Spring break is a little over a month away for some, and you can expect large crowds at airports if you plan to travel throughout March or April. High demand brings higher airfare prices, and for some, the personal finance hit is enough to keep them home this year.
But savvy shoppers might be able to squeeze a trip into their budget by booking their flights at the right time. A recent CheapAir.com survey reveals the Prime Booking Window that can help you save the most money possible on your spring break flights.
Don't delay any longer
Airfare prices go through ebbs and flows, some of which can be pretty surprising. The CheapAir.com survey found that shopping too early -- about 260 days before your trip -- could actually result in you paying much higher prices than you need to.
From there, costs gradually decline until you reach the Prime Booking Window. This runs from about 74 days to 21 days before your trip. That makes now a great time to start hunting for spring break flights. You should note that the data reveals a slow, but steady increase in average flight cost throughout this booking window, but waiting until the lower end of this range shouldn't hurt you too much.
However, you don't want to wait until the last minute. Booking less than three weeks before your trip means you'll probably pay much higher prices and you'll have a smaller selection of flights to choose from. You may also have difficulty selecting your preferred seat if this is something that matters to you.
How to save even more on your spring break airfare
Now is a great time to start comparing airfare rates, but don't feel as if you have to book immediately. Feel free to take a few days or a week to check prices. You may want to wait even longer if your trip isn't until April. See if you can set up price alerts if rates fall below a certain dollar amount.
Don't forget to delete your cookies when shopping for airfare. You may not see the cheapest rates if you do this. It's often a simple matter of going into your browser's settings and choosing the delete cookies option. A quick internet search can tell you how if you've never done it before.
Consider using credit card miles if you can. Some have blackout dates and won't permit this during the spring break season. But if you can, you might even get free flights this way.
Being flexible with your travel dates is another huge money-saver if you can swing it. Traveling midweek -- on Tuesday or Wednesday, for example -- often brings the cheapest flight costs. Sunday is the most expensive day to travel, according to CheapAir.com.
Finally, consider trying different airports if you live in the vicinity of a few. Decide how far you're willing to drive and look at all flights out of airports within that radius. Look at airports a little outside your destination as well to see if this changes how much you pay.
The tricky part is, no matter how many of these tips you follow, you'll never know if you've got the cheapest flight possible. Prices can continue to fluctuate up until the day of the trip. So at the end of the day, you have to go with your gut. If you see something that fits into your budget, you might want to claim it before it's gone.
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