When are the cheapest plane tickets released?

There is no fixed day or hour when airlines "release" their cheapest tickets. Flights usually go on sale many months ahead, and each flight has a limited number of seats in its lowest fare classes. Those seats sell first, so cheap fares appear when a schedule opens, during airline sales, and when demand is weak — and disappear as the plane fills up.

How airline pricing works

Airlines divide each flight into fare buckets. When the cheapest bucket sells out, the next price applies. Revenue-management systems also raise or lower prices based on how fast seats are selling compared with past years. That is why the same flight can cost different amounts on different days.

When you're most likely to see low fares

• Well before departure. For most domestic trips, prices tend to be reasonable roughly one to three months ahead; for international and holiday travel, start watching earlier.
• During airline sales. Carriers run promotions throughout the year, often announced by email to members of their loyalty programs.
• For off-peak travel. Midweek days, early-morning and late-night departures, and shoulder seasons are usually cheaper than Fridays, Sundays, and school holidays.
• When demand is unexpectedly low. Fares on slow routes sometimes drop close to departure, but this is not something to count on.

The Tuesday myth

The old advice to "buy on Tuesday" comes from a time when airlines loaded sale fares early in the week. Today prices change constantly, and studies of fare data show that the day you book matters much less than the day you fly.

FAQ

Does the price drop closer to departure?

Usually not. On most routes fares rise in the last two or three weeks, because late bookers are often business travelers who will pay more.

Is it better to buy in the morning or evening?

The time of day you search has little reliable effect. Set a price alert instead of watching the clock.

How can I predict whether airfare will drop?

Price-tracking tools such as Google Flights show whether a current fare is low, typical, or high for that route. That's a better guide than guesswork.

When are the biggest discounts?

Airline sales and off-season travel dates offer the biggest savings, along with flexibility on dates and airports.