Summer travel season is winding down, and maybe you're starting to think about when you'll be taking your next trip.
Labor Day is right around the corner, but some people are already starting to think about trips over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I went to the experts to find out when the best time is to buy your tickets.
“If your strategy is strictly the absolute lowest price to get from point A to point B, you know you can certainly play the field,” said Jerry Katz, a travel agent.
To get the best price, you need to have a game plan. Travel experts suggest buying peak holiday season airfare tickets three to seven months out.
"Waiting till the last minute is not a good tactic, you'll probably encounter not only expensive flights but ridiculously expensive flights,” said Katy Nastro, another travel agent.
CVG spokesperson Mindy Kirschner said if you're flying out of Cincinnati, be sure to book early, especially if you're flying during peak travel rush.
“Airfares are low right now, and travel demand is high," she said. “Thanksgiving period is the busiest time."
Katz said the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving are always the most expensive travel days, so try to plan your travel days accordingly.
“Maybe see if you could switch your dates a little bit and maybe even fly Thanksgiving morning and come back the following Monday,” Katz said. “Or going that Tuesday to Saturday to save on airline tickets."
Maybe you've heard airfare prices drop the lowest on a certain day of the week — Katz said that's a myth.
“That's become more of an old wives tale at this point,” he said. “Flexibility is way more important than the day of the week that you purchase your airline tickets."
Katz shared his thoughts on what he believes is the easiest way to compare prices being offered by different airlines
“I personally find that Google Flights is the most user-friendly of all of the airline tracking systems, and they do offer a price tracking on their website," he said.
Katz said you should also be aware of basic economy fares, although it may be tempting as you can typically save about $40-$50 on average. However, if you need to change your flight for any reason, you’re pretty much out of luck. Instead, Katz recommends booking main cabin for a little more security and flexibility.
"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
Follow John:
- Facebook:John Matarese Money
- Instagram: @johnmataresemoney
- X/Twitter: @JohnMatarese
Follow Taylor:
- Facebook: Taylor Nimmo
- Instagram:@tnimms
- X/Twitter: @tnimms
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
