Last week, a patient who came to the hospital shared their frustration after their appointment. They were shocked to find that round-trip tickets to visit their parents in Korea for Chuseok had skyrocketed compared to usual prices. In fact, I hear this kind of story several times a year in the consultation room. Each time, I tell them the same thing: when it comes to airfare, prevention is key. Just like it's better to take action before symptoms arise rather than waiting until you're in pain, the same goes for tickets.

The Chuseok holiday in 2026 falls from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday, September 26. The issue is that ticket prices during this period can increase two to three times compared to normal, but data shows that buying too early isn't always the best strategy.

According to research from the travel industry that has tracked ticket booking times, the so-called "Goldilocks zone" for international flights is between two months and eight months before departure. Among these, routes to Asia and Oceania are recommended to be booked between 60 and 180 days in advance, which is roughly two to six months ahead. In fact, statistics show that the average lowest price for international flights from Incheon is found when tickets are purchased about 21 weeks, or five months, in advance. Common advice is to allow an extra month or two during peak holiday seasons.

On the other hand, domestic flights in the U.S. are a bit different. An analysis of 9.17 million airfare prices found that the average price for domestic flights is lowest when purchased 30 days before departure, with the best range being about three weeks to two and a half months in advance. Since the optimal timing for international and domestic flights differs, it's a mistake to assume you can always wait until the last minute for flights to Korea.

What you really need to be cautious about is last-minute purchases. The same study found that buying tickets within a week of departure can cost an average of 59 percent more. Conversely, buying too early—more than 280 days in advance—also diminishes any price advantage, so there's no need to rush. Ultimately, the key is to avoid extremes and stick to a reasonable timeframe.

My personal principle is this: for fixed-date holidays like Chuseok or Seollal, I set price alerts on airline apps at least five months in advance, and from three months out, I regularly check prices and hit the purchase button as soon as I find a good deal. After all, managing finances is a matter of timing. When the whole family gathers after a long time, I believe it's much better to save on airfare and give that extra money as spending money instead.