When to buy flight tickets so the best price doesn't fly away

How far in advance to buy tickets by flight type

The ideal advance time varies depending on your destination. So the question of when to buy tickets has no single universal answer.

• For Europe and low-cost airlines, the best prices usually appear one to four months before departure, when airlines release new promotional fares.
• Long-distance flights (Asia, America) are worth booking three to six months ahead, as cheap seats on long routes disappear faster.
• Last-minute bookings pay off only rarely, mainly for charter flights to popular resorts; elsewhere prices actually rise because demand at the last moment is high.

In general, the farther you fly, the sooner it pays to book. For short European routes, a shorter advance period is enough.

Which day of the week is best for buying tickets

The day of the week you buy your ticket does play a role, though it's less important than often believed.

• Tuesday and Wednesday are days when airlines most frequently update offers and launch new deals.
• Weekends, on the other hand, bring slightly higher prices due to higher demand from travelers planning holidays.
• The time of day you book, however, barely affects price; the myth about cheaper tickets at night is repeatedly disproven.

So if you're wondering when to buy tickets most cheaply, the day of the week plays a lesser role than your overall advance time before departure.

When are tickets cheapest throughout the year

Ticket prices fluctuate by season as well, not just by advance booking time or day of the week.

• January and February are among the cheapest months for European flights, as demand is low after Christmas.
• October and November offer good-value trips to exotic destinations in the off-season, while the weather in many places remains pleasant.
• We generally recommend avoiding purchases for summer, Christmas, and Easter, as ticket prices are highest during these periods due to high demand.

The choice of destination also varies by season: planning where to go for winter sun for guaranteed warmth is different from choosing the best beach holiday during peak season.

Where to search and how to compare flight prices

There are numerous specialized websites for finding cheap flights. These sites help before you settle on a specific date and destination.

• Skyscanner and Google Flights allow price comparison across airlines and tracking deals on favorite routes.
• Momondo and Kiwi.com are good for searching by destination and specific date, including connecting flights.
• Set up a price alert and you'll be automatically notified by email of price drops without having to check the site daily.

Using multiple tools at once typically gives you a more realistic picture than relying on just one flight search engine.

Practical tips to save even more on flight tickets

Did you know that a few small tricks can save you another few hundred crowns on a single ticket?

• Search in your browser's private mode, as some sites remember your search history and adjust prices accordingly.
• Be flexible with your departure and arrival dates; shifting by a day or two can sometimes cut the price significantly.
• Consider a flight with a connection through an unusual airport; it's often cheaper than a direct flight from major hubs, even if the journey takes a bit longer.

These tricks work best in combination; flexibility with dates alone won't deliver such savings without price monitoring.

What not to forget after buying your ticket

After buying your ticket, there are still a few practical steps to handle.

• Check the validity of your documents and visas for your destination; rules and passport validity periods vary by country.
• Plan your transportation and parking at Prague Airport in advance; you might try the cheapest parking at Václav Havel Airport for lower overall costs.
• Watch for flight schedule changes; airlines sometimes shift departure times even after you've bought your ticket, especially on long-distance routes.

A final tip before you buy

Whether you buy your ticket a month or six months in advance, the key is to track prices and not let yourself be rushed into a last-minute decision. When to buy comes down to combining advance time, season, and a bit of patience in comparing. Before you finalize your booking, try comparing airport parking and reserve a spot well in advance.