A common question among travelers is whether there is a best time or day to book a flight to save money. However, the best time to book flights depends on your location and the timing of your journey. Generally, the day you book your ticket won’t impact the price as much as the day of the week you’re traveling.
For a long time, there has been a belief that costs rise on weekends and that tourists should wait until Tuesday to book their flights, but how true is that? Let me tell you, the best day to book a flight is whenever you find a good offer. The cheap flights can be found anytime, any day of the week.
Booking a flight is more stressful than paying taxes or going to the dentist. But fret not, I have written this post to find the best time and day of the week to book a flight with money-saving tips.
What is the Best Day of the Week to Book a Flight?
There is no particular day of the week that confirms the lowest flight prices. However, many people believe Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to book flights. But, that’s not true.
Flight prices fluctuate based on demand and other factors. Therefore, cheap flights are available any day of the week, based on the location, season, and time.
According to Google Flights, booking flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays instead of Saturdays or Sundays has saved (1.9%) over the past few years.
After analyzing data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation, I discovered that travelers may save an average of 8% by scheduling their domestic and international flights on Sundays instead of Fridays.
As per Google Flights, reserving tickets on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday can save you an average of 12% compared to flying on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
After examining the various reports or data on air ticket price fluctuation, we created a list of data. Below is the table of average air ticket costs and price changes with the week of the day.
| Day | Average Ticket Cost | Change From Average |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | $213.44 | -5.23% |
| Tuesday | $213.31 | -5.28% |
| Wednesday | $222.76 | -1.09% |
| Thursday | $222.21 | -1.33% |
| Friday | $238.47 | +5.89% |
| Saturday | $241.61 | +7.28% |
| Sunday | $224.66 | -0.24% |
Also Read: Do Airports Close or Open 24/7?
When Do Airlines Adjust Prices?
Airlines adjust their fares hourly to attract more consumers and fight their competitors. So, don’t expect to get the best flight fare just because you booked on Tuesday.
Also, Airlines choose ticket prices based on historical data, booking trends, and complex algorithms. The demand, season, and competitor pricing also impact the price fluctuations. Knowing these facts can help travelers to save money on flight tickets.
Also Read: 10 Best Airlines to Fly to Germany
What Time of the Day Should I Book the Flights?
Finding the ideal time to buy plane tickets may have a huge impact on travel costs. The best deals are found in the early morning or late evening since fewer people are booking at these times.
However, because of the flexible pricing approaches, the cost of air travel can change at any time. Therefore, there is no need to search for flights during a particular time of day.
You can set up price alerts for a flight to receive real-time updates of price changes. Moreover, Expedia’s alerts use data to guess whether prices will drop over time.
According to Expedia’s Air Travel Hacks report:
- Domestic Flights: Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report says, it’s best to book the regional ticket about 28 days before a trip. People who book during this period can save up to 24% compared to those who wait until the last minute.
- International Flights: When traveling internationally, experts suggest planning even more in advance. For international tickets, it’s ideal to buy tickets 2-3 months before leaving, which may save roughly 10% compared to those who purchased earlier.
Tips For Saving Money on Flight Tickets
Below, we will discuss tips for finding affordable prices and the cheapest flights. Remember these strategies before purchasing your flight tickets.
1. Book Your Flight Early
You should secure your flight seats 3 months before leaving, but not too early more than 5 months. For the biggest discount, domestic flights should be booked at least one month before travel. To save more money, you should book flights at least three months in advance, for international flights.
2. Use Fare Comparison Tools
Use Google Flights, Kayak, Expedia, or Hopper to track flights and receive real-time alerts as costs reduce. Google Flights may also notify you when it predicts prices to fall based on historical data for your chosen place. If the tourist books their flight straight on Expedia, Expedia’s Price Drop Protection will refund them if flight prices drop after purchase.
3. Avoid Peak Travel Times
Booking early morning flights rather than afternoon flights or peak hours reduces your chances of experiencing delays. Traveling off-peak may save you a lot of money on airlines and accommodations. Expedia research suggests that there are fewer cancellations and delays overall during off-peak hours.
4. Cheapest Day To Fly
Knowing the cheapest days to fly can help you save even more. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are the least expensive days to fly. In contrast, Friday and Saturday are the most expensive days of the week to fly. Most of the time, weekdays are cheaper than weekends, especially for international trips.
5. Set Price Alerts
Use Expedia and Google Flights to set up price alerts that will tell you when airline rates fall considerably. And alert you when their technology determines the cheapest day to book.
6. Earn Airlines Rewards
Sign up for frequent flyer programs that allow you to use the miles, frequent flyer miles, or travel points you earn by flying and other ways to build a balance of valuable airline miles.
Also Read: Can You Sleep At Airports?
Conclusion
The belief that buying tickets on a specified day, such as Tuesday, assures the lowest prices is false. In truth, amazing flight discounts can appear on any day of the week. To book a flight, usually, one to three months before departure is the most ideal period.
It is essential to study pricing trends and execute clever booking strategies to discover the cheapest prices For further guidance on traveling, go to the appropriate airline’s official website or local office.
FAQ’s
Sunday is the best day instead of other days to book a flight, as per recent reports.
To get the best fare deals, the best time to book domestic and international flights is around 28 days and 60 days before departure, respectively.
However, there are no assurances for low cost. But yes, sometimes flight prices may go down at night due to low search activity.
Fridays and Saturdays are the most expensive days to book a flight.
It is sure to be a big mistake to book flight seats too early or too late. Domestic and international plane tickets should be bought about 28 days and 60 days before departing.
No, airfare prices don’t drop closer to departure. In contrast, airfare prices usually increase as the departure date approaches.
Tuesday is not the cheapest day to purchase flight tickets; the best day to buy tickets is whenever you find a good offer.
Weekdays are the cheapest day to reserve a flight instead of other days of the week, especially Friday.
