These Are the 2 Cheapest Months of 2019 to Fly

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Looking for the cheapest time of the year to fly? You better book a flight soon.

January typically offers better prices on airfare than any other time of the year, according to a recent analysis by Hipmunk, which compares flight and hotel prices at top travel sites.

Hipmunk looked at millions of flight bookings over a 24-month period before reaching its conclusions. According to Hipmunk:

“January historically is the cheapest month to fly for both domestic and international destinations, with domestic airfare 31 percent lower on average than peak summertime booking prices.”

A few of the best fares Hipmunk found for January include those for flights to:

  • Palm Springs, California: $370 median fare — a savings of 37 percent compared with peak summertime booking prices
  • Orlando, Florida: $235 — 36 percent savings
  • Las Vegas: $259 — 34 percent savings
  • Denver: $202 — 33 percent savings
  • Boston: $236 — 29 percent savings

Of course, January is already underway. So, if you need a little more time to plan, consider taking your next vacation in September. It ranks second among months offering the best deals to those who travel by plane. Traveling in September offers savings on domestic flights of around 25 percent.

The most expensive months to fly

If possible, skip traveling in November and December, the heart of holiday travel season. Of the 60 U.S. destination cities included in Hipmunk’s analysis, prices for 63 percent of them peaked for flights during those two months.

July is an even more expensive month. The median domestic booking price for flights during the summer month was a whopping $424, making it the costliest month to fly.

Other ways to cut your airfare costs

Another great way to save on the cost of airfare is to book a flight within 100 days of departure. As we reported last year:

“Booking a plane ticket for U.S. travel exactly 70 days before the flight might score you the most savings.”

However, we also explained why this is not a “foolproof tactic.” To find out more, read “This 100-Day Window Is Your Best Chance to Save on Airfare.”

Cutting the cost of your flight is half the battle. But your trip will still get off to an unhappy start if you make some foolish — but common — mistakes. For more, check out “9 Dumb Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Next Airplane Flight.”

How do you save on the cost of travel? Share your tips in comments below or on our Facebook page.

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