Back-to-school time means we’re entering holiday travel season, and single motherhood just got a lot more expensive. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, babe! You can cross figuring out the best time to book holiday flights off your list. We’ve rounded up flight data from our friends at Google to help eliminate the stress of booking holiday travel and potentially save you some cash. Our guide covers most U.S. holidays, and as a bonus, we’ve included how far in advance, on average, to book international flights. All you have to do is keep an eye on flight prices based on how far in advance you should book. Let’s get into it!

Thanksgiving 

  • Best Time to Book: 36-74 days before departure, hitting their lowest point 52 days out for domestic flights
  • Book By: Early September 

Christmas 

  • Best Time to Book: 54-78 days before departure, hitting their lowest point 71 days before departure for domestic flights 
  • Book By: Early October

Spring Break 

  • Best Time to Book: 23-59 days before departure, hitting their lowest point 38 days before departure for March and April domestic flights 
  • Book By: Early January

Summer

  • Best Time to Book: 14-44 days before departure, hitting their lowest point 21 days before departure for July and August domestic flights 
  • Book By: Mid May 

U.S. to Europe

  • Best Time to Book: 72 days before departure. At 10 weeks from departure prices tend to gradually increase
  • Book By: The earlier the better 

U.S. to Mexico or the Caribbean

  • Best Time to Book: 37-87 days before departure, hitting their lowest point 59 days before departure 
  • Book By: Follow the schedule above from departure date

Bonus Tips

  1. On average, flights that depart on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday have been 12% cheaper than weekend departures
  2. On average, nonstop fares have been 20% higher than a flight with stops
  3. Spoiler alert: Shopping for flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays instead of Saturdays or Sundays have only yielded 1.9% in savings on average

And just like that, we’ve made single mom travel a breeze. You’re all set to tackle holiday travel and create the best memories with your kids! We hope these booking tips save you some coins and make your family trips smooth, without the holiday stress. Keep an eye on those low points before departure for each holiday, and your family will be flying high in no time. Whether it’s a domestic flight or an epic adventure abroad, you’ve got the tools to make it happen. If you’re feeling hesitant about traveling, join our travel group chat for some extra encouragement. Go ahead, start planning now—’tis the season!