Fareward

Guide · checked 2026-10-11

Do Flight Prices Go Down? When Fares Drop (and How to Get the Difference Back)

Quick answer

Yes, flight prices can go down, both before and after you book. Airlines reprice seats constantly. On average, though, prices tend to bottom out in a window well before departure and rise as the date gets close: Google's 2026 analysis found US domestic fares lowest about 39 days before departure on average, in a typical 22–57 day range.

So waiting until the last minute usually isn't a winning strategy. But if you book inside that window, there's still a chance the fare on your exact flight drops afterward, and on many airline-direct fares you can claim the difference as credit.

When do flight prices drop?

Nobody outside the airline knows exactly when a given fare will change, and anyone promising otherwise is guessing. What the public data does show:

  • Fares tend to be lowest weeks out, not days out. Domestic averages bottom out around 39 days before departure; international around 89 days, in a wide 50–133 day range.
  • The day of the week you book barely matters. About 1.4% between the cheapest and most expensive booking day in Google's 2026 analysis.
  • Sales and soft demand cause drops. When a flight isn't filling as expected, or an airline runs a sale, cheaper fare buckets can open on flights that are already on sale.
  • Google Flights flags some of this. It shows tips like "prices are unlikely to drop" or "prices are likely to increase," based on historical trends, and notes there's always a chance prices won't behave as predicted.

Do flight prices drop closer to the date?

Usually not. Averages rise as departure gets close, because the cheapest fare buckets sell out and late bookers tend to be less price-sensitive. There are exceptions on routes with unsold seats, but betting on a last-minute drop is risky. Google itself advises against waiting to book if a trip is only a couple of weeks away.

What happens if the price drops after you book?

This is where most people lose money: they never check again. On many US airlines, if you booked a standard fare directly with the airline, you can change to the same flight at the new, lower price and keep the difference, usually as credit for future travel:

  • Southwest: no change fees; on Choice fares the difference becomes a flight credit, and refundable fares get it back to the original payment. Basic must upgrade to change.
  • Delta: on Main Classic and above, changing to a lower fare produces an eCredit for the difference. Delta Main Basic generally can't be changed.
  • United, American and Alaska: standard economy and higher usually qualify; basic economy (and Alaska's Saver) usually doesn't.

Full step-by-step guides:

How to catch a drop yourself

  1. Book directly with the airline, in a fare type that allows changes.
  2. Track the exact flight. Google Flights lets you track a specific flight and emails you when its price changes significantly.
  3. Compare like for like: same flights, same fare type, same number of travelers.
  4. Reprice through the airline's "change flight" flow, selecting the same flight at the lower price.
  5. Save the confirmation showing the credit amount and expiration date.

Should you wait for prices to drop before booking?

If you're inside the booking window and the price looks typical or low, book. You'll lock in a fare within the usual range, and on a changeable fare you keep the upside if it drops later. Waiting risks the cheapest seats selling out.

Already booked? Let Fareward keep watching

Forward your airline confirmation to [email protected]. Fareward watches the fare on your exact flights and fare type. If it drops and your fare rules allow it, Fareward files with the airline as your agent, without needing your airline password, and the savings land as airline credit in your name. It covers United, Delta, American, Alaska, Southwest and Hawaiian.

Watching is free. Fareward takes 20% of the savings, only after a credit lands. If the fare never drops, or your fare can't be repriced, you pay nothing. Because the savings usually come back as airline credit rather than cash, it works best for people who'll fly that airline again.

FAQ

Do flight prices go down after you book? Sometimes. Fares are repriced constantly, and the fare on your flight can drop after purchase. On many airline-direct standard fares you can reprice and keep the difference as credit.

Do flight prices drop closer to the departure date? Usually not. Google's data shows domestic fares are lowest on average about 39 days out and tend to rise closer to departure.

When do flight prices drop? There's no reliable public schedule. Drops come from sales and soft demand. On average, prices are lowest in a window weeks before departure.

Can I get a refund if my flight price drops? Usually as airline credit rather than cash, on standard fares booked directly with the airline. Refundable fares may return the difference to your card. Basic economy usually doesn't qualify.

How can I know if my flight price drops? Track the specific flight on Google Flights or a similar tool, or forward your confirmation to Fareward, which watches the fare and files with the airline when it drops.

Related guides

Sources (checked October 11, 2026)