This is the best time of year to find cheap flights
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The start of a new year is a great opportunity for a lot of things. It's a good time to kick start a new health routine, to make plans for the next 12 months, and to find post-holiday sales. It turns out it may also be a good time to book your travel for the coming year.
A recent study by travel search website Skyscanner found that the first two weeks of January are typically the best time of the year to find flight deals for travel throughout the rest of the year. After those two weeks, prices start to drift upward, with a spike observed around March. For the study, which is based on historical data, Skyscanner analyzed flight prices between December 2016 and December 2017.
The trends that Skyscanner found apply to both short-haul domestic and long-haul international flights. During the first two weeks of January in the sample period, domestic flights were around 16% cheaper than the yearly average, while international flights were as much as 36% cheaper.
The study's findings represent a broad overview of how pricing has historically played out over the course of the year. With exceptions like one-off deals, such as this recent fare sale to Mexico City, the findings suggest that overall prices will likely be best at the very start of 2018.
If you're planning a vacation for this year, it would be smart to start looking for flights this week, especially if you're going to a popular destination. As more travelers make reservations at low prices, fewer discounted fares will be left. Some destinations that Skyscanner has seen heavy interest in for 2018 travel include Phuket, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, London, and Edinburgh. Domestic leisure destinations include New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Las Vegas.