TIPS: When is the best time to book flights to save money?

Best time to book

Kim Cantos, a travel vlogger behind The Moonlighting Doctor, told L!fe that checking fares should start months ahead of your planned date.

"For passengers looking for very low fares such as PISO fare, it should be six to nine months in advance," he said. "There's usually very little chance of grabbing PISO fares for holiday periods such as Undas and Christmas, so for these dates, the goal is more to get a regular fare, rather than an expensive one."

Travel agent Celia Magno of Vanity Travel and Tours likewise highlighted the importance of planning ahead, especially for peak travel periods.

"For typical domestic trips, it’s ideal to start looking for flights at least one to three months in advance," she said. "For trips to popular destinations or travel during peak seasons such as summer vacation, Undas, and the Christmas holidays, it’s best to plan three to six months ahead."

According to her, these periods usually have higher demand, which may mean limited seat availability and higher prices as the travel date gets closer.

"Booking earlier not only helps travelers secure better airfare deals, but also gives them more flight options and a more comfortable travel plan overall," she said.

If you're looking to travel in the first few months of the year, travel blogger Yosh Dimen of The Poor Traveler noted it's best to start hunting a year prior as airlines and cruise lines usually launch big sales at least a year in advance.

"While there may still be promos for travels this year, they’re most likely going to be for travels in June onward. But you can be on the lookout for trips for 2027 this early," he said.

There are also certain months when airlines commonly offer travel deals. From his experience, Cantos said that flying out during the third quarter of the year, which is from July to September, is cheaper than other periods of the same year. "I think the main reason is, it's rainy season in most regions of the Philippines and ASEAN and East Asia."

Magno pointed out that some flag carrier airlines offer special promotions during their anniversary months, where they release discounted fares to thank loyal passengers.

"Many airlines also launch early booking promotions, where travelers can purchase lower-priced tickets for flights scheduled three to four months later," she said.

Dimen also noted that travel deals are offered during double-digit dates, such as 8.8, 9.9, 10.10, and the like.

Booking for family vs. solo trips

It's one thing to travel by yourself with no one else’s schedule to consider, but booking for family members or friends comes with added pressure.

Magno said that in both situations, the ideal approach is to still book around six months in advance.

"However, family travelers may need to be extra mindful of seat availability and hotel options, especially during peak seasons, since booking multiple seats and rooms can be more challenging closer to the travel date," she noted.

Dimen cautioned against being unprepared with the passenger details and preferred flights.

"This usually happens when you’re booking for your companions, too, and you don’t have their full names and birth dates. You start contacting them to get those details, but by the time they answer, the promo fares are gone. These seats sell out quickly and you need to move fast," he said. "You should have these details ready. You should have preferred dates/destinations and Plans B and C in case your Plan A is no longer available."

Cantos advised families to "have a sizeable amount ready so that when they do find discounted fares, it will be a quick decision for them to book right away."

"What I try to encourage families to do is to book just two members at a time. This is because you can check out faster. For example, if there are four of you, you'll spend lots of time inputting everyone's details, and the chances of the website crashing or experiencing error are higher if you take your time," he added.

What to keep in mind when booking

It's important to remember that scoring cheap airfares isn’t always guaranteed.

According to Cantos, a common mistake that travelers make when trying to save on flight tickets is setting unrealistic expectations.

"I think many still expect low fares when booking two months ahead. What they would usually get would be regular fares or even higher-priced fares, instead of really cheap fares," he said.

Magno also warned about focusing only on the base fare without checking for hidden charges, such as baggage fees, seat selection, or other add-ons.

"Travelers may think they’re getting a cheaper ticket, but end up paying more once all fees are included during the final ticket issuance," she stressed.

Ultimately, it's important to make up your mind right away when the opportunity comes.

"If it's a really cheap fare, like PISO fare plus taxes, then they should usually book right away as it will be gone in an hour or so. I think, for fares that aren't PISO, they can still think about it," Cantos said. "Slightly discounted fares don't vanish as fast as PISO anyways, and so I usually try to wait until I'm sure I won't have conflict with work and family before booking."

Dimen, however, suggested still thinking about whether the country requires a visa.

"If it’s for a visa-free destination like Southeast Asian countries or an easy-to-get visa destination like China or Japan, I’d book it. But if it’s for Europe, I’d wait until I get a visa first," he shared.