Rules Change With Summer Airfares

By Samantha Bomkamp, AP Transportation Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — You scour websites. You set up fare alerts. But the real secret in getting the best price for an airline ticket boils down to two things: when you look and when you book.

Trouble is, not all peak travel times are created equal. The sweet spot when tickets are cheapest can vary by weeks, according to travel data analyzed by Expedia for The Associated Press.

Take the next two big travel weekends for example. Based on an analysis of ticket prices over the last four years, Expedia has found that the best time to book for the Fourth of July was between one and two months in advance.

Jump ahead to Labor Day, in September, and the rules change dramatically. Those looking to travel that weekend, based on trends since 2007, can get the best deal buying 3 or 4 weeks in advance. Prices jump 10% from their lowest points if you wait 1 to 2 weeks out. They're 30% higher, on average, if you book less than a week before summer's last hoorah.

But how can two holiday weekends so close together have such different rules for snagging cheap fares?

Expedia analyst Daniel Kissin said it's all in the timing. Fourth of July, although it's more of a popular driving holiday, still gets loads of people in the skies every year. Labor Day, on the other hand, isn't as popular because it usually coincides with back to school.

Following the old fashioned rule of supply and demand, it makes sense to book early for the most popular travel holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day. At other times of the year, though, it's better to gamble and hold out for that cheaper fare closer to your travel date.