When is the best moment to book flights?

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.