Knowing When to Buy Your Next Airline Ticket Can Save You Money

When preparing to travel overseas, people give thought to a lot of issues, especially if they want to save money. Learning to travel on a budget can help the vacationing tourist or the business traveler. After all, more money for the tourist means more money and time to use for whatever they wish...perhaps even a longer stay, or another sight to see, or the chance to spend time in a better hotel...or just gamble in a casino.

The business traveler always wants to save money, so, getting a good deal on accomodations, meals, or airline tickets can be of great importance to the executive trying to close a hot deal in Rome or the gambler wanting to drop a few bucks in Las Vegas.

In the following article, the author, who works in Italy, explains what she has learned about how to get a good deal on airline tickets.
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When To Buy Your International Plane Tickets
By Erin Catucci

Timing is everything! Knowing a few simple tricks to help you book your plane tickets at the right time can save you $500 or more per ticket on an international flight. The best time to buy international plane tickets is 4-5 months in advance as opposed to domestic tickets, which is usually 2-3 months in advance. Airlines typically lower the price for international flights around the five month mark and the prices will slowly start going up around three months before. Even then you can still find deals so don't discourage if you're planning last minute.

From personal experience, my husband and I bought tickets to Italy in May three years in a row. The first year we were only able to plan a month in advance. The price: $1200 each. The second year we were able to book two months in advance at a cost of $950 each. We booked our last trip five months before and the price: $700 each. The destination, the airline, and the time of year was always the same. The only variation was how far in advance we were able to book.

When you start planning your trip, scout tickets for at least a couple of weeks and look at what days and times you find the lowest prices. Usually the best deals are found on a Monday or Tuesday because the airlines issue their sales on Monday morning. By Tuesday afternoon all they're all competing to have the best deals but the prices will start creeping back up again after that. Usually the weekend prices are the highest as airlines know this is when most people have the time to make travel reservations. Check multiple sites like Orbitz and Expedia to find out which one offers the best deals for your airlines and airport and don't forget the airline's direct website or even your bank's or credit card rewards booking system. None of these rules are written in stone however so it is very important to scout out the pricing trends for your specific airlines and airports to avoid missing out on the best deals.

Once you've determined where and when to buy your ticket, check back at your target time. When you see the prices have dropped, purchase! After the major discount at the 4-5 month mark for international tickets or the 2-3 month for domestic, they will not likely drop again and there will only be a limited supply. Once those tickets are gone, the prices will start to rise again so don't wait. If you've done your research ahead of time, you'll know what's a good deal for your destination and you can buy with confidence. The other perk is that when you buy earlier you have a better chance of purchasing an affordable direct flight, or at least one with manageable layovers.

Knowing these tricks and spending a few extra minutes scouting your plane tickets can save you a lot of money which you can put towards something extra special for your trip.

Erin Catucci is a destination wedding, event, and private tour planner in Tuscany. For more information about destination weddings in Italy, visit Tuscany Destination Weddings online. For more travel advice, check out her destination wedding and travel blog.

Article Source: When To Buy Your International Plane Tickets
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