Blake Hall
Summer is coming.
Oh, wait. It’s here!
As airlines lower their prices for the 2016 summer season, a family vacation to Caesar’s Palace and rest of the bustling Las Vegas strip is more possible than ever. As any frequent flier knows, however, where you live and when you buy determines how much you pay.
Troops stationed at a military base can’t control the where, but they can change the when.
Lifehacker and Vegas.com looked at two years of flight data to determine the ideal day of the week and timeframe you should buy a plane ticket to Las Vegas in every state. Lifehacker created a handy infographic to show when you should purchase tickets in each region.
The military community tends to be clustered in specific states, so we decided to take Lifehacker’s tips and apply them to every military base with a population above 100,000.
Fort Bragg – North Carolina
Home of the 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg has the largest population of active duty troops, civilian personnel, military retirees and military families in the country. In total, that adds up to roughly 235,000 people! Fort Bragg residents should purchase their tickets to Las Vegas at last six weeks in advance. The best day of the week to book a flight is Friday.
Fort Campbell – Kentucky/Tennessee
Residents from Fort Campbell, an Army installation straddling the Kentucky and Tennessee state lines, have to act quickly. The optimal window for getting plane tickets is ten to eight weeks in advance. Again, Fridays are the best day to book.
Fort Hood – Texas
Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post in the United States. In addition to housing two full armored divisions, Fort Hood and its surrounding area is well situated to visit Vegas for a bargain. Residents should book tickets seven to nine weeks in advance. The best prices are available on Sundays.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord – Washington
Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Bases join into a single Air Force base in 2010. Now their populations are consolidated into a single community. Personnel and family members living in near JBLM should book eight to nine weeks ahead on a Thursday.
Fort Benning – Georgia
This military base covers a tri-community area including Fort Benning, Columbus and Phenix City, Alabama. Residents from any of these cities can count on getting cheap flights six weeks in advance on a Friday.
If your state wasn’t included in the list above, check out the Lifehacker infographic for guidance.
Need help booking a hotel room after you have your flight locked down? Start here and verify your identity through Troop ID to get a military discount.