Knowing the best time to buy flight tickets for international travel can save you hundreds of pounds on a single booking. The ideal window, the right day of the week, and the smartest tools to use all play a role in getting the best price. This guide covers everything you need, from the optimal booking window and the best days to book flights, to the five best flight search engines and five airline loyalty programmes that can help you travel for less.
When Is the Best Time to Buy International Flight Tickets?
Research consistently shows that the best time to buy flight tickets for international long-haul routes is between six weeks and six months before departure, depending on the destination and season. For popular summer routes, booking four to six months out typically yields the lowest fares. For off-peak travel, three to six weeks before departure can sometimes offer last-minute deals, but this is a riskier strategy on competitive routes.
| Route Type | Best Booking Window | Why |
| Peak summer long-haul | 4–6 months ahead | Seats and prices both fill fast |
| Off-peak long-haul | 6–8 weeks ahead | Airlines release unsold seats cheaply |
| Short-haul Europe | 4–8 weeks ahead | Budget airlines discount early and late |
| Christmas / New Year | 5–6 months ahead | Holiday demand spikes extremely early |
| Festival travel | 3–4 months ahead | Destination demand surges on key dates |
What Are the Best Days to Book Flights?
Studies of airline pricing suggest that Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the best day to buy plane tickets, and the best days to book flights for international travel. Airlines often release sale fares on Monday evenings, meaning Tuesday morning tends to have the most competitive prices. Weekend searches, by contrast, tend to yield higher prices due to increased demand from leisure travellers browsing during their time off.
When it comes to what day is the best to purchase airline tickets for travel itself, flying mid-week (particularly on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) is typically cheaper than flying on Friday, Sunday, or Monday, when business and leisure demand peaks. Early morning and late-night departures also tend to be priced lower than convenient mid-morning slots.
5 Best Flight Search Engines for International Travel
Using the right search engine is just as important as knowing when is the good time to buy airline tickets. These five platforms each offer distinct advantages for finding the best fares.
1. Skyscanner
Skyscanner is one of the world’s most widely used flight comparison platforms, searching hundreds of airlines and travel agents simultaneously to display the lowest available fares. Its ‘Everywhere’ destination search is particularly powerful for flexible travellers, showing you the cheapest destinations from your chosen airport across any date range. Skyscanner also offers price alerts, notifying you by email when fares on your chosen route change.
2. Expedia
Expedia is one of the largest online travel agencies in the world, offering flights, hotels, and car hire in a single booking flow. Its Price Tracking feature alerts you to fare changes on saved routes, and its bundle deals (combining flights and accommodation) can offer significant savings over booking each element separately. Expedia’s One Key rewards programme also allows you to earn credits on flight bookings redeemable against future travel.
3. Kayak
Kayak offers a powerful Explore map that visualises flight prices from your departure point across all destinations, making it an excellent tool for inspiration-led trip planning. Its Hacker Fares feature intelligently combines one-way tickets from different carriers to find prices lower than conventional return tickets. Kayak’s Price Forecast tool also predicts whether fares on a given route are likely to rise or fall, helping you decide when to book with more confidence.
4. Kiwi.com
Kiwi.com specialises in multi-destination and self-transfer itineraries that would be impossible or far more expensive to book through a single airline. Its Nomad feature plans optimal multi-stop trips around the world at the lowest combined fare, while its Virtual Interlining technology connects flights from different airlines into a single booking with its own guarantee. For complex or adventurous itineraries, Kiwi.com is unrivalled.
5. Hopper
Hopper takes a data-driven approach to flight booking, using predictive algorithms to tell you whether to book now or wait for a better price. Its ‘Price Freeze’ feature allows you to lock in a fare for a small fee while you finalise your travel plans, a genuinely useful tool when prices are volatile. Hopper’s interface is app-first and particularly well suited to mobile-native travellers who manage their bookings entirely from their smartphones.
5 Airline Loyalty Programmes Worth Joining
Joining the right loyalty programme is one of the smartest things a regular international traveller can do. Earned miles and points can unlock free flights, upgrades, and lounge access, making the best time to purchase international flights even more rewarding when you are collecting points on every booking.
1. Qatar Airways Privilege Club
The Qatar Airways Privilege Club is one of the most rewarding frequent flyer programmes in the world. Members earn Qmiles on Qatar Airways flights and partner airline bookings, redeemable against flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and car hire. Elite tiers (Silver, Gold, and Platinum) unlock lounge access, priority boarding, and bonus miles earning. Given Qatar Airways’ position as the world’s best airline, this is a programme worth joining even before your first booking.
2. Etihad Guest
The Etihad Guest programme allows members to earn miles on Etihad Airways flights and an extensive network of partner airlines, hotels, and retail partners. Miles can be redeemed against flights, upgrades, hotel nights, and experiences. Etihad Guest’s Silver and Gold tiers offer meaningful benefits including lounge access, bonus miles, and additional baggage allowances, making it particularly valuable for those who fly regularly through Abu Dhabi.
3. Emirates Skywards
With over 30 million members, Emirates Skywards is one of the most popular frequent flyer programmes in the world. Members earn Skywards Miles on Emirates flights and a vast network of partner airlines, hotels, and everyday spending partners. Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers offer escalating benefits including lounge access, priority services, and bonus miles. Emirates Skywards miles have one of the most flexible redemption structures in the industry, making them genuinely useful for long-haul reward travel.
4. British Airways Executive Club
The British Airways Executive Club is built around Avios, one of the most versatile travel currencies available. Avios are earned on British Airways flights and across the oneworld alliance, as well as through a wide range of UK spending partners including credit cards, hotels, and car hire. The programme’s tier structure (Blue, Bronze, Silver, and Gold) unlocks benefits including companion vouchers, lounge access, and upgrade eligibility on a wide range of long-haul routes.
5. Lufthansa Group Miles & More
The Miles & More programme is Europe’s largest airline loyalty programme, covering Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, alongside numerous partner airlines and non-aviation partners. Frequent Traveller, Senator, and HON Circle status tiers offer escalating benefits across the entire Lufthansa Group network. For European travellers who fly regularly between the continent and long-haul destinations, Miles & More is the natural programme to join.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Booking International Flights
1. When should you book international flights?
The best time to buy flight tickets for international travel is generally four to six months before departure for peak season routes, and six to eight weeks before for off-peak travel. Prices typically rise sharply in the final two to three weeks before departure as remaining seats become scarcer.
2. What are the best days to book flights?
Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the best days to book flights, as airlines often release discounted fares on Monday evenings that are available for a short window. Avoid searching on weekends, when demand from leisure travellers tends to push prices higher.
3. What day is the best to purchase airline tickets?
For the cheapest fares, what day is the best to purchase airline tickets tends to be Tuesday or Wednesday. These midweek days consistently show lower average prices than weekends or Mondays on most major routes. Flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday is also typically cheaper than flying on a Friday or Sunday.
4. Which flight search engine is best for finding cheap international flights?
Skyscanner is the most widely used and trusted flight search engine for finding cheap international flights, offering a comprehensive search across hundreds of carriers and travel agents. Kiwi.com is the strongest option for complex multi-destination itineraries, while Hopper’s predictive pricing tool is excellent for flexible travellers who want guidance on whether to buy now or wait.
5. Is it worth joining an airline loyalty programme?
Yes, absolutely. Joining a loyalty programme costs nothing and allows you to earn miles or points on every flight you take. Even occasional international travellers can accumulate enough miles for a meaningful reward within a year or two. British Airways Executive Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and Emirates Skywards are among the best programmes for UK-based international travellers.
Summary: How to Get the Best Deal on International Flights
The formula for getting the best time to buy flight tickets is straightforward: book within the optimal window for your route, search on a Tuesday or Wednesday, compare fares across multiple platforms, and collect miles on every booking through a loyalty programme. Using Skyscanner for fare comparison, Hopper for price predictions, and Kiwi.com for complex itineraries covers most eventualities.
Start your search with Skyscanner, compare on Kayak and Expedia, and make sure you are signed up to at least one loyalty programme before you fly.
