As the Travel Editor for CBS News , people expect that I spend weeks, even months, researching the process and logistics of travel. And I do. + But what about airfares? I only spend minutes. It’s not just that I understand what makes a reasonable or crazy fare for each route. I also know WHEN to book. + There is a science to airfare: The day, time of day , and the time of the month that you book matter. + The number one mistake I see most travelers make is to book too early. Unless you are planning travel for high-traffic days, like Christmas or July 4, you stand the best chance for the lowest possible fare 45 days out for domestic travel and 60 days out for international. + Outside of that 45-day window most airline computers aren’t programmed to give you any kind of a deal. It’s all about computer modeling—the airline knows, for example, how many people flew on Flight 405 to Cleveland last February, and in February of 2012 as well. They...
