: They traveled in late September—the "shoulder season." The weather was still beautiful, but because school had started, flight demand had plummeted along with the prices.

Their trip taught them that timing isn't just about the day you click "buy," but the day you choose to fly:

The best time to buy a flight is generally for domestic trips and 2 to 8 months for international travel . While the "cheapest day" to book is often cited as Sunday, the most significant savings come from choosing mid-week departure dates like Tuesday or Wednesday. The Tale of the Two Travelers

In the end, as they sat on a beach in Lagos, Elias realized that the best time to buy a flight wasn't a secret ritual, but a mix of and calendar flexibility .