What Is a "Goldilocks Window," and Why Do You Need To Know About It Before Flying?

Holiday travel is coming up FAST, and that means it’s time to start booking those flights ASAP!

But when is the best time to book your flights so you can make sure you don’t miss out on the lowest prices (and ensure that you won’t miss your chance to book your flight)? We’ve got that covered for you — it’s called the “Goldilocks Window,” and we know exactly when it is, thanks to research!

According to ABC News, Brian Kelly, author and founder of The Points Guy, has urged travelers to start planning holiday flights NOW. While it’s great that fall airfare has come down a bit, “the average domestic ticket during the holidays is over $600 and $1200 internationally,” according to Kelly, so getting the BEST deal is very important. That’s where the “Goldilocks Window” comes in. As the name implies, it’s that short window of time when flight prices are cheap — not too early or too late. It’s the prime time when you are most likely to see great fares.

Southwest at Orlando International Airport

If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, booking in the first week of October is your best bet, and if you’re traveling for Christmas, booking those flights in the first week of November is the way to go. Timing your flights right is also a great way to save money. According to Kelly, “leaving in the morning on a less popular travel day and returning later on the Monday post-holiday can help people save almost half on airfare.”

We also encourage you to use FREE tools online, like Google Flights, and set alerts to see when prices drop for flights. Set those alerts now so that you can see when those holiday flights drop! When you see prices begin to climb, they’ll likely KEEP climbing.

If you’re not traveling during the holidays, other flight deals are usually available between one to three months before your travel dates for domestic flights, and two to eight months before your trip for international dates.

However, when you see that Goldilocks Window pop up, do NOT feel like it’s time to book immediately. Set up those alerts and watch the prices continue to drop, then book during that period.

More Recent Travel News!

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!