The best time to buy a plane ticket with points is when it becomes available on the booking calendar.
To get the most coveted reward tickets, you need to be lucky, flexible or a master the in and outs of the system!
Date of Availability by Airline
Knowing the best time to book is crucial, especially for people who:
travel during periods of high demand (spring break, summer vacation, construction holiday, holiday season, etc.),
travel in groups or with family,
target business or first-class products.
The Best Price for a Plane Ticket With Points
For certain programs like Aeroplan, all available seats can be purchased with points for Air Canada flights, and the price will be dynamic. The best time to book is the same as for tickets paid in cash, therefore depending on market fluctuations.
However, this does not apply to other partner airlines that can be booked with Aeroplan points. As far as partners are concerned, prices are fixed. These are the best points-based fares you can find with Aeroplan for most routes, especially if you’re travelling in business class. Each carrier releases a limited number of « award tickets » while all of their available seats are available for cash.
So for a group wishing to go to Munich for the Oktoberfest, for example, you’ll have to keep a close eye on when award tickets go on sale!
So, I advise you to book early to take advantage of these low prices and especially if the travel periods are popular.
$1,139ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
With this offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year†.
Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card†
Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening†.
Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening†
This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation†, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months†.
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points† per $1 spent on:
Grocery purchases
Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
Purchases made directly with Air Canada® (including Air Canada Vacations®)
You also earn 1 point† per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.
Legal
†Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee
Primary card$139
Additional card$75
Annual income required
Individual$60,000
Household$100,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
1.5xGas & EV
1.5xGroceries
1.5xAir Canada flights
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,714
2nd Year Value$425
Card benefits
Concierge service24/7
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
The Number of Days to Remember
Each carrier plans its calendar release between 300 and 365 days in advance.
It is therefore very important to know when the airline unblocks its calendar: this is the best time to book because you have access to all available award tickets.
How to Calculate the Best Time to Buy an Award Ticket?
To determine the best time to book an award ticket, this day calculator is an excellent tool to use. Simply enter the start date, then subtract the number of days corresponding to the program used.
Also, consider the time difference when you want to book with a program from another country than your own. Finally, the premium seats are not necessarily released at midnight.
The Best Time to Find a Flight With Air Canada
Air Canada’s dynamic pricing for Aeroplan award tickets adjusts the cost in points according to demand and the price of tickets paid in cash. The higher the demand for a flight, the more points are required, making peak periods or popular destinations often expensive.
However, lower-cost opportunities exist by booking early (as soon as the calendar opens, around 355 days in advance), by being flexible on dates and itineraries (such as choosing mid-week flights or flights with stopovers) or by watching for last-minute price cuts when Air Canada realizes that the flight isn’t selling so well after all.
What to Do if You Miss the Release
Tickets that can be booked with points are limited on Star Alliance partners. Over time, however, changes and cancellations will make some seats vacant again.
So if you have missed the moment, you will need to use a tool such as Expert Flyer to track fluctuations in availability. Award search engines such as Roame, AwardFares, Point.me and Seats.areo can also help.
Companies that sometimes release last minute award tickets are:
ANA
Austrian
Cathay Pacific
Emirates
Etihad
Japan Airlines
Lufthansa
SWISS
United
Special Features for Some Programs
You are constantly refreshing your browser on the famous date, but the desired flight does not show up?
Some airlines do not allow the purchase of certain award tickets through partner loyalty programs, or make them available only at the last minute.
For example, First Class (and even Business Class) award tickets on Singapore Airlines are only available to members of the KrisFlyer program. On the other hand, Economy Class flights can be found on Aeroplan.
Secondly, the Air France « La Première » seat is only open to Flying Blue elite members. Therefore, you need to have Flying Blue points and status!
The best time to book these programs is also when the award tickets go on sale.
The transfer partners will be essential to take off on the wings of some airlines with a glass of Champagne.
Finally, there are carriers, such as Lufthansa, that release First Class award tickets in the two weeks before the flight for partners. Yet their frequent flyer program members can get their hands on these coveted seats long before Aeroplan members can.
Tips for Booking Early
Understand How to Use Two Calendars
In order to find the best time to book a points ticket, you often have to play with two calendars:
that of the company operating the flight
that of the company with which you plan on using the points
Although Aeroplan‘s calendar opens 355 days in advance, you’ll have to wait before you can book a flight on Etihad Airways, since it’s schedule is only available 330 days before departure.
$1,700ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class="checkmarks"]This metal credit card is the Best Premium Aeroplan Credit Card in Canada.
For a limited time, you can earn up to 150,000 Aeroplan points as a welcome bonus (an estimated $2,550 value).
With this Card you can earn:
3 points per dollar on purchases made with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
2 points per dollar for dining and food delivery purchases
1.25 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Also, as a Cardmember, you get many benefits such as:
Unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in North America
The first checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions
An Annual Worldwide Companion Pass
Exclusive benefits with Air Canada (Priority check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority Standby List)
The ability to earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Statuts Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in purchases charged to your Card.
Finally, you are covered with reliable insurance for your travels and purchases.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
With this welcome offer for American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how:
Earn 60,000 points after you spend $7,500 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in the 13th month
With this Amex Aeroplan Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2x the points on Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.
With this Amex Aeroplan Premium Card, you receive many Air Canada travel benefits, such as access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling. It’s the best Amex Aeroplan Card for frequent Air Canada flyers.
With this American Express Aeroplan Card, enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Annual fee
Primary card$599
Additional card$199
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
3xAir Canada flights
2xRestaurants
1.25xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,938
2nd Year Value$430
Card benefits
Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$400
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $1,000
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Taking Advantage of the Best Time to Book an Airline Ticket With Two Calendars
In my guide to Qatar Airways Qsuite, I detailed the multiple programs one can use to book this seat with points. The programs mentioned in the article are:
The best time to book the Qsuite is when the Qatar Airways calendar is released, which is 361 days in advance. Especially if your group would like to sit together in the four-person compartment.
By using Asia Miles points (360 days) versus Alaska Mileage Plan points (330 days), you get a 30-day head start on those coveted seats.
In addition to the best time to book a plane ticket, you should also consider the type of points you can earn, the number of points required for your destination and the price of taxes to be paid.
$1,700ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,700Total$1,700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Terms of the offer
Unlock special experiences with the newly designed metal Platinum Card
New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 25,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points when you charge $2,000 in purchases to your Card in the first three months of Cardmembership
Earn 3 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
You will have access to a $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit to use towards any single travel booking of $200 or more charged to your Platinum Card and made on www.americanexpress.ca/travel or through Platinum Card® Travel Service
Take full advantage of the American Express Global Lounge Collection™ which unlocks access to over 1200 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience
Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $550 USD at over 1,000 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities
Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport including security bypass, complimentary valet car service and discount car care and parking
You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts®, Radisson Hotel Group Hotels and Resorts, Hertz® and Avis®
As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information and Terms and Conditions, click the Apply now link. Conditions Apply
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply. American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of the information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
The Platinum Card® is the best premium card in Canada for travellers.
With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points:
70,000 points after charging $10,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
30,000 points when you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after your Cardmembership begins
With this Card, you get:
2 points per $1 on eligible dining and delivery purchases in Canada
2 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases charged to the Card
1 point per $1 on all other purchases charged to the Card
You can use your Membership Rewards® points in many ways:
Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, etc.
Transfer points to hotel partners, including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
And more!
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards® points to a partner loyalty program, you could earn up to:
100,000 Aeroplan points
100,000 Avios
100,000 Flying Blue Miles
120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:
$200 Annual Travel Credit
An annual meal credit of $200
A $100 statement credit for NEXUS membership
Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to more than 1,550 airport lounges in over 140 countries
Hilton Honors Gold status
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program
Last but not least, The Platinum Card® offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
Annual fee
Primary card$799
Additional card$250
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
2xTravel
2xRestaurants
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,482
2nd Year Value$470
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Card benefits
Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $1,000
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Best Flight Comparator Tools to Find the Best Plane Ticket Prices
Finding availability for award tickets can be complex, but thanks to powerful comparison tools, you can save an enormous amount of time. These tools also allow you to compare a multitude of flights across different points programs, so you can choose the one that’s best for you.
Roame is my tool of choice for maximizing the use of my points. Its user-friendly platform offers a real-time search, allowing you to quickly view flight availability with points across multiple loyalty programs. Roame stands out for its speed and customizable filters, which are essential for unearthing coveted award tickets, especially for high-season or business-class travel.
AwardFares is another invaluable tool, its overview simplifying the evaluation of availability over a period of time. Seats.aero is ideal for those looking for last-minute award seats or opportunities on specific routes. ExpertFlyer is also a powerful tool for monitoring flight loads. In fact, ExpertFlyer allows you to determine whether it’s worth waiting after a flight or not, since you can see whether the flight is already full or whether there are still seats available.
These platforms make the process of finding premium tickets easier and more efficient, even in circumstances of high demand.
Bottom Line
In the field of travel hacking, being able to book award tickets for the flights you want is very important. Since these seats are as limited as VIP show tickets, you need to know the best time to book.
$255ⓘMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Milesopedia first-year estimateⓘFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreⓘApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.
American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer
The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.
Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.
You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.
You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:
Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.
5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.
The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:
Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.
The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.
With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:
Category
Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)
5
Home food delivery
5
Restaurants and bars
5
Convenience stores
5
Streaming services
3
Service station
2
Transport
2
Travel
1
Other
1
That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.
The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.
Travel insurance
Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.
Rental car insurance
Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.
Mobile device insurance
Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.
Purchase protection and extended warranty
Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.
American Express Cobalt® Card fees
Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.
Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.
Legal
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Annual fee
Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0
Annual income required
Individual$0
Household$0
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
5xConvenience
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas & EV
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799
Transfer partners
AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
When to buy a plane ticket in 2025?
In 2025, the best time to book a flight with points is usually as soon as airlines open their booking calendar, often between 300 and 365 days in advance. Booking early, especially for popular destinations or during high-demand periods such as school vacations, can give you access to a wider choice of award tickets.
When is the best day to buy a plane ticket?
Although there is no specific day to guarantee the best price, some analyses suggest that the middle of the week, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, are often ideal for bargains, as airlines tend to launch and adjust their promotions at these times.
When are plane tickets cheaper?
Times of year to avoid are generally school vacations, public holidays and the summer months, as fares are often higher due to increased demand. On the other hand, travelling during off-peak seasons, such as between the beginning of the year and spring or autumn, can offer more affordable fares. However, these exact periods may vary according to the destination.
Aline, an experienced traveler and avid photographer, is an Avgeek, a foodie at heart and a mother to two children. An expert in credit cards & rewards programs, including Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, American Express Membership Rewards, CIBC Aventura, and RBC Avion, she uses points to travel affordably and save in daily life. Having explored all 7 continents and 83 countries, Aline shares her travel passion and insights to help others make the most of loyalty programs.
Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.