My biggest observation post COVID for booking international flights is that it is now a minimum requirement to book 6 months in advance.
While I could get away with looking for a flight 3-4 months prior to booking a trip back to India pre-2020, the within-6-months penalty at the moment is wild* – especially during school holidays of any kind.
My guess is that it will take a year or two before the backlog is cleared. It is understandable – families are making up for 2 years apart. But, until (and if) that happens, if you know when and where you’re headed, book early. It is likely going to save you a lot of money.
*I had to book us on a bizarre 3 stop journey for our next trip with many hours of transit – while still paying a ludicrous price. Good luck to us. I’m focused on fixing forward for 2024…
