Free Tool
When to Book Flights
Is now a good time to book? Pick your route and we’ll compare today’s fares to the historical average across 52+ destinations and 1,060+ tracked routes.
Check your route
Verdict
Book NOW — prices are well below average
Current fare
$385
Average
$550
vs Average
-29%
Booking window
Act this week. Fares this low rarely last more than a few days.
The current fare is more than 20% below the rolling average for this route. Deals this deep are uncommon and tend to disappear quickly once travel shoppers notice.
Fares found from Chicago to Amsterdam
See full route details →General tips for booking flights
Book Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Based on the routes we track, mid-week bookings consistently edge out weekend bookings. Airlines tend to launch sales Monday evenings, giving competitors time to match by Tuesday/Wednesday.
Book 6-8 weeks ahead for international trips
Our historical data shows international fares bottom out around 45-60 days before departure. Earlier than 3 months tends to overpay; later than 21 days almost always means a significant premium.
Book 3-4 weeks ahead for domestic
Domestic fares behave differently — the window is shorter and tighter. Three to four weeks out is generally the sweet spot, and fares spike hard inside 14 days.
Use incognito mode
Evidence is mixed on whether airlines raise prices on return visitors, but clearing cookies or using an incognito window is a zero-cost precaution. Search from different devices to cross-check.
Set price alerts
The single best thing you can do is automate the watch. Set alerts on your route and pounce when you see a drop. Our free Deal Tracker sends email alerts when fares drop below average.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book flights?
For international flights, 6-8 weeks ahead is generally the sweet spot. For domestic flights, 3-4 weeks is usually ideal. Booking too early (more than 3 months out) often means paying a premium since airlines release their cheapest fares when demand data firms up. Booking too late (within 14 days) almost always means elevated prices.
What day of the week should I book flights?
Based on the routes we track, Tuesday and Wednesday bookings tend to see slightly lower fares than weekend bookings. The difference is real but often small — the bigger factor is how far in advance you're booking and whether you're flexible on dates.
What days are cheapest to fly?
For most routes, Tuesday and Wednesday departures are the cheapest, with Saturdays a close second for leisure destinations. Friday and Sunday are almost always the most expensive. Avoiding Friday/Sunday can save 15-25% on most international routes.
How does this predictor work?
We track flight prices daily across 1,060+ routes from major origin cities to 53+ destinations. For each route, we compute a rolling average fare. When you pick your origin and destination, we compare the current fare to that average and give you a verdict — book now, book soon, average, or wait.
Should I use incognito mode when searching for flights?
It can't hurt. Airlines have been accused of using cookies to raise prices on return visitors, and while evidence is mixed, clearing cookies or using incognito mode is a zero-cost precaution. Also try searching from different devices or networks to compare.
What if the predictor says "wait" but my dates are fixed?
If your travel dates are locked in, your window to wait is limited. Set a price alert, check every 2-3 days, and pull the trigger when you see even a small improvement. Fares almost always rise in the final 14 days before departure, so don't wait past that point.
See today’s best deals
Fares found below average right now, across all tracked routes.
View Flight Deals