Get When To Ignore Our Advice And Book Your Flight As Early As Possible ...

Check for Earlier Flights Through the Airline Give them a call and explain your situation. Airlines understand that plans can change, and they are often willing to accommodate passengers whenever possible.

There's no sugarcoating it: Airfare is expensive. And while waiting until the last minute might sound like a good idea, it typically is cheaper to book your flights in advance. "We are seeing fewer last-minute deals than in years past, especially when it comes to flights," a Kayak spokesperson tells Travel + Leisure.

"Look to book between three to seven months ahead for domestic travel and four to 10 months ahead for international travel." Hudson advises that at the very latest, your holiday travel should be booked by mid-October. "But the biggest holiday travel savings actually come from choosing the right dates," she says.

Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date or if you book too early—more than five months in advance. Instead, flights tend to be the least expensive when you book between 5.5 and 1.5 months (164 and 46 days) in advance of your departure date.

For domestic spring break trips around March or April, booking your domestic flight was cheapest 38 days before departure. In general, prices are lower between 23 and 59 days prior. July and August summer vacation travel is best booked 14 to 44 days ahead, with prices generally bottoming out around 21 days.

Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date or if you book too early—more than five months in advance. Instead, flights tend to be the least expensive when you book between 5.5 and 1.5 months (164 and 46 days) in advance of your departure date.

"Look to book between three to seven months ahead for domestic travel and four to 10 months ahead for international travel." Hudson advises that at the very latest, your holiday travel should be booked by mid-October. "But the biggest holiday travel savings actually come from choosing the right dates," she says.

How far in advance should you book a flight to get the best deal? The best time to book a flight is one to three months before your departure for domestic airline tickets and two to eight months prior for international flights. “We call these the 'Goldilocks windows,'” Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, tells AFAR.