Like the workings of the Bermuda Triangle, figuring out the cheapest day to book flights has been an age-old mystery. Travel enthusiasts have long been trying to decode the answer, with rumors about airline pricing systems and airfare discounts fueling the fire. But do these rumors hold any substance?
We know with certainty that not all days are created equal, with some fetching back much cheaper fares than others. So what’s the secret formula? When is the cheapest time to fly?
Flight prices can depend on many factors, and there’s no hard and fast rule. But if your travel dates are flexible, here are some tricks to help you score some savings.
Table of Contents
- The Cheapest Day of the Week to Book Flights
- The Cheapest Month to Book Flights
- Booking Flights on Black Friday
- Airline Specific Deal Days
- The Best Time to Book Flights
- Let Next Vacay Do the Hard Work for You
The Cheapest Day of the Week to Book Flights
1) Type of Travel
Depending on whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, your ticket price could change. Airlines often offer their lowest prices to leisure travelers months in advance. Airfares then go up closer to the travel time, as this is when business travelers (who are less driven by price) usually book.
2) Availability
The number of seats available matters too. In-demand flights that sell out fast may have price spikes when availability gets low. On the other hand, if you choose a less-traveled route, you’ll likely get your hands on discounted fares.
3) Real-time Demand
In addition to general supply and demand, airlines now have clever algorithms to adapt ticket prices based on what’s happening in real-time. This means costs can increase when bookings increase, and deals may become available after last-minute cancellations.
So while it’s true that certain airlines release their offers on the same day each week (such as Tuesday), the truth is, there are lots of other things to bear in mind too.
As a general guide, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are the cheapest days to book flights in and out of most countries. These midweek flights are typically cheaper because most leisure travelers prefer to travel on the weekend, meaning there’s much lower demand for seats during the week. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, it can still be good to travel on a Saturday, as vacationers typically fly out on Fridays—and some will take a long weekend, flying back in on Monday.
Therefore, the most expensive days to fly are generally Fridays. But remember, just like flights being cheaper on a Tuesday, it’s all subject to seasonality, availability, supply, and demand.
The Cheapest Month to Book Flights
As well as picking the right day to travel, you should also try to be flexible about your travel month if possible. The more flexible your travel dates, the more likely you are to find a great deal—and the cheapest month to travel will very much depend on your destination.
For instance, many European destinations are busiest from June to September, when the weather is warm and the beaches are at their best. Consequently, August is the most popular month for flights to Europe, which can mean inflated prices. To grab yourself a bargain, consider planning your vacation during the shoulder season instead. While the weather may be slightly cooler, you’ll benefit from fewer crowds, smaller queues for attractions, and less competition when booking top restaurants and bars.
For tropical destinations, such as the Caribbean, the cheapest months are in the low season when it’s wet and humid. The low season generally runs from May through August, and if you don’t mind a few rain showers, the discount travel could be worth it.
Traveling in the Monsoon Season
If you’re vacationing on a budget, don’t let monsoon season put you off. Afternoon downpours usually last an hour or two, and there’s still plenty of sunshine in between. With some luck, you’ll still get some dry days where you can explore the outdoors sans rain jacket.
By keeping your sightseeing itinerary flexible, you can typically get around the rain showers. If you’d rather not get wet, travel during the shoulder season (either just before monsoon season hits or just after). This is also better for certain seasonal destinations, such as islands. Some business owners close up shop during the off-season, meaning there’s less choice for dining and shopping.
Here are some countries that have a monsoon season:
- Cambodia (May – October)
- India (July – November)
- Indonesia (October – April)
- Maldives (May – December)
- Northern Australia (December – March)
- Northern Brazil (December – March)
- Sri Lanka (April – May and October – December)
- South and Southeast China (May – September)
- Taiwan (May – October)
- Thailand (May – October)
- Vietnam (May – December)
Booking Flights on Black Friday
Black Friday can be one of the cheapest days to book flights because many airlines have fantastic flight deals on this day. Not only that, but it’s also possible to purchase air miles to use at a future date. Here are some tips for getting more bang for your buck during the Black Friday sales:
1) Set your alarm!
Black Friday travel deals offered by airlines are often one-of-a-kind, and you won’t see prices like these at any other time of year. They’re also limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. So wake up early, get your laptop ready, and don’t miss out.
2) Be flexible with your destination
By creating an open search for flights, you’ll get to see the cheapest possible flights for all destinations worldwide. If you’re an explorer at heart and love to experience new places and cultures, it can be exciting to go off the beaten path.
3) Search for the cheapest month
Keep your travel dates open too. As we’ve established, off-peak months are much cheaper than peak months for flying. Just imagine—smaller crowds, a slower pace of travel, and more spending money for beer, excursions, and culinary delights.
4) Only book if you see a good deal
Yes, there are some amazing deals to be found during Black Friday. But it’s possible to find low-cost fares at other times of the year too. So don’t let the clever marketing suck you in. If you don’t see anything that takes your fancy or at the right price, it could be better to wait.
Airline Specific Deal Days
As mentioned, Tuesday has long been regarded as the cheapest day to book air travel. This is due, in part, to the fact that many airlines update their offers on Monday night. For instance, Southwest Airlines typically drops its prices on various routes nearly every Tuesday. While it’s not set in stone, these low prices usually run from Tuesday through Thursday, with one-way fares as low as $39 on select routes. Spirit Airlines does something similar, launching its flight deals on Monday night. However, this is not the case for every airline.
Some airlines offer other forms of discount, including things like group discounts (available with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue Airways). Some also offer discounts to government employees, while others have membership-based discount cards.
The Best Time to Book Flights
To summarize: midweek days like Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days to book your travel, while Friday is generally the worst day to fly. Your travel month will depend on the destination, as each country/region will have its own peak and off-season.
But what about how far in advance you should be booking? Here’s the inside track.
The Best Time to Book International Flights
You can book international flights almost a year in advance. Still, the best time to book for most destinations is around three months prior. There’s a sweet spot for booking flights at their lowest, and three months is perfect for booking early, but not too early.
If you’re planning on traveling in peak season, it could be worth shopping around a little earlier (around the five-month mark).
The Best Time to Book Domestic Flights
With domestic flights, you should book between one and three months in advance. You can still get great deals up to three weeks before departure, so there’s no need to hand over your credit card as soon as the flight schedule opens. Hang in the wings, and keep an eye on airfares and weekly offers instead.
Let Next Vacay Do the Hard Work for You
If you’re looking for the best day to book flights, don’t go it alone. With constantly fluctuating fares, it can take time to find the perfect deal.
There are a number of flight search engines and deal scanners that can alert you when prices go down. But we know that even searching on multiple sites can be time-consuming. At Next Vacay, we’ve developed a system that constantly scans thousands of databases for the cheapest possible flights to the destinations you love.
Simply start your search by telling us your closest airport, and our system will bring back the cheapest flights for you. Booking is made easy, too—we’ll email you instantly when a deal has been verified by our team, then you book directly with the airline. Absolutely no agents or middlemen involved gives you complete control of the process.
Join Next Vacay now to start saving for later.
