The less you spend on your travel, the more you can spend at your destination on sightseeing and dining out. So, when is the best time to book your flight?
There are various methods to save money on travel. These include keeping your travel dates flexible and booking your airport parking in advance. Keeping your travel day flexible is a hack that can be implemented to get cheaper tickets. Booking your spot early means you get to park for off-season rates.
Which are the cheapest days to fly?
Market trends suggest that the cheapest days to fly are often in the middle of the week (Wednesdays), with Fridays and Sundays being the most expensive. The trend suggests that Saturdays are cheaper for domestic travel. So, it becomes more important when you board the plane than when you buy your tickets.
What does flying on each day of the week look like?
- Sunday: Most expensive day to travel
- Monday: Cheaper than Sundays, preferable among business travelers
- Tuesday: Helps to avoid the early weekend rush; a cheaper alternative for domestic flights
- Wednesday: Cheapest days for domestic and international flights
- Thursday: Can be less expensive when compared to weekends
- Friday: Expensive day for international flights
- Saturday: Cheapest day for domestic flights
When is the cheapest time to fly?
Early morning and late-night flights are typically less expensive than noon flights. For instance, an airline ticket that costs $120 at 7 a.m. on a Saturday can cost you $270 for a flight at 1:57 p.m. on the same day, way more than the cost of the early morning flight.
If you are planning a trip and want to save money, the day you book your flight might play a huge role in the cost of your air tickets. While it is not an exact science, there are certain general rules to follow that can assist you in making an informed and educated decision. Also, you may save money by changing your flight time and flying out at daybreak on Tuesday, but there are other ways to save money on flights.
When to book flights for the 2026 holidays?
According to Google Flight data, here is how you can plan your holidays for 2026 and get the lowest prices guaranteed. As a rule of thumb, 21 to 52 days prior to departure is the ideal timeline to book your tickets. A 38-day mark is what the Google analysis suggests, for the best price. However, for international travel, the best rates can be found 50 to 101 days before your intended date of travel.
Here is when you should ideally book for 2026’s holidays.
Spring Break (March/April): The ideal time is one month to two months (33-59 days) in advance, and the average cheapest time is 44 days before the travel date.
Summer Break (July/August): The advance booking window is best before 13-43 days, and 21 days is when you can expect the lowest prices.
Thanksgiving: For your Thanksgiving holiday, it is better to book 26-59 days before the holiday. In early October, ideally book around 45 days before Thanksgiving.
Christmas/Winter Holidays: Soon after the Thanksgiving plans, you can plan for Christmas break. For cheaper rates, you should start looking for flights 36-72 days in advance. You can expect the cheapest rates around 58 days before the holiday.
Tips to save money on flights
- Your travel dates should be flexible –Arriving a few days early or departing a few days later than intended may result in cost savings.
- Avoid popular dates and times of year – Airfares are higher during the summer, when most people go on holiday, and just before and after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Think about connecting flights – Connecting flights are frequently less expensive than nonstop trips. Weigh your savings against the added travel time, increased chances of losing your bags, and the possibility of missing a connecting flight.
- Start your shopping early – If you’re going to a popular place, such as Hawaii, in July, start looking at options in March.
- Participate in airline frequent flyer programs – Members can earn points for future travel and receive fare savings.
- Get a credit card with airline rewards – Look for one that offers an introductory sign-up bonus in the form of points or miles for spending a particular amount on the card within a certain time frame. You might be able to make enough money to cover the cost of a plane ticket.
- Keep an eye out for the extras – Examine the fine print of airfare offers for hidden fees. For example, fees for checking baggage and changing flights can quickly add up.
