Booking Window: 23 days to 321 days before departure

Best time to buy: About 84 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US981 ($1403)

Cheapest month to travel: October

Most expensive month to travel: December

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Wednesday, Tuesday

Europe

Prime Booking Window: 59 days to just over 10 months before departure

Best time to buy: About 200 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US1158 ($1656)

Cheapest month to travel: February

Most expensive month to travel: July

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday, Wednesday

Africa

Prime Booking Window: 112 days to 313 days before departure

Best time to buy: About 199 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US1405 ($2009)

Cheapest month to travel: February

Most expensive month to travel: July

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday

South Pacific

Prime Booking Window: 21 days to 321+ days before departure

Best time to buy: About 186 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US1667 ($2383)

Cheapest month to travel: May

Most expensive month to travel: December

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday

Asia

Prime Booking Window: 71 days to 287 days before departure

Best time to buy: Around 160 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US1099 ($1571)

Cheapest month to travel: November

Most expensive month to travel: December

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday, Wednesday

Middle East

Prime Booking Window: 83 days to 10.5 months before departure

Best time to buy: Around 196 days out from your travel date

The average airfare: $US1165 ($1666)

Cheapest month to travel: February

Most expensive month to travel: July

Least expensive day of the week to fly: Tuesday

Unlike domestic flights when you might be able to book a last-minute trip without paying a ton, booking early for an international flight will almost always be a safer bet.

For a closer look at the report, read it on Cheapair’s website.