Google Has The Inside Scoop On The Best Times To Book Flights (And Save Money)

Planning a trip and want to save money? A new report from Google can help with the best time to book a flight, the best places to visit and more.

Planning a trip and want to save money? A new report from Google can help with the best time to book a flight, the best places to visit and more. A new report from Google tells the best times to book a cheap flight, the best places to visit and more. Planning a trip and want to save money on flights? A new report from Google can help. Using four years of Google Flights data, the tech giant determined that the timing of when you book can make a major difference in the flight price—and they’ve shared all the insights. The site also revealed some of the best spots to go, based on top-searched destinations and what’s trending. If you’ve ever booked a flight, it’s no surprise that flight prices are always fluctuating (and usually going higher and higher). But by analyzing historical trends, Google identified the ideal timing to book the cheapest flights. Depending on where you’re going, here’s the scoop. Domestic Flights: According to Google, the lowest prices for domestic flights typically appear 38 days before departure. The best window is between 21 and 52 days out. International Flights: No surprise here—Google says you should book as early as possible. Average prices are lowest 101 days before departure, but you’re safe anytime 50 days or more in advance. Trips To Europe: The best time to book flights to Europe from the U.S. is 94 days before departure. Prices tend to increase 50 days before takeoff, so plan ahead. Trips To Mexico And The Caribbean: These destinations are an exception to the general international rule. Flights to Mexico or the Caribbean from the U.S. are cheapest 44 days before departure, with a low price window between 26 and 68 days out. Google has the scoop on the best times to book flights to save on Christmas travel and more. Holidays and school vacations can be the busiest and most expensive times to fly, but with Google’s data, you can save some money. Here are the best times to lock in those tickets for the most popular travel periods. Thanksgiving: For domestic travel, Google’s research shows that the cheapest fares show up 45 days before departure. So the date to book your Thanksgiving flights is early October. Christmas: You’ll want to plan even further ahead for Christmas. Google says that the best deals appear 58 days before departure. This means: Book those flights in mid-to-late October. Spring Break: For domestic trips in March or April, Google says the sweet spot is 44 days out—so get your flights between 33 and 59 days before your trip. Summer: This ones’s a surprise. According to Google, you might want to hold off on planning. For July and August trips, you’ll often find last-minute deals 21 days before departure. When it comes to saving on flights, it’s not just about when you book but also how you plan your travel. For example, Google revealed that flying on certain days of the week could help you save even more: The cheapest days to fly are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, which can be up to 13% cheaper than weekend flights. Also, while nonstop flights are more convenient, they come at a premium—on average, they’re 25% more expensive than flights with layovers. And if this is all too much to think about, Google also has a price tracking tool that can alert you when airfares go down. Frisco, Colorado, which Google recommends for spring break trips. Now that you know when to book, you need to know where to go. Google’s report also zeroed in on the top destinations trending for Thanksgiving and Christmas based on search data, plus some other exciting 2025 vacation spots. Thanksgiving: Sure, you can go home to mom’s house, but why not take advantage of the long weekend for a quick getaway? According to Google, the most popular destination for the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is Orlando, Florida—home to Disney World and Universal. Coming in second on the list is Cancun, Mexico—the perfect place for a beachy escape. Rounding out the top five are New York City, Tokyo and London. Read on for the full list of 20 top-searched spots. Christmas And New Year’s Eve: For the winter holidays, Google’s data shows that travelers are venturing further afield with Tokyo coming in at the top of the list. Orlando came in second, followed by Cancun, Miami and New York City. We’ve got the full list below. Spring Break 2025: The experts at Google also shared some of the top spring break spots. This year, it’s all about adventure and getting a head start on warm weather. Some of Google’s choices include Frisco, Colorado (a low-key ski town) and Jackson, Wyoming (which offers plenty of outdoor fun when the peak-season ski crowds are gone). If you prefer a coastal getaway, check out seaside Dana Point, California—which has great whale watching in spring. Summer 2025: Looking ahead to summer? Google recommends Snowmass, Colorado for its mountain biking, hiking and outdoor festivals. Or head to Anchorage, Alaska, which has nearly 24 hours of sunshine and endless exploration. A skyline view of Orlando, Florida, which was named the top spot for Thanksgiving. Tokyo was named the top-searched destination for Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2024. One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.  Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space. In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service.  We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil. 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https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2024/09/30/google-has-the-inside-scoop-on-the-best-times-to-book-flights-and-save-money/