Making an airline reservation can be a trying and frustrating experience. Fares sometimes change before you have a chance to even finish booking a reservation. With the price of fuel, security, luggage charges and other incidentals that are added to a fare, knowing the best day to make a reservation can save a great deal of money.
The best day to buy an airline ticket is Wednesday between midnight and 1 a.m. in the time zone where an airline has its home base. During this time, the computer systems of most airlines release reserved, but not booked, lower fare reservations.
You might have to pay to speak to a live person, but the savings might be worth it. If you don't see what you want online, call a representative who will have much more extensive access.
Advance booking is also advantageous when making airline reservations. Many airlines offer seats 330 days in advance and frequent flier inventory usually becomes available for booking three to six months ahead of a planned trip.
If you are flexible, spontaneous and adventurous, last-minute flight deals are for you. Sites such as Expedia and Orbitz offer last-minute flight deals.
Several websites offer searches for the cheapest flight. BookingBuddy, Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline and others allow you to search for round trip, one way, first, business or coach, by dates, times and non-stop service.
Airlines frequently update available seats around 12 a.m. EST daily. Weekend specials most often become available on Thursday nights, so that is a good time to hunt for weekend deals.
