I used to book flights 6 months early, then a $27 fare in Austin taught me to wait

Hayden Nelson · 2026-09-12T08:10:03.763917+00:00

For years I was the guy who booked everything months ahead because my dad drilled it into me that last minute always costs more. Then two years ago I was trying to get from Austin to Denver for a friend's wedding and I watched the price sit at $310 for weeks. I got frustrated and just waited, checking every morning with my coffee like a weirdo. About 11 days out it dropped to $27. No joke. I booked it so fast my thumb hurt. Turns out a lot of airlines dump seats they can't fill right around that window, especially on routes with a few carriers fighting each other. Now I still book big holiday stuff early, but for random city trips I hold off and set a price alert instead of panicking. Has anyone else figured out the sweet spot for how many days out they pull the trigger, or do you just gamble on it like me?

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I used to book flights 6 months early, then a $27 fare in Austin taught me to wait | Budget Travel Hacks - Chatter Central