When is the best moment to book flights?
Updated 23 July 2026.
The short answer: for European city breaks, 6 to 12 weeks in advance is optimal. For long-haul, 4 to 6 months. But these are averages - you can do better if you understand how airlines adjust their prices.
Sweet spot per destination type
Europe city break: 6 to 12 weeks in advance, especially if you are flexible.
Holiday countries (Spain, Greece): 3 to 4 months for summer, 2 to 3 months for winter.
Long-haul (US, Asia, Australia): 4 to 7 months in advance.
Day of the week matters
Generally, Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest flight days, Friday and Sunday the most expensive. A Tuesday-Saturday return can save €30-80 over a Friday-Sunday return.
Last-minute deals are rare
The myth of last-minute super-cheap deals doesn't hold for popular routes. Last-minute prices on Booking.com, Aviasales and KLM are 30-60% higher than 8-week-ahead bookings. Last-minute deals only really exist for off-season tropical destinations.
Tracking with price alerts
Use Aviasales/CheapTickets to set a price alert for your route + dates. Algorithms watch 24/7 and email you when the price drops.
Cheapest months
For European city breaks: November, January, February (excluding Christmas + ski holiday weeks). Mediterranean: April-June and September-October. Long-haul Asia: April-June.
Conclusion
Don't wait too long: book 6-12 weeks ahead for Europe and 4-6 months for long-haul. Use price alerts and prefer Tuesday-Wednesday flights for the best price.
Alerts and tools for the best flight price
Use price alerts from Google Flights, Skyscanner or Kayak to track price drops for your route. Set an alert with your departure and arrival and a date range; you get an email when the price falls. Hopper is an app that predicts whether a flight price will rise or fall based on historical data and advises: "buy now" or "wait".
If flying from the Netherlands, always compare both airports: Schiphol (AMS) and Eindhoven Airport (EIN). Prices on the same day can differ by 40-70%, especially on routes served by both Ryanair and Transavia (Malaga, Barcelona, Prague).
Should you book a return ticket?
Return tickets are almost always cheaper than two one-ways for European destinations. Exceptions: if you are staying much longer than a week (an open-jaw ticket with a different departure city can be cheaper) or if you fly from a cheap low-cost hub such as Warsaw or Bucharest.
For flights outside Europe: always book return. Most airlines offer significant discounts on round-trips. Note minimum stay requirements on some fares (typically Saturday night).
Updated booking tips for 2026
Airlines increasingly use dynamic pricing algorithms that raise fares when demand spikes. Browser cookies rarely cause price differences, but searching in an incognito window is a harmless precaution. The biggest genuine tip: booking as a group (4+ people) on a budget airline often shows the highest-priced seat available for the whole group. Split the booking into pairs to pay a lower average price.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks ahead should I book a flight?
For European city breaks, 6 to 12 weeks ahead is optimal. For holiday destinations (Spain, Greece) in summer: 3 to 4 months ahead. For long-haul (US, Asia, Australia): 4 to 6 months ahead. Around Christmas and summer holidays: at least 5 months ahead.
Is Tuesday really the cheapest day to fly?
On average, Tuesday and Wednesday flights are 5-15% cheaper than Friday and Sunday flights. But the difference has shrunk as flight prices change in real time. Being flexible about your departure day is more valuable than sticking to a fixed day.
Are price alerts useful for flight tickets?
Yes, price alerts from Google Flights, Skyscanner or Kayak are effective. Set up your route and date range once and get an email when the price falls. Hopper even predicts whether the price will drop further.