COLUMBIA (WACH) -- If you haven't bought tickets yet for your holiday vacations, it's not too late. In fact, you may get cheaper airfares than people who booked months ago.
The cost to fly is up, but there are still times you can find the right price. It's all about knowing when to buy your ticket.
"Six to eight weeks out is probably not the best time to buy airfare," explains Travelzoo's Gabe Saglie. "At about four weeks out, there is a little bit of what we call a 'sweet spot', where airfare does tend to soften a little bit, and then airfare tends to go up again about two weeks before your flight."
If you can wait until the week you want to travel, it's common for airlines to offer big deals to fill the remaining empty seats.
"Airlines will release, usually on Tuesdays, reduced airfare for later that week or into that weekend," says Saglie.
Travelers can also use social media to keep from burning a hole in their wallets. Facebook and Twitter typically provide deals "just for friends".
"We know now that a lot of last minute sales are released exclusively through some of these social media sites," says Saglie. "If you are a friend of that particular airline, you have better odds at getting that last minute fare from them."
Flyers beware.- waiting to the last minute can cost you if the deals fly by and you're not onboard.
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