The Best Time to Book Flights, Revealed

It’s probably the most asked question when it comes to travel: Is there a best time to book a trip? The short answer is yes, but it varies by destination. The travel search engine KAYAK looked at the median cost of flights from Canada and the US to ten luxury destinations to see how the airfare varied from one to six months prior to departure. The results show that if you really want to find the best time to buy, you’ve got to do your homework. Airfares are quoted in US dollars.

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1 / 10

1. Medellin, Colombia

According to KAYAK, the median airfare for Medellin varied between $529 and $653. The best time to book is four months before departure. The worst time is five months prior.

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2 / 10

2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur airfares ranged from $1044 to $1200. The best time to book is two months before departure and the worst time is four months before departure.

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3 / 10

3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

KAYAK reports that the median airfare to Ho Chi Minh City ranged from $798 to $1059. The best time to buy is six months in advance. The worst time is three months before departure.

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4 / 10

4. New Delhi, India

The median airfare to New Delhi doesn't fluctuate that much, only from $1007 to $1079. But there are deals to be found. The best time to buy is two months before departure and the worst time is five months prior.

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5 / 10

5. Bangkok, Thailand

The median airfare to Bangkok varied between $915 and $1072. The best time to buy, according to KAYAK, is four months before departure. The worst time is six months prior.

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6 / 10

6. Istanbul, Turkey

The median airfare to Istanbul from the US and Canada ranged from $881 to $974. The best time to buy your ticket: five months before departure. The worst time: six months before departure.

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7 / 10

7. Phuket, Thailand

Thinking about a nice sunny holiday in Phuket? It's best to plan this trip far in advance. With the median airfare ranging from $1136 to $1271, the best time to buy is six months out. The worst time? One month prior to departure.

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8 / 10

8. Beijing, China

The median airfare to Beijing ranges from $1011 to $1160. The best time to buy a ticket is three months in advance, and the worst time is six months in advance.

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9 / 10

9. Panama City, Panama

According to KAYAK, the median airfare to Panama City ranges from $497 to $677. The best time to buy is two months in advance. The worst time to buy is five months out.

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10 / 10

10. Athens, Greece

Athens isn't a great last minute destination. The median airfare ranges from $1080 to 1199. The best time to purchase a ticket is five months before departure. The worst time is two months before departure.