The Traveling Professor Answers the 20 Most Common Questions About Booking Airfare

Booking airfare is one of the most confusing parts of planning an international trip. Prices change constantly. Flight schedules shift. Seat assignments cost extra. Connections can be too tight. Sometimes a round-trip ticket costs less than a one-way ticket. Sometimes using miles is a great deal, and sometimes it is not much of a deal at all.

At Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, we help travelers plan trips to Europe, Canada, South America, and other destinations around the world. One of the most common topics travelers ask about is airfare. They want to know when to buy, where to buy, how to save money, whether to use miles, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

Here are 20 of the most common questions travelers ask about booking airfare, answered in plain English by The Traveling Professor.

1. When is the best time to book international airfare?

The best time to book international airfare is usually several months before departure, especially for popular travel seasons. For trips to Europe in spring, summer, or fall, or for Christmas market trips, river cruises, holiday travel, and special events, The Professor recommends watching fares early and buying when the price, schedule, airline, and routing all look reasonable.

Do not make the mistake of thinking there is one magic day when all airfare suddenly drops. Airline pricing does not work that way. Prices are based on demand, route competition, available seats, travel dates, and complicated airline pricing systems.

The Professor’s rule is simple: when the fare is fair and the schedule is good, buy it.

2. How far in advance should I book flights to Europe?

For flights to Europe, The Professor generally likes to start watching fares about 8 to 10 months before travel, especially if the trip is connected to a cruise, small group tour, festival, or peak-season itinerary.

That does not mean travelers must always buy immediately. But it does mean they should know what normal fares look like. Once a traveler watches fares for a while, it becomes easier to recognize a good fare when it appears.

For spring and fall trips to Europe, waiting until the last minute can be risky. The lowest fares may be gone, preferred flight times may disappear, and good seat assignments may be harder to find.

For small group tours, The Professor usually recommends arriving at least one day before the tour begins. That means airfare needs to be coordinated with hotel dates, transfer plans, and the starting point of the itinerary.

3. Is there really a cheapest day to buy airline tickets?

This is one of the biggest airfare myths.

Many travelers have heard that Tuesday is the cheapest day to buy airline tickets. Years ago, there may have been more truth to that idea. Today, airline prices change constantly. A good fare can appear on a Monday morning, Thursday night, Sunday afternoon, or almost any other time.

The better question is not, “What day should I buy airfare?” The better question is, “Is this a good fare for this route, date, airline, and schedule?”

The Professor’s advice: do not chase myths. Watch fares, compare options, and buy when the price and itinerary make sense.

4. What is the cheapest day of the week to fly internationally?

The cheapest day to fly internationally is often Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, but there are plenty of exceptions.

Weekend flights are often more expensive because more people want to travel on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Business travel, vacation schedules, school calendars, cruise departures, and holiday periods can all affect pricing.

For international flights, flexibility is one of the best ways to save money. A traveler who can depart on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday may find a lower fare. A traveler who can return on a Tuesday instead of a Sunday may also save money.

When searching for airfare, always compare several departure and return dates. Moving the trip by one or two days can sometimes make a big difference.

5. Should I book flights directly with the airline or use an online travel agency?

In most cases, The Professor recommends booking directly with the airline.

Online travel agencies and discount booking sites may look attractive, but problems can arise when there is a schedule change, cancellation, delay, missed connection, or refund issue. The airline may tell the traveler to contact the booking site. The booking site may tell the traveler to contact the airline. That is not where anyone wants to be the night before an international trip.

Booking directly with the airline usually gives travelers better control over the reservation. It is often easier to choose seats, make changes, handle schedule changes, and deal directly with airline customer service.

The Professor’s rule: for an important international trip, book directly with the airline whenever possible.

6. Why do airline ticket prices change so often?

Airline ticket prices change because airline pricing is based on supply, demand, competition, route popularity, time of year, seat inventory, and revenue management.

An airplane may have many different fare classes, even in the same cabin. Two passengers sitting next to each other in Economy may have paid very different prices for nearly identical seats. As lower-priced fare classes sell out, the price often rises. If demand is weak, fares may drop. If a competing airline lowers its price, another airline may respond.

This is why airfare can feel unpredictable. A traveler may see a fare in the morning and find it gone by the afternoon.

The Professor’s advice: if the fare is good and the schedule works, do not assume it will be there tomorrow.

7. Should I wait for airfare prices to go down?

Sometimes waiting works. Sometimes waiting backfires.

If travel dates are flexible and the trip is not tied to a tour, cruise, wedding, holiday, or special event, a traveler may have room to wait. But if the trip has fixed dates, waiting too long can be risky.

The lowest fare is not always the best fare. The best airfare is the best combination of price, schedule, routing, airline, connection time, seat options, and reliability.

A cheap fare with three connections, an overnight airport layover, or an arrival time too late for the start of a tour is not a bargain.

The Professor’s advice: do not wait forever trying to save another $50. A good schedule has value.

8. How do I know if an airfare is a good deal?

An airfare is a good deal when the price is reasonable and the itinerary is practical.

A good fare should be judged by more than the number on the screen. Travelers should also look at:

Airline reputation
Departure and arrival times
Number of connections
Length of connections
Arrival airport
Seat selection rules
Baggage rules
Change and cancellation rules
Total travel time
Whether the flight arrives at a practical time for the trip

For example, a fare that is $150 cheaper may not be a better deal if it requires an extra connection and arrives late at night. On an international trip, convenience and reliability matter.

The Professor believes travelers should save money without sacrificing comfort, common sense, or peace of mind.

9. Are round-trip flights cheaper than one-way flights?

For international travel, round-trip flights are often cheaper than one-way flights.

Many travelers are surprised to find that a one-way ticket to Europe on a major airline can cost nearly as much as a round-trip ticket. Sometimes it can cost even more. This is especially common on major legacy airlines.

Before buying a one-way international ticket with cash, always compare the round-trip fare. In some cases, the round-trip ticket may be the better value even if the traveler does not need the return flight. However, travelers should be careful about airline rules and should not intentionally skip segments without understanding the risks.

The Professor’s advice: always compare one-way, round-trip, and multi-city pricing before buying international airfare.

10. What is an open-jaw flight, and can it save money?

An open-jaw flight means flying into one city and home from another.

For example:

New York to Paris
Rome to New York

This is usually booked as a multi-city ticket, not as two separate one-way tickets.

Open-jaw flights can be excellent for international travel, especially in Europe. They can save time, reduce backtracking, and make the itinerary smoother. For example, travelers taking a tour that begins in Paris and ends in Rome should usually check flights into Paris and home from Rome.

Open-jaw flights do not always save money, but they often save time and make more sense.

The Professor is a big believer in matching the airfare to the itinerary instead of forcing the itinerary to fit a round-trip flight.

11. Is it cheaper to fly into one European city and home from another?

Sometimes it is cheaper. Often it is smarter.

Many travelers automatically search for round-trip flights to one city. But for a European trip, flying into one city and home from another can be a better strategy.

For example, a traveler might fly into Amsterdam and home from Basel for a Rhine River cruise. Another traveler might fly into Paris and home from Nice. Someone visiting Italy might fly into Venice and home from Rome.

Even when the airfare is slightly higher, the open-jaw itinerary may save the cost and inconvenience of returning to the original city. It may also save a full day of travel.

The Professor’s advice: always check multi-city airfare for Europe. It is one of the simplest ways to build a better trip.

12. Should I check alternate airports when booking international flights?

Yes. Checking alternate airports is one of the best ways to find better airfare.

Airfare can vary dramatically from one airport to another. A traveler who lives near a smaller airport may find lower international fares by checking a larger gateway city. For example, it may be worth comparing flights from New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, or another major airport.

The same is true in Europe. Flying into Milan instead of Venice, Brussels instead of Amsterdam, or Munich instead of Prague may sometimes produce better fares or better schedules.

Of course, travelers need to consider the cost and inconvenience of getting to the alternate airport. A lower fare is not a savings if it requires an expensive hotel, long drive, or risky separate ticket connection.

The Professor’s advice: check alternate airports, but compare the total cost and total convenience.

13. Are connecting flights cheaper than nonstop flights?

Often, yes. But cheaper does not always mean better.

Nonstop flights are usually more convenient, and airlines know that travelers value convenience. That is why nonstop flights can be more expensive. Connecting flights may save money, but they also add risk.

Every connection creates another chance for delay, missed flights, baggage problems, or stress. This is especially important when flying to meet a tour, cruise, or scheduled event.

The Professor likes nonstop flights when the price is reasonable. If a connection saves a meaningful amount of money and the connection time is comfortable, it may be worth considering.

But a tight connection to save a small amount of money is usually a bad trade.

14. How much connection time do I need for an international flight?

More than the airline’s minimum connection time.

Airlines may sell connections that are technically legal but not wise for real travelers. A 45-minute connection may look good on paper, but it can become a problem if the first flight is delayed, the arrival gate is far away, or the traveler must change terminals.

For international connections, travelers may need to go through passport control, security, customs, or baggage recheck, depending on the airport and itinerary.

The Professor prefers comfortable connections. For international travel, a longer connection is often better than a stressful sprint through the airport.

A good airfare should not just be cheap. It should be realistic.

15. Is Basic Economy worth it for international travel?

Usually, The Professor does not recommend Basic Economy for international travel.

Basic Economy fares can look tempting because they appear cheaper in search results. But the restrictions can be significant. Depending on the airline, Basic Economy may limit seat selection, changes, refunds, upgrades, boarding priority, carry-on privileges, or mileage earning.

For a short domestic flight, Basic Economy might be acceptable for some travelers. For a long international trip, the savings may not be worth the restrictions.

This is especially true for travelers joining a small group tour or cruise. Flexibility and comfort matter.

The Professor’s advice: read the rules carefully before booking Basic Economy. The lowest fare is not always the best fare.

16. Should I pay extra for seat assignments on an international flight?

Sometimes, yes.

Airlines now charge extra for many seats that used to be included. Aisle seats, window seats, exit rows, preferred seats, and seats closer to the front of the cabin may all cost more.

For travelers who strongly prefer an aisle seat, need to sit with a spouse or friend, or want to avoid a middle seat on a long flight, paying for seat assignments can be worthwhile.

Waiting until check-in may save money, but it can also mean limited choices. On a full international flight, the remaining seats may not be attractive.

The Professor’s rule: if seat location matters, handle it early.

17. Is Premium Economy worth the extra cost?

Premium Economy can be worth it on long international flights if the price difference is reasonable.

Premium Economy usually offers more legroom, a wider seat, more recline, and a more comfortable experience than regular Economy. On an overnight flight to Europe, that extra comfort can make the first day of the trip much better.

However, Premium Economy is not Business Class. Travelers should not pay Business Class prices for a Premium Economy seat.

The Professor likes Premium Economy when the upgrade cost is sensible, especially for overnight international flights or long return flights after a busy trip.

Comfort has value. Arriving rested has value too.

18. Should I use airline miles or pay cash for international flights?

It depends on the value of the ticket.

Airline miles can be very useful, especially when cash fares are high. But not every mileage ticket is a good deal. Travelers should compare the number of miles required, taxes, fees, schedule, airline, routing, and availability.

A ticket that costs 80,000 miles plus high fees may not be better than a reasonable cash fare. On the other hand, if cash fares are very expensive and a good award seat is available, using miles can be excellent.

The Professor’s advice: treat miles like money. Do not waste them.

Miles are best used when they provide good value, good routing, and a schedule that makes sense.

19. What should I do if the airline changes my flight schedule?

Do not ignore schedule changes.

Airlines can change flight times, aircraft, seat assignments, connection times, and routings. Sometimes the change is minor. Sometimes it creates a serious problem.

When an airline sends a schedule change notice, review the entire itinerary. Check the new departure time, arrival time, connection time, airport, aircraft, and seat assignments.

If the change creates an unreasonable connection or significantly changes the itinerary, the traveler may have options. The airline may allow a different flight, a better routing, or in some cases a refund, depending on the rules and the size of the change.

The Professor’s advice: monitor your reservation after booking. Buying the ticket is not the last step.

20. What are the biggest airfare mistakes travelers make before a small group tour or cruise?

The biggest airfare mistake is booking a flight that is too risky.

For a small group tour or cruise, The Professor strongly recommends arriving at least one day early. Flying in on the same day the tour begins or the ship departs may save the cost of one hotel night, but it can create a much bigger problem if there is a delay, cancellation, missed connection, weather issue, or baggage problem.

Other common airfare mistakes include:

Booking Basic Economy without reading the rules
Choosing a connection that is too tight
Using separate tickets without understanding the risk
Ignoring alternate airports
Failing to compare multi-city airfare
Booking through a third-party site to save a small amount
Waiting too long to buy during peak travel season
Forgetting to check passport validity before booking
Not reviewing schedule changes after ticketing
Choosing the cheapest fare instead of the best itinerary

The Professor’s final advice: airfare is not just about price. It is about getting to the destination comfortably, reliably, and on time.

Final Thoughts from The Traveling Professor

Booking airfare is part science, part strategy, and part common sense. There is no single magic rule that works for every trip. The best airfare depends on the destination, season, airline, routing, schedule, airport, connection time, and the traveler’s comfort level.

At Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, our philosophy is simple: save money when it makes sense, but do not sacrifice comfort, reliability, or peace of mind.

A cheap fare is not a bargain if it gets the trip off to a stressful start.

The Professor’s airfare rules are easy to remember:

Book directly with the airline when possible.
Start watching fares early.
Be flexible with dates and airports.
Avoid tight connections.
Consider open-jaw flights for Europe.
Use miles wisely.
Read the rules before buying Basic Economy.
Arrive early before a tour or cruise.
And when the fare is fair and the schedule is good, buy it.

For more practical travel advice, airfare tips, and small group tour ideas, visit Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor.