Best times to book a flight for summer travel

If you’re looking to plan a last-minute trip to get the most out of your summer, but you aren’t sure when to get the best summer travel deals, then we’ve got you covered to help you find the cheapest flights.

Travel site Kayak.com has crunched the numbers and analyzed summer travel dates and pricing to come up with the best times to plan your summer getaway so you can do more relaxing and less worrying about your bank account.

The worst time for domestic travel in 2017 was Sunday, June 25, according to Kayak.com. They determined this to be the worst day because many people try to extend their Fourth of July holiday by traveling a few days ahead. For international flights, the most expensive day was June 30.

According to Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S Travel Association, the busiest days to travel during the summer are Fridays in June, July and August. Traveling on the weekend is typically busy throughout the year, and when you combine it with the warm summer months, your airport experience could be a nightmare. Since many tend to look for a flight to book on a Friday for a weekend getaway, the average cost of airfare can increase significantly.

It may be better to book on a Saturday or Sunday if you need to fly on the weekend. If you have the option to travel on any day, you’ll find the cheapest tickets on Tuesday and Wednesday during the summer.

If you’re looking to book a flight for a last-minute summer vacation, you still have time.

Kayak has determined August 25 turns out to be the cheapest weekend to fly, just before Labor Day. If you do plan on traveling for Labor Day weekend, they advise to book as soon as possible to get the best deal. If you procrastinate, you’ll likely have to pay more for your flight.

If you’re planning to book a flight to a destination within the United States, it’s best to book your flight two to four weeks in advance. For international travel, it’s best to make those plans two to three months ahead.