The Goldilocks Window: Your Key to Scoring Cheap International Flights This Summer

Rather than retreating further this year as analysts had hoped, inflation is ticking steadily back upwards once again. And that trend is impacting the cost of travel.

The latest Consumer Price Index shows average airfare costs are currently 1 percent more expensive than a month ago, and 7 percent higher than one year ago.

With this sort of development in mind, the experts at Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) are sharing data-based insights on the best time to purchase airline tickets for international summer trips.

International flight deals for peak seasons (such as summer) are hard to come by. But when you combine that historic reality with the fact that airfare is expected to be even more expensive than last year and suddenly the task becomes harder still.

For this reason, the experts at Going say booking according to the so-called “Goldilocks Window” is essential.

What is the Goldilocks Window exactly? Well for those who are familiar with the children’s story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it essentially means not being too early or too late. Applied to purchasing airfare, it means knowing the right time to book to score the best deal.

Which in the case of international trips is about 4 to 10 months ahead of travel, according to Going.

For those doing the math in their heads, it means booking summer airline tickets right now.

There's more than a few deals to be had at the moment, according to Going’s data. Here’s a snapshot of some of the possibilities:

• Boston to Dublin for $380 across dates in August (51% off)
• Nashville to Oslo for $443 across dates in August (53% off)
• Salt Lake City to Auckland for $727 across dates in June (52% off)
  
  

Bonus tip: If you've been itching to visit the alluring island of Sicily,you may be able to score a deal here too.(Which is worth noting, as flights to Sicily are historically very costly.)

It may be possible to get to the Italian island from New York City using 47,000 points and paying $200. This deal is available across June and July dates, according to Going.

Looking for more ways to score a deal on airfare? Check out this guide to the best day of the week to purchase your ticket.

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