What's the Cheapest Month to Buy Plane Tickets in the US (2026)?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Austin Pua, ShopBack US

In the US, official data points to late summer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) airline fares index was lowest in August in 2024 and in July in 2025, and spring ran highest in 2024 and so far in 2026. No month wins every year, so pick flexible dates, set a price alert, compare Expedia, Priceline and Trip.com, and go through ShopBack before you book.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack US is a free app and website that gives you cash back when you book or shop with partner stores, including Expedia, Priceline and Trip.com. You tap through ShopBack, book as normal, and the cash lands in your ShopBack account once the booking is confirmed. Join ShopBack US in about two minutes.

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What's the cheapest month to buy plane tickets?

Late summer, going by the official numbers. The BLS publishes a monthly airline fares index as part of the Consumer Price Index (series CUUR0000SETG01, not seasonally adjusted). It tracks the overall level of US airline fares, so it is the closest thing to a national, month-by-month price record.

Here is how each month compared with its year's average:

Month	2024 index	vs 2024 average	2025 index	vs 2025 average
January	247.6	5.3% below	265.3	3.6% above
February	264.0	0.9% above	262.1	2.3% above
March	266.5	1.9% above	252.6	1.4% below
April	277.4	6.1% above	255.6	0.2% below
May	281.0	7.4% above	260.3	1.6% above
June	265.1	1.3% above	255.9	0.1% below
July	246.2	5.9% below	247.9	3.2% below
August	243.0	7.1% below	251.0	2.0% below
September	250.0	4.4% below	258.0	0.7% above
October	265.9	1.7% above	not published	not published
November	269.3	3.0% above	254.9	0.5% below
December	262.6	0.4% above	253.7	0.9% below

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI airline fares, US city average. The 2025 average uses the 11 published months.

Three things stand out:

• July and August were below average in both years. August 2024 was the lowest month of that year, and July 2025 was the lowest of 2025.
• Spring was the expensive stretch in 2024. April and May were 6.1% and 7.4% above that year's average.
• January is not reliable. It was well below average in 2024 but above average in 2025.

The index measures the level of fares in each month across the country. Your own route can follow a different pattern, especially if it serves a holiday destination or a big event.

When to buy plane tickets in 2026

Fares are higher overall in 2026. The BLS airline fares index for August 2026 was 309.7, against 251.0 in August 2025, about 23% higher. Within 2026 so far, January was the lowest month at 271.2 and May the highest at 329.8.

2026 month	Index
January	271.2
February	280.6
March	290.2
April	308.5
May	329.8
June	323.8
July	311.2
August	309.7

When the overall level is higher, the gap between a good and a bad booking day is worth more in dollars. That makes comparing dates and booking sites more useful, not less. For a deeper look at booking windows, read our guide on when to book flights.

When to buy plane tickets: best deals for US travelers in 2026

Since no single month is cheapest every year, the best deals usually come from a routine rather than a date:

1. Pick a flexible window. Look at a few days either side of your ideal dates. Flexible-date search, which sites such as KAYAK offer, shows how fares vary across nearby dates.
2. Set a price alert on your route and decide on a target fare.
3. Compare the same flight on two or three booking sites, such as Expedia, Priceline and Trip.com, and check the total with bags and seats.
4. Use the 24-hour rule. Under US Department of Transportation rules (14 CFR 259.5), covered airlines must let you hold a reservation at the quoted fare without payment, or cancel it without penalty, for at least 24 hours after booking, if you book a week or more before departure. Booking sites can set their own terms, so read the cancellation policy before you pay.
5. Go through ShopBack before you book, then book in the same session.

US holiday sale periods such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday are common times for travel promotions, but they do not replace comparing your exact dates.

Expedia vs Priceline: when to buy plane tickets and how prices compare

Neither site is cheaper by default. Both sell fares that the airlines set, so the same flight is often priced similarly, and differences usually come from fees, member pricing, bundles or sale timing. Each has its own strengths:

• Expedia was founded in 1996 as a division of Microsoft. Its loyalty program, One Key, launched in 2023 and works across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, so members earn and use rewards across the three brands. Expedia is a common pick when you want to book a flight and hotel together. See our Expedia savings guide.
• Priceline was founded in 1997 and is owned by Booking Holdings, which also owns Booking.com and KAYAK. It is often worth checking for hotel deals and flight and hotel bundles.

The month you buy matters about the same on both, because the seasonal pattern comes from airline pricing. What changes between them is the total for your exact flight. Price the same flight on both for the same dates, then book where the total is lower.

Expedia, Priceline or Trip.com: when to buy plane tickets in the US

Trip.com is the flagship brand of Trip.com Group, founded in 1999, which also runs Skyscanner and Ctrip. It is often worth checking for international routes and its own promotions. Read our Trip.com discounts guide for more.

A simple way to use all three:

• Domestic round trip: compare Expedia and Priceline on the same flight, and check the airline's own site for fare rules.
• Flight plus hotel: price the bundle on Expedia against the same flight and hotel booked separately.
• International trip: add Trip.com to the comparison.

Other booking sites in the same category include Booking.com, Hotels.com and KAYAK for searching, and the airlines' own websites. Whichever one wins on price, make ShopBack your step before you pay.

Save on your trip by booking through ShopBack

Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack. Do it after you have compared prices and before you pay:

1. Sign in to ShopBack US on the app or website.
2. Open Expedia, Priceline or Trip.com on ShopBack and check the rate and terms shown.
3. Tap through and book in the same session.
4. The cash shows as pending first and usually confirms after your trip.

ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Here is a worked example. On a $1,200 flight and hotel booking at an illustrative 3%, $36 comes back, so the effective price is $1,164. Flights and hotels can earn at different rates, and some bookings may be excluded, so check the terms and the live rate on each store's ShopBack page before you book. Our guide to earning cashback on travel bookings walks through the steps.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the cheapest month to buy plane tickets?

In the US, official data points to late summer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics airline fares index (not seasonally adjusted) was lowest in August in 2024 and in July in 2025, and both July and August sat below the yearly average in both years. Spring ran highest in 2024 and so far in 2026. No month is cheapest every year, so compare dates, then go through ShopBack before you book.

When should I buy plane tickets?

Buy once you have a fare you are happy with for dates that work, rather than waiting for a perfect month. Set a price alert on your route, compare flexible dates, and book when the fare drops into your target range. For airlines covered by US Department of Transportation rules, a booking made at least a week before departure can be held or cancelled without penalty for at least 24 hours.

How much do US airfares change by month?

In the BLS airline fares index for 2024, August was 7.1% below the year's average and May was 7.4% above it, a swing of about 14 percentage points. In 2025 the swing was smaller: July was 3.2% below the average and January 3.6% above it. The index tracks the overall level of fares, so your route can move differently.

Are plane tickets more expensive in 2026?

Yes, on the official index. The BLS airline fares index for August 2026 was 309.7, compared with 251.0 in August 2025, about 23% higher. Within 2026, January was the lowest month so far at 271.2 and May the highest at 329.8. Comparing a few dates and booking sites matters more when the overall level is higher.

Is Expedia or Priceline cheaper for plane tickets?

Neither is cheaper by default. Both sell fares set by the airlines, so the same flight is often priced similarly, and differences usually come from fees, member pricing, bundles or sale timing. Price the same flight on both for the same dates, check the total including bags and seat fees, and book where the total is lower.

Does Trip.com have cheaper flights in some months?

Trip.com generally follows the same seasonal fare pattern as other booking sites, because airlines set the base fares. Where Trip.com can help is on international routes and its own promotions. Compare the same flight on Trip.com, Expedia and Priceline, then go through ShopBack before you pay.

What is the 24-hour rule for booking flights in the US?

Under US Department of Transportation rules (14 CFR 259.5), covered airlines must let you hold a reservation at the quoted fare without payment, or cancel it without penalty, for at least 24 hours after booking, if you book a week or more before departure. Airlines choose which of the two they offer. Booking sites can have their own terms, so check the cancellation policy before you pay.

Which months are usually most expensive for US flights?

In the BLS airline fares index, April and May were the most expensive months of 2024, and May has been the highest month of 2026 so far. Peak holiday travel dates are usually expensive too, so book those early and compare prices across a few days either side.

How do I save on flights through ShopBack?

Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack. Sign in to ShopBack US, open the Expedia, Priceline or Trip.com page on ShopBack, tap through and book in the same session. Check the terms on each ShopBack store page, since flights and hotels can earn at different rates, and the current rates are shown there.

What is the effective price of a flight after ShopBack?

Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. On a $1,200 flight and hotel booking at an illustrative 3%, $36 comes back, so the effective price is $1,164. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you book, because rates change.

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Key takeaways

• On the BLS airline fares index, July and August were below average in both 2024 and 2025; August 2024 and July 2025 were the lowest months.
• Spring was the expensive stretch in 2024 (May 7.4% above average), and May is the highest month of 2026 so far.
• Fares are higher in 2026: the August 2026 index was about 23% above August 2025.
• No month is cheapest every year, so use flexible dates, price alerts and the 24-hour rule.
• Compare Expedia, Priceline and Trip.com on the same flight, then go through ShopBack US before you book.

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Related reads

• When to book flights in the US
• How to save on Expedia in the US
• Trip.com discounts in the US
• US travel savings hub
• How to earn cashback on travel bookings

Book travel on ShopBack US: Expedia · Priceline · Trip.com

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Airfare figures are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for airline fares (US city average, not seasonally adjusted), which measures the overall level of fares and not the price of any specific route. The 24-hour reservation rule is from US Department of Transportation regulations at 14 CFR 259.5. Company background is from public company profiles. Fares, fees, cancellation terms and promotions are set by airlines and booking sites and can change at any time. Cashback rates on ShopBack vary by store, booking type and over time; the percentage used in the worked example is illustrative only, and the current rate is shown on each store's ShopBack page. This article is for general information and is not financial or travel advice.