When to purchase August flights to Scotland

This is one of those crystal ball questions where there are so many variables. Some people have success booking a flight now and then if prices go down, they do a new booking and cancel the initial flight, or contact the airline directly for a credit. A search of this forum will give you some examples of how that works (or doesn't.) Keep looking at flight costs and schedules, so you'll know when you see a deal. IMO I'd rather book early and know I have a flight I can live with. Good luck, and enjoy that tour. We took it in 2024 and LOVED it.

Totally a crystal ball, but I recently bought Aug3-Aug29 tickets ( SEA>INV / LON>SEA ) for about $830pp. They were actually (oddly) cheaper flying into Inverness than they were London, but I bought those dates because the tickets were cheap, not because I needed to be there during those dates (we are not staying long in Edinburgh because of Fringe Festival crowds/prices, bummer but oh well). If you can be a little flexible with your dates, you might be able to find deals right now.

I'm guessing flights are booking fast for August arrivals in Edinburgh because of the Edinburgh Festival. You might trying flying into Glasgow, which is only an hour from Edinburgh. Your RS Scotland guidebook will have information on transportation from GLA.

We made our flight reservations for Scotland this September last month. I periodically check in to look for changes and see that they just keep increasing in price. There was a post on here yesterday about getting credits back for US based airlines if prices drop so you might look for that post. I’m sorry but I doubt anyone is going to be able predict when you’re going to get the lowest airfare.

Edinburgh is a hot destination— particularly during August as the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe Festival, and the Military Tatoo dates all overlap during August 1-25. I would look at hotel rates so you know what you’re up against in that regard as well. They start at about $400 per night in the city center. You can check www.Skyscanner.com for flights out of SFO and LAX. There are a few flights under $1,000.
I would start looking at airfares now and pull the trigger by March at the latest. Prices are not likely to decrease, unfortunately. You could also sign up for Google Flight alerts.

Summer is definitely peak travel season, so flight prices tend to be higher than in spring. However, waiting too long to book could be risky since flights for popular destinations like Scotland in August can fill up quickly. Generally, the best time to book international flights is about 3-6 months in advance, as airlines often release deals during this window. I’d recommend setting up price alerts on platforms like Google Flights or Skyscanner to monitor price trends. If you see a fare that seems reasonable for the season, it’s usually best to lock it in rather than wait. Hope this helps, and have an amazing trip to Scotland! If you want to know about Barber you can visit http://www.royalclippers.ca

Where is your departure airport? What class are you traveling?
I'm in San Diego and we have reluctantly been going to LAX. Are you close to either SFO or LAX? We prefer business class, and the price difference between San Diego compared toLAX is half.
As advised, set up Google Alerts. You can track daily price fluctuations. Also, you can look at prices every day of a month. Sometimes two days difference saves significant money. You should get a feel for prices after researching for a few weeks. Google Flights also gives price history.
Note, always book directly with the airlines.
I think British Airways still has the AARP discount, check the AARP website. Any age can join, and it's about $20.
And, getting an airline's credit card can open up discounts.
Good luck to us all with these prices!

Thank you to everyone for all the great advice - I appreciate it!

British Airways is offering good one stops to Glasgow in August from SFO for low $800s.