When’s the Cheapest Day to Fly? Chris Caggiano March 23, 2023 Budget Travel, general, Travel Tips When you’re looking for cheap flights, there are no guarantees, but there are certain guidelines you can follow in your search to get the best possible price. In the past, travelers were advised to shop for flights on a Tuesday or Wednesday based on the assumption that since fewer people book flights on those days, prices would drop. Nowadays, research has shown that airfares increase and decrease throughout the week, with no one day offering consistently lower prices than any other day. But with a little bit a research — and a whole lotta luck — you can create your dream vacation without breaking the bank. In order to book the cheapest flights, it’s not so much when you buy as when you fly. The day and time of your departure will have a significant effect on the price. Other factors, namely seasonal developments at your destination and the holiday rush, are also important to consider in the quest for obtaining the cheapest airfare. Best day to book a flight? As we said, this doesn’t really exist. OK, but how far in advance should you book? Is there a sweet spot? You should definitely avoid last-minute bookings, of course. But if you book too far in advance, will you be missing out on fare wars and “clearance” sales? The answers to these questions are varied but the long and short of it is constant vigilance. Again , airfares are incredibly fluid. Because of what’s known as a dynamic pricing model, ticket prices fluctuate constantly, based mostly on demand at any particular time. Sometimes customers have even been able to score big deals due to mistake fares, errors in airline ticketing systems that can save fliers thousands of dollars. While these types of deals are impossible to predict, generally travel experts suggest booking your flight 21 to 60 days before your trip. During this period, airlines are more likely to try to fill as many seats as possible, giving you the chance to take advantage of a great deal. Best day to fly for the cheapest fares? In a typical week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are typically the best days to fly for travelers seeking the cheapest fares, at least on domestic flights. While it is important to once again note that airfare is fluid and deals can pop up on any day, a study by Google Flights determined that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday flights offer cuts of upwards of 24 percent. While there are many reasons for this, it mostly comes down to fewer people flying on these days. Vacationers usually leave on Thursdays and Fridays and return on Sundays. Likewise, fliers heading out on business trips typically leave on Mondays, thereby encouraging airlines to offer discounts on less traveled days. While models differ on international flights, most experts advise choosing flights for midweek between Tuesday and Thursday for the best deals. While deals on international flights are not as strong as deals on domestic flights, travelers will nonetheless be able to save about 12 percent on midweek flights compared to flights on Sunday, the most expensive day for international flights. Best times to fly for the cheapest fares? Just as certain days have better prices, so too do times of the day. When it comes to scheduling the time of your departure, it is best to remember that flights leaving in the midmorning or late afternoon are usually the busiest. Therefore, by virtue of the law of supply and demand, these flights will be the most expensive. Travelers hoping to find a cheap fare must hence look to flights that are not as popular, namely ones that leave in the early morning. Since most travelers do not want to be inconvenienced by heading to the airport at the break of dawn, airlines are willing to offer great deals for fliers who are willing to take one of the earlier flights of the day. For international travel, late night red-eye flights are also a great option for fliers looking to save money. When not to fly Budget-minded travelers should also bear in mind that there are certain times of the year that they should really consider a no-fly zone. Obviously, you should avoid the holidays and check for other special events at their destinations, such as a championship game or a major convention. Peak tourism season usually lasts from mid-May to early September, leading to substantial price hikes during these times. Travelers looking to score deals should instead schedule their trips during the shoulder seasons, late spring and the end of August to early October, when fewer people are setting out for their vacations. Likewise, flights departing for major destinations during the December holidays and spring break can also skyrocket in cost. Booking your trip outside of these events will not only allow you save money on airfare, it will also help you avoid crowds during your time off. You Might Also Like: 7 Little-Known Ways to Save on Your Next Flight Also keep in mind… Outside of day and time, there are several other factors to consider when looking to book the cheapest flight. Tools like Google Flights allow you to set price alerts for everything from your intended departure day to your destination, alerting you the minute a special deal might pop up. Being flexible with your travel days is another great way to score deals. While leaving a day or two before your intended departure might be a bit inconvenient, it could end up saving you hundreds of dollars. Having a layover or arriving at a smaller airport at your destination could also help you save money. Additionally, sometimes finding the best deal requires you to be open with where you want to head for your trip. Rather than having your heart set on just one particular destination, pick out several spots and see which one offers the best deal. Or you can fly to an airport that’s further out from your destination. Even with a car rental, you still might be saving money. Do you have any money-saving travel tips that you’d like to share? Tell us about them in the comments below!
