When is the best time to buy plane tickets? A three-year UK study concludes: 53 days before departure

By Rita

In tough economic times but still longing for a little trip, the magic everyone wishes they had is undoubtedly “booking the cheapest flight at the right time!” But who can accurately pinpoint which day? What exact time?

▲ Booking flights at the golden moment helps you save money. (Image / Dagou Illustration)

According toThe Guardian,a kind-hearted UK website has made a new discovery. Momondo.co.uk analyzed the top 100 routes among over 7 billion plane tickets worldwide. This three-year study ultimately produced the conclusion and data that — “booking 53 days before your trip could get you the cheapest flight,” which indeed helped consumers save nearly 29% on costs.

For example, a flight from London to Lisbon booked 52 days in advance is priced at around 10,000 yuan, significantly cheaper compared to the usual price of 14,000 yuan. A flight from London to Dubai booked 51 days in advance costs 22,000 New Taiwan Dollars, about 20% less than the usual 26,000.

Flight prices are directly related to the departure time,with flights departing after 6 PM generally being cheaper. Also, flights departing on Tuesday are usually the “cheapest” of the week.As for the most expensive, those are typically “three days before departure,” with Friday usually being the most expensive day of the week.

The website recommends that travelers aiming to save money should also avoid afternoon flights. “We found these trends to be consistent globally. Travelers looking to save should prioritize overnight flights or those departing on Tuesdays,” said Momondo spokesperson Lasse Skole-Hansen.

After flight comparison site Skyscanner published this research, it also found that ticket prices are somewhat related to the destination — for instance, flights to Greece can be bought at the lowest prices about three weeks before departure.