Canadians love travelling, and we have a healthy obsession with trying to save money every time we take flight. Over the years I’ve read some pretty outlandish claims out there about the best way to go about doing that. Some sources insist that booking exactly 59 days before departure is the most cost-effective approach, while others swear that buying tickets on Wednesday at 2am is what will really nab the lowest price possible.
From personal experience, none of these arbitrary, blanket statements are true. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few guidelines to follow to get the best deals. To help, I’ve done the researched and found the tips that really will help you to determine the best time to book cheap flights and how you can cut down on travel costs.
When to book a flight (Hint: Ditch one-size-fits-all rules)
Is there really a magic, one-size-fits-all rule for when to book the cheapest flights? The short answer: No. There isn’t a single flight booking rule, such as booking “59-days-out” or hitting the "buy now" button on a “Wednesday at 2 a.m.”
Rather, the best strategy is to use timeline ranges — best timing options informed by current data and price tracking. To understand how this works, I contacted representatives from Kayak.com. They confirmed there is no precise date or time that will always give you the lowest airfare. But their data does suggest that there are a few reliable guidelines for when to book, depending on where you want to go.
Best time to book flights for domestic travel (within Canada)
Aim to book your flights between 63 and 72 days before departure for optimal flight prices. While one day isn’t always the best, Sundays tend to be the cheapest day to book, and Tuesdays are often the least busy day to fly.
Best time to book flights for international travel
If you plan to fly internationally you’ll want to book months (not weeks) in advance for the best deals. Google data shows that the lowest prices can be found when you book 115 days before your scheduled departure, while Kayak data shows as much as eight months in advance if you’re flying to the U.S. and 11 months in advance if flying internationally.
For travellers planning a trip in December/January, you can sometimes find deals between the 87 and 115 days before your departure date.
Pro Tip: Set up a Google Flights tracker for your exact route and opt-in to alerts that will send you an email if the price for your destination drops. Be prepared to pounce on a deal.
Book with a no-FX-fee credit card
Some airlines only allow you to pay in the local currency, particularly the low-cost airlines like EasyJet or RyanAir. If your credit card charges foreign transaction fees (and if you’re Canadian, it most likely does), you’ll end up paying an additional 2.5% fee which is rolled right into the exchange rate.
For example, I recently purchased some airfare in Euros that cost me a total of $534.51. Had I used a credit card that didn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, I would have paid $521.14. Yes, it’s a seemingly minor difference, but in Europe that’s enough for a fancy dessert or a very decent bottle of wine with dinner.
What is the best credit card in Canada? It might be the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite, with a $1,176 first-year value. Compare more than 140 cards in just 5 seconds.
Pro tip: Use a no-FX-fee card to avoid ~2.5% on non-Canadian currency fares.
Schedule travel in cheaper, shoulder season (but test July, too)
Generally speaking, December and August are the most expensive times to travel. If you travel in the spring (April / May) or autumn (September / October) flights tend to be much cheaper due to supply and demand. You’ll also want to factor in any local festivals or holidays that may affect prices in your specific destination, such as cherry blossom season in Japan or spring break in the U.S. and the Caribbean. The other advantage of travelling during the off-season is the fact that there will be less tourists around which means less wait times for attractions and cheaper prices for hotels.
One interesting detail, from Expedia, is that July is now becoming a cheaper month to travel — and in many cases, July has been the cheapest month to fly in recent years. As always, spend a few minutes comparison shopping to get the best deal.
Be flexible on dates and airports
Since airfare is based on supply and demand, flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday will likely be cheaper than say a Friday or Sunday. The time of day can also make a difference: flying overnight usually has lower fares since that departure time is much less desirable compared to a flight that takes off at 10am.
Also, consider nearby airports (e.g., YYZ vs. YTZ; YVR vs. YXX). Use the explore or price-graph tools to see which day or airport combo help cut travel costs.
If you’re fully flexible, you can find some really good deals. KAYAK has an ‘explore’ tool that will show you the cheapest fares for flights all over the world, which you can filter based on your budget and preferred length of flight.
Maximize rewards and points (current rules)
Any purchase you make is a chance to rack up travel rewards points, which can eventually be used to get heavily discounted (or even free) flights.
- RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite: Offers cardholders a free companion flight each year (terms and conditions apply).
- WestJet Mastercard: Offers cardholders a fixed-price companion flight, each year.
- Aeroplan stopovers: On award travel outside Canada/U.S., add a stopover for 5,000 points on a one-way, up to 45 days, to see an extra city without much added cost.
- MBNA Rewards: Spend 6,000 points (minimum) for cash or a statement credit, while travel redemption often starts at 10,000 points (varies by card).
- Amex Membership Rewards: Book via Amex Travel or transfer to partners (e.g., Aeroplan, Flying Blue, Avios) to stretch the value of these points.
Price alerts and deal intel (what to use now)
To stay on top of deals, be sure to set price alerts on Google Flights, Kayak or any other travel consolidator site. Also, sign up for newsletters and emails that prioritize Canadian-relevant travel alerts and route-specific tracking over generic “flash sales.”
Pro-tip: For most trips, start tracking fares three to five months out. Book when alerts show a dip — often two to four months for domestic travel and three to four months for international travel, but verify with price history for your exact route.
ULCC reality check (aka: Avoid false “savings”)
ULCC, or ultra low-cost carrier, refers to no-frills airlines that offer basic services usually at lower prices. While ULCC airplines can help you cut travel costs, there are some risks involved. For instance, the Lynx Air shut down in 2024 not only reduced ULCC competition but left some travellers scrambling to rebook. When booking with ULCC airlines be sure to factor in schedule stability and potential cancellations into your “cheapest fare” comparisons — sometimes a slightly higher fare with a larger carrier is cheaper once risk, bags and change fees are included in the overall cost.
Refunds, rebooking and your rights (can save money later)
When booking flight tickets, be sure to read and understand the booking policy for each carrier. For instance, Air Canada offers a full refund within 24 hours of purchase, while WestJet has a 24-hour cancellation with fare-dependent refund/credit rules. If your airline can’t rebook you within 48 hours, you can choose a refund or alternate travel. Knowing this helps decide whether to buy basic vs. flexible fares.
Bottom line
There’s no single magic day or “59-day rule” for cheap flights — the smartest approach is to track fares early, stay flexible with dates and airports, and use the right credit card to dodge fees. For Canadians, current data shows the best deals often appear two to four months out for domestic flights and closer to three to four months for international trips. Tools like Google Flights alerts and Aeroplan’s 5,000-point stopover option can stretch your travel dollars further. Combine that with off-peak travel, loyalty points and no-FX-fee cards, and you’ll avoid paying full price for your next getaway.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.