When to Get the Best Airfare Deals

Ready to get away? The number crunchers (AKA travel experts) at Cheapflights.ca, who have been hard at work updating algorithms and doing whatever else it is that numbers crunchers do, have just released a new report “When to fly, when to buy” providing advice on the best times to buy tickets for 20 of Canada’s top getaway destinations.

In essence, analysts have taken the data from 4.5 million flight searches and narrowed that information down for destinations like Toronto, Los Angeles, Cancun, London as well as other favourite getaways, to find when the best deals are available, what the worst times are to travel, and when to look for last-minute travel deals.

One key takeaway. People who plan well in advance will still find the best travel deals. The “ideal” booking window ranges anywhere from 92 days in advance (Cancun, Mexico) to 143 days in advance (Vancouver.)  Another key takeaway, if you plan to travel during the holiday season, plan to pay more for your tickets. And plan to book well in advance.

Below, find the data for a few key cities in the “When to fly, when to buy” report:

Toronto, Ontario

Best deals: Plan to buy tickets in September for travel in February 2018 for the best deals to Toronto.

Peak season: The week before Christmas will be the most expensive time to fly to Toronto; if you must do so, buy your tickets during the last week of June.

Last-minute deals: For the best last-minute deals, plan to travel in August and buy your tickets three to four weeks before you depart.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Best deals: Plan to buy tickets in mid-August for travel between mid-January and early February 2018 for the best Vancouver deals.

Peak season: The last two weeks of the year will cost the most for flights to Vancouver; buy your tickets during the first week of July.

Summer travel: Airfares are highest from mid-July through mid-August; plan to buy them in mid- to late-February.

Last-minute deals: Look for last-minute bargains during the second week of June, plan to buy your tickets during the third week of March.

Los Angeles, California

Best deals: Early spring is a great, and affordable, time to visit Los Angeles; buy your tickets in mid-January for travel during the first week of May.

Peak season: The week before and New Year’s Eve will cost you the most; buy your tickets in late June or early July.

Last-minute deals: Late January is a good time for last-minute travel to Los Angeles; pick up your tickets in mid-November.

New York, New York

Best deals: Plan to buy tickets during the first week of August for travel during the second week of January 2018 for the best deals to New York.

Peak season: The last two weeks of the year will cost the most to fly to New York; buy your tickets during mid-August. For a holiday shopping trip during mid-December, plan to book your tickets in mid-June.

Summer travel: Airfares are highest from mid-July through mid-August; plan to buy them in mid- to late-February.

Last-minute deals: Look for last-minute bargains during the second and third week of September, plan to buy your tickets during the first half of June.

Orlando, Florida

Best deals: Travel during the end of May or early June for the best deals; plan to buy during the third week of April.

Peak season: Travelling the week between Christmas and New Year’s is the most expensive; plan to buy them near the end of November.

Last-minute deals: Fly during the second and third week of September for the best last-minute deals; book these tickets during the last 10 days of August.

London, England

Best deals: Plan to buy tickets in mid-April for travel during the second week of May for the best deals to London.

Peak season: The week before Christmas will be the most expensive time to fly; buy your tickets the last week of August for the best fares.

Summer travel: During summer, the highest fares occur during the last week of June and the first week of July. Plan to get these tickets in mid-January.

Last-minute deals: Late summer should be a good time to secure last-minute pricing. Plan to fly the first two weeks of September and buy your tickets in mid- to late-August.

Paris, France

Best deals: The best bargains can be found during August for flights to Paris. Plan to travel the last week of September and book your tickets in late May or early June.

Peak season: Travelling the week before and after Christmas will be the costliest; buy your tickets in early August for a pre-Christmas trip or the second week of July for travel between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Summer travel: During summer, the last week of July and the first week of August are the priciest; buy your tickets in February. Or plan to travel the last week of June and pick up these tickets in mid-June.

Last-minute deals: Look to the first two weeks of February for the best last-minute pricing; plan to buy these tickets during the third week of January.

Cancun, Mexico

Best deals: Mid-autumn is a good time to secure deals on flights to Cancun. Plan to travel during the last two week of October and buy your tickets a week or two in advance.

Peak season: Travel from mid-December to the end of the year will cost the most; plan to buy these tickets during the first week of August.

Last-minute deals: The first week of February is the best time for last-minute fares; book these at the very end of January. Last-minute fares can also be booked for travel during the first week of December; book these with just a few days notice.

Varadero, Cuba

Best deals: Hit the beach during the first week of March for the best deals; plan to buy your tickets during the first week of December.

Peak season: Although the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Even can be pricey, airfares in July are the highest of them all; plan to buy your summer tickets during the second week of March for travel at the end of July and late March or early April for a visit in early August. The third week of August is the best time to buy a ticket for the week before Christmas and the last week in July is the best for the week between Christmas and New Years.

Last-minute deals: For a short turnaround, plan to buy your tickets during the first half of March for travel during the third week of March.

To find more information on “When to buy, when to fly” on all 20 of Canada’s top travel destinations, visit www.cheapflights.ca/news/when-to-buy-airline-tickets/#losangeles.

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