Best Time To Book Your Summer 2024 Flights According to Expedia

Expedia has crunched the numbers and revealed the optimal dates to purchase flights for summer 2024 travel.

In its annual Summer Travel Outlook report Expedia advises booking summer flights between 21 and 60 days before your desired travel dates. Booking within this window can save you up to 15% on domestic and international airfare compared to booking very early or last-minute.

For domestic travel, the cheapest dates are the week of August 19th and the day of September 1st. The most expensive are the week of June 24th and the day of June 28th. Internationally, the priciest fares are also during the week of June 24th and on June 28th. Avoid the busy 4th of July week if possible, as it’s also expected to be one of the most expensive and crowded times to fly.

Departing in late August could mean savings of up to $265 on a roundtrip ticket compared to peak rates around late June.

Expedia’s data also shows that departing for domestic trips on a Tuesday instead of a Friday can save around 15%. For international flights, leave on a Monday rather than a Thursday.

Major cities like New York and London top the list of most popular domestic and international destinations respectively. Beach getaways in Mexico and the Caribbean are also in high demand. Across Europe, cities in France, Italy, Spain are seeing a surge as travelers make plans to visit. In Asia, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and other Japanese cities remain favorites.

Paris is anticipated to be an ultra-hot destination as it gears up to host the 2024 Summer Olympics from late July through mid-August. Surrounding areas like Yvelines, Lyon and Marseille are already experiencing massive spikes in lodging searches of up to 520% compared to last year.

So mark your calendars between 21 and 60 days prior to your preferred dates and your wallet will thank you.