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Published: Oct 6, 2026, 1:17 AM
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Ahead of the busy holiday travel season, Google is detailing the best time to book your next flight to get the best possible price.
With surging fuel prices have also come much higher plane ticket costs and, with that, everyone’s looking for a deal. In a blog post this week, Google Flights details the best times to book your next flight.
For domestic US flights, the best time is apparently 39 days prior to departure, but the lowest price can fall anywhere between 57 days prior and 22 days prior to the actual flight date. International flights should be booked much further out, with 89 days being the magic number there.
Thanksgiving and Christmas flights bend the rules a bit. Thanksgiving flights are actually cheapest 34 days prior to departure, but Christmas flights need to be booked much earlier at around 56 days.
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Here’s the full breakdown from Google:
Domestic flights: 39 days before departure (low price range is 22–57 days)
39 days before departure (low price range is 22–57 days) International flights: 89 days before departure, but the average price drop during the low range (50–133 days out) is insignificant
89 days before departure, but the average price drop during the low range (50–133 days out) is insignificant Thanksgiving: Lowest prices hit 34 days before departure (low price range is 21–57 days)
Lowest prices hit 34 days before departure (low price range is 21–57 days) Christmas: 56 days before departure (low price range is 33–67 days)
56 days before departure (low price range is 33–67 days) Spring break: 50 days before departure (low price range is 29–64 days) for trips in March or April
50 days before departure (low price range is 29–64 days) for trips in March or April Summer vacation: 21 days before departure (low price range is 20–47 days) for trips in July or August
21 days before departure (low price range is 20–47 days) for trips in July or August Trips to Europe: 49 days or more before departure
49 days or more before departure Trips to Mexico or the Caribbean: 43 days before departure (low price range is 24–69 days)
The post goes on to detail trending destinations for the 2026 travel season, with Hawaii being the top Thanksgiving destination and international trips to Greece and Canada trending around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.