Want to make sure you’re getting the best price for your flight? We’ve got the tool you need that’s just the ticket!

First of all, when is the best time to book a flight – at the last minute or as far in advance as possible? It all depends on where you’re going. For European breaks, it often pays to book a month or two before you travel. But for trips further afield you’ll usually find savings if you bag your flight at least six months ahead of departure.

The findings offer useful guidance, but shouldn’t be seen as foolproof. Flight prices fluctuate wildly and the best time to book will vary depending on when you travel. Waiting until the last minute to book a peak-season flight to Malaga, for example, could be disastrous.

Top tips for finding cheap flights

1. If you know you have to travel at a busy time of year book as early as you can.
2. If you know you are going to travel off-peak, you can, if you want, relax and leave your booking until a month or two before departure. But you might as well book as soon as you know your dates.
3. Whenever you travel, try to time your flights for quieter days and times. Flying out towards the end of the week (on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays) is likely to be the cheapest. But whatever, you do, don’t fly out on a Sunday.
4. For long-haul flights invest in a call to a specialist travel agent who knows how to make the best of special offers.