Which? analysed data from Skyscanner based on average return flight prices in 2023 and 2024 to see when travellers got the cheapest airfares to popular destinations.
The best time to book depends on where, and when, you are going.
For those looking to travel during the Easter holidays, the research suggests you should book 12 weeks in advance for Dublin or Valencia, but as much as 24 weeks for Berlin and Krakow.
But for those booking a summer break for August, the cheapest fares to Faro in the Algarve were available just five weeks in advance, Which? found. In contrast, holidaymakers heading for Paris needed to book 26 weeks in advance for the best prices – so you should consider booking flights now if you plan to go to Paris this summer.
For a Christmas shopping trip to New York, or winter sun in Bangkok or Sydney, travellers need to plan in advance – but not as far ahead as some may think. For December trips to Sydney and Bangkok, the best prices were found by booking in September, while for New York it was mid-October.
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January is the cheapest month to fly
For consumers looking for budget-friendly flights, Which? found that January was the cheapest month to fly. Flights were available for as little as £39 to Dublin and £50 for Barcelona on average in January.
March was the cheapest time to fly to New York, with a return flight costing just £201 on average.
Meanwhile, for a December trip to Tenerife, you needed to book eight weeks in advance, compared with Nice where the cheapest flights were found 23 weeks in advance.
Naomi Leach, deputy editor of Which? travel, said: “Our research threw up some surprising results and suggests some holidaymakers could save significant sums of money by targeting the right time to book their flights.
“For those looking for a bargain trip, our findings show January is generally the cheapest time to fly short haul, as long as you don’t mind the cold weather.
“It is worth setting up flight alerts with Google Flights or Skyscanner to track the best prices for your desired destination to find the best time to book a great deal.”