Finding the lowest price for a flight can be challenging, but one airline has a somewhat hidden tool to help travelers snag the best deal. JetBlue has a section of their website with a fare calendar that displays flight prices in grid view between an origin and destination airport, helping travelers plan a vacation to get the lowest cost airfare. The tool, called "Best Fare Finder," is located under the «Book» tab on JetBlue’s homepage. The page allows passengers to select how many children and adults will be traveling, whether they would like to pay in cash or TrueBlue miles, and then choose the desired destination from any airport. For example, the price of a flight ticket from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) in April 2024 varies widely. If a traveler booked it for April 18, they would pay $259, but if they can wait six days later, the price drops to only $70. The Best Fare Finder provides all of the prices in the calendar view.
This Is How Far Out You Should Book a Flight for the Cheapest Fare, According to a New Study
11.02.2024 - 13:47 / travelandleisure.com
A new study is solving the eternal question of when to book your flight for the best price.
According to CheapAir.com's Annual Airfare Study, booking a ticket at least three weeks before departing, and no more than 2.5 months in advance, is the sweet spot for snagging the best flight deal.
“This year’s Prime Booking Window extends all the way up to about 3 weeks from your travel date. In 2024, you can wait a little longer to buy, and the window where you will find the lowest fares extends to about 2.5 months out,” the report reveals.
The report, which is the result of analyzing over 917 million airfares across the United States, also warned that travelers who wait until less than a week out from a planned trip to book a flight will be paying 59 percent more.
On the other hand, for airline passengers who book their ticket too early, such as 280 days before a flight, they may be paying higher prices, almost as much as if they booked the ticket last-minute, the report finds.
The report also claims to disprove a travel hack that there are days when airline tickets are cheaper than others.
“Data clearly shows that the average low fare varies by less than $1, no matter what day of the week you buy an airline ticket,” the report highlights.
However, CheapAir.com finds that «the day of the week you choose to travel on does make a difference in price,» and determined that the cheapest day of the week to travel is Wednesday. And that, additionally, midweek flights will almost alway be cheaper.
Travelers may also consider how flexible the airline is with change and cancellation fees. If a price drops, they could potentially rebook the ticket to snag the difference in fare. The report shares that prices change 49 times on average, and can be a swing of as much as $100.
Airlines also regularly run promotional deals and discounts on flight routes using money or loyalty miles. For example, United Airlines has a special page that spotlights current deals and promotions.
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