Goldilocks is the Goldilocks of flight bookings. booking window Just right. This window may look different depending on the destination and payment method.
Experts at Going.com recommended For domestic flights, travelers should book one to three months before departure. International flights can be booked two to eight weeks in advance. Travelers should also add a few months if the peak season is summer.
When is it appropriate to use a wheelchair? booking with points or milesIt can change dramatically. Going noted that often the best deals are found at the time when airlines announce their schedules, which is about 10 to 12 months before the departure date.
In a recent report the company stated that “the period between when cash deals can be at their lowest, is actually the worst time for finding good redemptions.” They added, “When schedules are first released, airlines release a few saver-level awards per flight, especially in business class. As demand increases, these cheaper award tickets disappear. As departure nears and airlines calculate how many seats will remain unsold, they release another batch of award seats.
Going also noted that the value was “slowly diminishing” and said 2026 would be the best year to redeem your points.
“Points do not age well, because loyalty programs are constantly changing their rules.” The company stated that recent changes tend to reduce the value of your points, not increase it. “Waiting for the ‘perfect redemption’ is no longer strategic—it’s risky. You’re more likely to experience another silent devaluation if you wait too long.
The company recommends booking long-haul flights to Asia to get the most value for points. Economy flights from Australia The following are some examples of how to get started: New Zealand Also, they are a good value.
Going noted that, overall, airfares were “dramatically cheaper than 10 or 20 year ago” and that, when adjusted for inflation, June 2025 marked the second-cheapest airfare month on record. The company expects that this trend will continue in 2026, and added “we are still living in the Golden Age of Cheap Flights.”
