Cheapest Days to Book Flights for Your Next Trip

 

When it comes to booking your flight, the day of the week truly matters. Based on travel industry research and booking platforms' insights:

•             Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to book flights.

•             Airfare tends to be lowest between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday night, when airlines release fare discounts and competitors match prices.

•             According to studies from Expedia and Hopper, travelers can save up to 10–15% by booking flights on a Tuesday compared to the weekend.

Why Midweek Booking Works:

•             Airlines often launch sales on Monday evenings.

•             Competitors respond by lowering fares on Tuesday morning.

•             By Tuesday afternoon, many discounted fares are live.

•             Fares usually remain low until late Wednesday or early Thursday, before rising again.

 

Cheapest Days to Fly: Maximize Your Fare Savings

 

 

Beyond booking, the day you choose to travel can dramatically impact airfare.

Fly Midweek for the Lowest Prices:

•             Tuesdays and Wednesdays are consistently the cheapest days to fly.

•             These are considered off-peak days with less business travel and lower leisure demand.

•             Saturday flights can also be affordable, especially for return trips.

Avoid These Expensive Travel Days:

•             Fridays and Sundays – High demand from weekend travelers pushes prices up.

•             Mondays – Popular for business travel, leading to inflated rates.

•             Public holidays and school breaks – Prices spike due to increased demand.

 

When to Book for Domestic and International Flights

Timing matters — not just the day of the week, but how far in advance you book.

For Domestic Flights:

•             Book 1 to 3 months in advance.

•             Best fares often appear around 6–8 weeks before departure.

•             Set up fare alerts with tools like Google Flights and Hopper.

For International Flights:

•             Book 2 to 6 months ahead.

•             For peak seasons (like summer or Christmas), book at least 6–8 months in advance.

•             Midweek booking still applies — lock in international deals on Tuesdays or Wednesdays when possible.

 

Tools to Track the Best Days and Prices

Using the right tools can help you automatically identify the cheapest days to book and fly:

•             Google Flights: Offers a price calendar and fare trend graphs.

•             Skyscanner: "Whole Month" and "Cheapest Month" search features.

•             Hopper: Predicts the best time to book and notifies you when prices drop.

•             Kayak Price Alerts: Sends daily or weekly price updates for selected routes.

 

Real Examples: Cheapest Booking Days in Action

Let’s break it down with a real-world example.

Route: New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX)

Booking Date: Tuesday afternoon

Travel Dates Compared:

•             Wednesday Departure: 2100

•             Friday Departure: 330

•             Sunday Departure: 355

•             Tuesday Departure: $198

By simply shifting your departure from Sunday to Tuesday, you could save over $150 round trip.

 

Booking in Advance vs. Last-Minute Deals

While last-minute deals sound tempting, they rarely beat planned midweek bookings.

•             Last-minute bookings are usually more expensive — airlines know urgent travelers will pay more.

•             Exceptions occur during flash sales or unsold inventory dumps — often released midweek.

•             For best results, plan ahead and monitor fares regularly.

 

Bonus Tips for Getting the Cheapest Flights

To make the most of booking days and flight days:

•             Set up multiple price alerts on different platforms.

•             Book flights on a Tuesday or Wednesday, ideally in the afternoon or evening.

•             Fly midweek (Tuesday or Wednesday) to reduce fare costs.

•             Search using incognito mode to avoid dynamic price increases.

•             Use a flexible date calendar to find the cheapest combinations.

•             Clear your browser cookies or use a VPN to access geo-based price variations.

 

Avoiding Extra Costs

Scoring a cheap flight is great, but don’t let hidden fees eat away at your savings.

•             Avoid weekend or holiday surcharges.

•             Check baggage policies — pack light to dodge high baggage fees.

•             Book early to lock in seat selection, meals, or upgrades at a discount.

 

Booking smart and flying strategically means more savings for your next adventure. The best part? You don’t need complicated tools — just the right information and timing. Plan your trip wisely, use midweek advantages, and enjoy cheaper flights every single time.