Booking windows, connections, passports and long-haul comfort: the practical side of overseas flights from the US and Canada.
There is no magic day to buy, but some patterns hold for most international flights from the USA. Fares for long-haul trips are often more reasonable when you book a few months ahead rather than in the last few weeks, and peak periods such as summer in Europe, the winter holidays and major local festivals sell out early. Shoulder seasons, the weeks either side of peak, often bring lower fares and smaller crowds. Each of our destination guides notes when fares there tend to be lowest.
The simplest approach: decide your travel window, watch fares on your route for a while with the search box above, and book when the price looks fair rather than waiting for a perfect moment that may not come.
International flights cost what they do because of a handful of factors you can partly control:
Many overseas flights involve at least one connection, often through an airline hub in the US, Canada, Europe, the Gulf or Asia. A few principles help:
Check documents before you buy, not at the airport. Many countries require your passport to be valid for some time beyond your stay, commonly six months, and some require blank pages. Airlines can refuse boarding if your documents do not meet the destination's rules. The State Department's country pages on travel.state.gov list passport validity, visa and entry requirements for US citizens.
More countries now ask visitors who do not need a visa to apply online for an electronic travel authorization before flying. The United Kingdom, for example, requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for US and Canadian visitors. Rules change, so check close to departure, and enroll in STEP to receive safety updates. Returning to the US often? Global Entry can speed up re-entry.
On an overnight flight, sleep is everything. Overseas flights with beds, meaning lie-flat seats, are found in business class and first class on most long-haul routes. They cost considerably more than economy, but fares vary widely by route and season; see our guides to cheaper business class flights and first class deals. Premium economy is a middle ground with more legroom and recline but no flat bed.
In economy, choose your seat early, consider an aircraft with a newer cabin when the schedule allows, drink plenty of water, move around during the flight and try to sleep on the destination's timetable. Check the FAA PackSafe rules for batteries and power banks in your carry-on.
Alliances such as Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam make connections between member airlines smoother, and bags are normally checked through to your final destination on a single ticket. For itineraries that start or end in the United States, DOT rules require one set of baggage rules and fees to apply for the whole trip, generally decided by the first airline marketing the itinerary. On separate tickets, each airline's own allowance applies, and the strictest one can catch you out. Check the allowance for every flight before you pack.
Our destination guides cover airports, timing and local tips: Europe, Asia, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Canada, Africa, the Middle East and Australia and the South Pacific. Or browse every destination. For complex multi-country trips, a travel advisor can quote the whole itinerary.
Ready to compare? Use the search box at the top of this page, or compare flights on KAYAK.
For many long-haul routes, booking a few months ahead gives the best mix of choice and price, and peak seasons should be booked earlier. Watch fares on your route and book when the price looks fair.
Fares depend on competition, demand and taxes. Large hub airports with several airlines and nonstop service often have more competitive fares than smaller airports, so it can pay to compare nearby hubs.
It depends on the country. Many require validity for several months beyond your stay, commonly six months. Check each country's page on travel.state.gov before you book.
Lie-flat beds are found in business class and first class on most long-haul international routes. Premium economy offers more space but not a flat bed.
On a single ticket, bags are usually checked to your final destination, and for trips to or from the US one set of baggage rules applies. On separate tickets you normally collect and re-check bags.