The best fare for a particular route for travel on a given day can occur at any time. The talk about 45 days out, or purchasing Wednesday just after midnight, or never buy tickets on the weekend are all myths. I've seen the best fares offered at 331 days out in some cases and 30 days in advance in others. The best way to secure a good fare is to start looking 331 days in advance of your travel date and check everyday (several times a day, if possible). Knowing what the "standard" rates are for a route allows you to jump on a good fare when it appears.

If you are booking closer in and unfamiliar with prices on a route, it is more difficult to ascertain a good fare from an ordinary one. One trick is to check what the fare would be if you booked travel for 331 days out. Forget for the moment that it is not when you want to travel. It will give you a good idea of what the "standard" fare is. If the fare for your travel date is the same as the 331 day fare, it's very likely that you should wait. If the fare for your travel date is higher, you probably already missed the good fares.