Typically airlines publish their cheaper seats earlier in the week. "ABC News" published a travel article in 2008 written by Rick Seany, the CEO of FareCompare.com. He busted the myth that the cheapest airfare was available after midnight on Tuesday. He did, however, confirm that Tuesday was the busiest shopping day for airfare. From Mr. Seany's experience, the early part of the week is the perfect time to snag that cheap seat.
Smart Money published an article called The Best Time to By Everything, which lists Wednesday as one of your best days to purchase airfare. The reason cited was airlines update their systems midweek, typically late Tuesday or early Wednesday. This reinforces Mr. Seany's advice to purchase your tickets earlier in the week.
Peter Greenberg, author of "The Travel Detective: How to Get the Best Service and the Best Deals from Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Ships, and Car Rental Agencies" also seconded the Wednesday rule. His travel tips website cites the big airlines trying to price-match their competitors as the reason why.
The closer to the actual flight, the more the ticket is likely to cost. Experts like Mr. Seany suggest buying an advance ticket three weeks or more before the flight could actually end up saving you money. The trick is to book early but not too early. If you book more than four months in advance you run the risk of booking those fares that are still mid-tier. The only exception to this rule is tickets booked around the holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
