Is October a good time to book Christmas flights?

October in Spain isn’t like October in northern Europe. Here, there are still plenty of sunny days, mornings that call for light outfits and a lingering hint of summer. That’s why most people aren’t thinking about planning their Christmas holidays yet. And yet, keen as it may sound, the fact that hardly anyone tends to book flights at this time is precisely what makes October the ideal month to get everything sorted. Let’s take a look.

When is the best time to buy Christmas flights?

In the seasoned traveller’s guide — ours, the aparca&go guide, shaped by so many years of helping all kinds of adventurers on their way — there’s no universally perfect date for buying Christmas flights. What there is, though, is a pattern: fewer people are doing it in October and, given airlines’ dynamic pricing systems, where demand shapes prices, that means cheaper tickets. Why not earlier? You can. And it’s not a bad idea, but booking too far ahead can lead to scheduling problems later on.

How far in advance should you book?

As a general guide, booking six to eight weeks ahead is usually enough for domestic flights, while for international flights the recommended window increases to two or three months. At times such as Christmas, when demand soars across all destinations, it’s best to aim for the longer end of that range: if you’re travelling within the EU or even further afield, October fits perfectly.

What happens to prices as Christmas gets closer?

What happens to popcorn if you leave it in the microwave too long? It’s obvious. And the direction of Christmas flight prices is just as obvious: they stay relatively stable for several weeks, then climb higher and higher as 24 December approaches. The last fortnight is particularly painful for your bank balance. It’s not a gentle, steady rise, but more of a ramp that suddenly gets steep. Don’t get complacent.

Why can October be a good month to book?

October has a double advantage: there’s still enough time before departure for airlines not to have raised their prices, but you can already get a clear picture of the flights available for December. In many ways, it strikes the balance between “booking too early, when hardly any options have been published” and “booking too late and paying a premium for the rush”. It also gives you the breathing room to accommodate any changes in your life that might affect your holiday.

More availability and options for finding cheap flights

In October, there’s still room to compare alternative airports, less popular departure times and connecting flight combinations that simply disappear from search results later on. It’s the point when you can genuinely find cheap flights with some flexibility, instead of settling for the little that’s left.

What happens if we wait until November or December?

In November, the range of flights shrinks considerably and prices start to soar. In December, especially during the last fortnight, the rise becomes even steeper and, worse still, seats are more limited. There’s a real risk of missing out on the trip you need or want.

Tips for finding cheap Christmas flights

Travelling midweek rather than at the weekend, avoiding 23 and 24 December as departure dates (they’re among the most expensive days of the year) and keeping an eye out for short-term flight deals in airlines’ autumn campaigns are additional ways to keep your budget in check without giving up your chosen destination. Beyond that:

Compare dates, airports and flight deals

Being flexible about your departure date can make a noticeable difference to the final price, as can being willing to fly from a nearby airport rather than the most obvious one. Yes, you might spend a little more time getting there, but you’ll save quite a bit of money. Oh, and don’t forget to set up price alerts on several comparison sites.

Plan your Christmas trip in advance

Booking early doesn’t just save you money: it also takes away that nagging feeling of still having a trip to organise. And while you’re sorting out your travel plans, take the opportunity to arrange parking too if you’re driving to the airport: with aparca&go, you can book your space as far ahead as your flight. That way, on the day of your trip, you’ll only have one thing to worry about: whether the person next to you on the plane snores too loudly.