Flights during peak travel periods — like the holidays, spring break and summer — are usually expensive, but the soaring cost of jet fuel has made prices even worse.

This summer, airfare prices were as much as 27% higher than they were last summer. While the holiday fares don't look as bad yet, they are still up substantially year over year.

Right now, new data from TPG's partner, Points Path, shows cash fares have been running between 9% and 13% year-over-year for Thanksgiving travel searches in the past few weeks.

Christmas fares are ranging between 12% and 18% higher. International fares for the holidays are up 16%.

Related: Hear us out: It might be time to book holiday flights already

That's why it's more important than ever to know when to book.

Finding valuable airline deals during peak travel times can depend on a few factors. Here's what airfare experts say about how timing influences airfare prices, so you can maximize airfare savings on your next booking.

Now is the time to book holiday travelCLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

TPG generally recommends booking domestic flights one to two months in advance and international flights three to five months in advance.

This year's airfare environment is different, though, due to elevated jet fuel prices, airfare already up from last year and continued uncertainty surrounding the conflict in Iran.

Travelers planning holiday trips should start actively tracking prices now rather than waiting for the historical booking window. If you see a fare that fits your budget, book it. Otherwise, set Google Flights alerts and grab deals as soon as they pop up.

Even if you book your holiday flights now, there are ways to protect yourself from overpaying.

Tip: Track your flights after you book

If you booked early and then found a better deal later, there's good news: You can get a trip credit for your flight if the price drops after you book (as long as you didn't book a basic economy fare).

There are a bunch of new AI tools that can help you do this, by automatically tracking your flights and getting you trip credits when prices drop. Some options include Autopilot, pAiback and Junova.

This little-known hack — which I've written about for TPG — has saved me hundreds of dollars.

Related: These new tools will track your flights and get you refunds if the price drops

Flight credit for an American Airlines flight. JUNOVA

Use this TPG link to sign up for pAiback or this TPG link to sign up for Junova.

Tip: Set Google Flights alerts

I'm a huge fan of Google Flights because it lets users set alerts for specific destinations.

For example, let's say I want to fly from Miami to San Francisco for Thanksgiving. Using Google Flights, I searched for flights from Miami to the San Francisco Bay Area during Thanksgiving week.

Search for flights from Miami to San Francisco during Thanksgiving week. GOOGLE FLIGHTS

One of the cheapest options for my specific travel dates was a round-trip economy flight on United for $319. When searching for flights, Google showed the price history and told me the cheapest time to book.

Since it said prices were currently typical, I felt like I was getting a decent deal.

Historical pricing tracker. GOOGLE FLIGHTS

To search for fare deals another way, I could click on the "Date grid" button to see when prices are lowest. As you can see, $319 looks like the best deal.

Search for flights from Miami to the Bay Area for Thanksgiving in a date grid. GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Another example: Here's a Google Flights search for a one-week trip to Mexico. The cheapest option available (at the time of writing) was an American Airlines flight.

Search results for a spring break trip to Cancun. GOOGLE FLIGHTS

By toggling the "Track prices" feature, I will receive an email when fares change and watch how they change over time. Hopper offers a similar tool called "Watch This Trip."

Aside from using Google Flights, there are some other tips for booking peak travel flights:

  • When cash prices are high, dip into your stash of points and miles. Remember, one of the core mottos of the points and miles space is "Earn 'em and burn 'em."
  • Try flying on non-peak days, arriving at your destination earlier or extending your trip.
  • If you can fly on the actual holiday itself, you'll often get a better deal. Flying on Thanksgiving, New Year's Day or Christmas Eve can save you big bucks.
  • Be flexible with days and times. Often, you'll get the best deal on a flight leaving at 6 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. Depending on the price difference, it can be worth getting up at 4 a.m. to save some cash. The same goes for red-eye flights, which are often the cheapest flights of the day.
  • Look for alternative airports. For example, flying into Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) instead of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) can save a substantial amount of money.
  • Look for deal alerts. Sign up for social media accounts that send out deal alerts, and subscribe to TPG's daily newsletter, where we often publish airfare deals.

Related: Round-trip flights for under $150? Get discounted airfare alerts using this app

Is there a day that's cheaper than others to book a flight?CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

A question we get asked all the time: "What's the cheapest day to book a flight?"

There's a common belief that certain days are better for finding flight deals, but research shows that this is a myth.

"There's no one day or golden rule when to book," Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer travel expert at the booking app Hopper, said when asked about the best booking windows.

Hayley Berg, Hopper's lead economist, echoed a similar sentiment.

"There's a common myth that booking on a Tuesday will guarantee a traveler the best price," Berg said in an interview. "The reality is prices change so often and depend on the route, the travel dates, etc., that there isn't one day that guarantees you the best price."

Additionally, Berg explained that for international travel, planning ahead is the best way to score cheaper airfare.

"Travelers often book international flights too far in advance or too last-minute, overpaying significantly for their tickets," she said.

As mentioned earlier, those booking windows usually fall roughly one to three months out for domestic travel and three to five months in advance for international flights. This year, however, many factors have recently disrupted historical pricing models, so it now makes sense to book earlier than usual.

Of course, this strategy changes pretty dramatically if you book with points and miles. Airlines often release award space for coveted business- and first-class seats when the booking window opens or at the last minute.

What's the best day to travel?The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali in Hawaii. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Although airfare prices fluctuate based on when you book, midweek travel is generally cheaper than flying on weekends. In my own research, I've also found deals on Saturday travel when there are fewer business travelers.

"The cheapest days to travel are still Monday through Wednesday (about 13% cheaper than flying over the weekend)," according to a 2025 Google report.

"Flying midweek can save you nearly $100 off your ticket," Schwimer said. "So when you're thinking about when you want to travel, try shifting your dates midweek versus flying over the weekend. If you can be flexible and book either a Tuesday or Wednesday ... you're gonna save significantly off your trip."

Berg had similar thoughts.

"Travelers who fly midweek, usually Wednesday, can save an average of $56 per ticket on domestic airfare throughout the year," she said. "Midweek savings spike over $60 per ticket during busy spring break and summer vacation months, while flying midweek over the holidays can save you $100 or more."

I've also personally found that traveling on a Saturday can also offer discounts in both cash and miles.

"We always recommend booking the first flight of the day, not only to avoid delays and cancellations but also in terms of price," Schwimer added.

As we mentioned earlier, you'll often find that those early departures can save you some big bucks. It's not easy to set the alarm for 4 a.m., but it's easier to wake up when you know you're saving money.

When to book 2026-27 travel

Best time to book flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Holiday decorations at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD). LORI ZAINO/THE POINTS GUY

For the cheapest domestic trips, we usually tell you to book Thanksgiving flights in early to mid-October and Christmas airfare by Halloween.

This year, though, we are advising you to book all your holiday flights even sooner. We expect prices to start climbing after Labor Day.

In the example below, you can see I set a Google Flights alert for a 12-day trip from Dec. 21, 2026, to Jan. 2, 2027. Google sent me an alert (via email) when the price dropped.

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

"Book now" doesn't mean you should blindly buy whatever fare you see, though. Google Flights can help you determine whether a particular fare is high, low or typical for the route. If a fare is unusually high, it may make sense to keep tracking it rather than booking immediately.

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Prices are also usually pretty high when airlines first load schedules. So, follow our timeline for the best opportunity to score a deal.

Best time to book flights for New Year's Eve

People toasting on New Year’s Eve. FRANCKREPORTER/GETTY IMAGES

As with Christmas flights, we recommend locking in New Year's bookings now or at least by the end of September.

That is true for "really any of the major winter holidays," Berg said. "We recommend booking further in advance."

Best time to book flights for spring break

NITO100/GETTY IMAGES

If your spring break falls in March or April, the ideal time to book a domestic trip is traditionally late January to early February. Many people wait too long to book those trips and end up paying more than they need to.

"The lowest prices for trips in March or April have been 43 days before departure (28-61 days is the low price range)," according to the Google report.

But like with holiday travel, this year may be a weird one. If you find a deal for spring break, jump on it.

Best time to book flights for summer trips

Summer travel planning is here. FLASHPOP/GETTY IMAGES

For a summer holiday in Europe, you should start monitoring flights in February.

Berg recommends planning ever further in advance for longer-haul transpacific flights. "For trips to Asia and Oceania, we recommend booking five to seven months before takeoff," Berg said. "For Europe and other regions of the world, we recommend booking anywhere from three to six months before departure to get the best prices."

I strongly encourage folks to set Google Flights alerts and carefully monitor prices. Better yet, use points or miles that are refundable in case you find a better deal. You might also want to lock in a lower cash price if you are booking with an airline that offers a flight credit if the price drops.

Even after you book, keep checking prices to see if the price decreases — you can get a credit for the price difference.

Related: Airlines that offer you a credit if the price of airfare drops

Bottom lineCLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

There's no magic day to book a flight, and the old advice to book on Tuesday isn't supported by the data. Instead, focus on your travel dates: Flying midweek can often save money, while traveling on holidays themselves can also mean lower fares. For 2026 holiday travel, start tracking prices now and consider booking when you find a fare you're comfortable with rather than waiting for a specific day or date. And if you're using pointd and miles, it's never too soon to start checking and booking.

Related reading:

  • Best airline credit cards
  • 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
  • Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
  • The best credit cards to reach elite status
  • What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.