If you are planning to go on vacation this summer but haven’t booked your flight ticket yet, it’s time to wait no longer.
That’s because the airfare for the summer tourist peak season is only likely to go up from here, according to Scott Keyes, founder and CEO of Scott’s Cheap Flightsa newsletter based in Portland, Ore. sending daily airfare deals to more than 2 million subscribers.
“You want to make sure you don’t put it off until the last minute in the hope that the fare will get cheaper because chances are, the opposite will happen,” he told CNBC Make It.
Last-minute flights aren’t as expensive either. A flight booked a month in advance will definitely be cheaper than a flight booked a week in advance.
Scott Keyes
Founder, Scott’s Cheap Flights
While there’s a common belief that holding off until close to your travel date can allow you to strike a last-minute deal, Keyes said the strategy is will most likely explode in your face and leaves you with a more expensive ticket than if you had booked in advance.
“It’s important to note that last-minute flights are not equally expensive,” says Keyes. “Flights booked one month in advance will certainly be cheaper than flights booked one week in advance, and flights booked one week in advance will almost certainly be cheaper than flights booked one day in advance.”
At this time of year, Keyes advises potential travelers looking to fly from late June to early August to book at the best price they can find now. Otherwise, good deals might not show up again until after Labor Day, he said.
When it comes to finding a good deal, Keyes says there’s no need to compare prices between platforms like Expedia, Orbitz, Google Flights, and Skyscanner, as they “will essentially show you the same flights.” together.”
Instead, Keyes said the most important thing to do is book tickets directly through the airline. When you do this, you will be protected by Regulations of the United States Department of Transportation ask the airline for a full refund to you within 24 hours of booking.
“This 24-hour rule can give you time to decide if you really want to take this trip, and it can also give you some kind of grace period so you can take advantage of every wave. future discounts, whether it’s your airline or a competing airline,” he said.
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