When it comes to booking flights, one of the biggest factors in determining ticket prices is the day of the week you choose to fly. Flight prices fluctuate frequently, but there are some general trends regarding which days are cheapest to fly.
Weekdays vs. Weekends
In most cases, weekdays are cheaper to fly than weekends. This is especially true for domestic flights within the United States. The most expensive days to fly are often Fridays and Sundays, when many business and leisure travelers are taking to the skies. Flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday can save you money compared to peak travel days.
Why are weekends more expensive?
There are a few key reasons weekends tend to be more expensive:
- Increased demand – Many leisure travelers can only fly on weekends, so demand skyrockets.
- Business travelers – Weekends are popular for conventions and business trips.
- Recovery day – Airlines know many travelers prefer to fly on Fridays and Sundays when returning from trips rather than right before the workweek starts.
Cheapest weekday to fly
The cheapest day to fly domestically is often Tuesday. There are lower levels of demand from both leisure and business travelers on Tuesdays. Fridays tend to be the most expensive weekday. Thursday and Wednesday can also offer savings compared to peak dates.
Time of Day
In addition to the day of the week, the time of day you book also impacts flight prices. Early morning and late night flights are often cheaper because they are less convenient for most travelers.
Here are some tips for finding cheaper flights based on departure time:
- Fly early – Try to book the earliest flight of the day, such as a 6 a.m. departure. These red-eye flights are unpopular but can offer significant savings.
- Fly late – Late night departures, such as a 9 or 10 p.m. flight, are also cheaper because fewer travelers want to fly so late.
- Avoid mid-day – Flights between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. are generally the most expensive.
International Flights
For international flights, the cheapest days to fly can vary more significantly depending on the destination. Different countries have unique travel trends that impact flight demands. However, some guidelines include:
- Avoid public holidays – Flying on or near major holidays will drive up prices.
- Research peak seasons – Prices spike when a destination has its tourist high season. Fly during the low season.
- Watch out for business hot spots – Flying midweek to major business destinations means competing with road warrior business travelers.
Cheapest Travel Days by Region
Here are some of the cheapest days to fly internationally to specific regions:
| Region | Cheapest Days to Fly |
|---|---|
| Europe | Tuesday and Wednesday |
| Asia | Midweek days like Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday |
| South America | Monday through Thursday |
| Mexico/Caribbean | Any weekday except Friday |
Factors Beyond Travel Days
While the day and time you fly can impact prices, there are other factors that determine airfare costs including:
- Departure airport – Flying out of smaller regional airports is often cheaper.
- Travel seasons – Prices are higher during peak summer vacation season and other busy holidays like Christmas and New Years.
- Route competition – Less competition between airlines on a route typically drives up pricing.
- Plane ticket sales – Airlines run frequent sales and promotions that discount fares temporarily.
- Advanced purchase – Buying tickets well in advance often saves money compared to last minute pricing.
Use flight search tools
The day and time you fly plays a major role in determining flight costs, but many other factors impact pricing as well. Advanced flight search tools like Google Flights and Kayak offer an easy way to quickly compare flight options across days and times. You can view date grids that show pricing variations for an entire month at a glance.
Some features to use include:
- Flexible date search – See cheapest dates across a whole month.
- Price graphs – Visualize daily changes in flight prices.
- Price alerts – Get notified if rates drop.
Take advantage of these search tools to find the cheapest days and times to fly based on your particular route and travel plans.
Book at the optimal time
In general, the prime booking window for domestic flights is three to eight weeks in advance. Long-haul international flights often offer the best fares when booked one to five months out. Don’t book too far in advance, as the cheapest fares often appear around two to four months prior.
However, the best time to book can vary significantly depending on many factors:
- Peak travel dates – Book further in advance for popular travel periods
- Route competition – Book closer in on routes with lots of flight options
- Holidays/events – Book well in advance if flying around major holidays or events
- Group travel – Book early when traveling with a large group
Aim to book no later than four weeks out to maximize your chances of getting a good price. But keep searching regularly for sales even after booking – you can always rebook at a lower fare if prices drop.
Take advantage of airfare sales
Sign up for mailing lists from airlines and flight deal sites to be notified immediately of fare sales and special offers. These promotions can offer deep discounts on flights, but they are usually only available for a short time – often just a day or two.
Some tips for capitalizing on airfare sales:
- Be flexible – Taking advantage of a sale may mean shifting your travel dates slightly.
- Act fast – The lowest promotional fares sell out quickly.
- Read fine print – Some sales exclude certain routes or travel periods.
- Set fare alerts – Get notified as soon as your preferred route goes on sale.
Use miles and points
One of the best ways to get discounted flights is using airline miles or points from travel rewards credit cards. You can often book “free” flights by redeeming miles instead of purchasing a ticket.
Best practices for using miles include:
- Get a travel card – Sign up for a credit card that allows you to earn miles quickly on purchases.
- Take advantage of bonuses – Many cards offer large bonuses for signing up.
- Pay attention to mile values – Compare different programs to maximize value.
- Transfer points between programs – Move points to the airline with the best redemption rates.
With the right strategy, you can accumulate enough miles and points to book multiple trips at very low prices.
Try hidden city and airline error fares
Savvy flyers use techniques like “hidden city ticketing” to find cheap fares. This involves booking a layover itinerary but getting off at the connection city instead of your final destination.
Mistakes in airline pricing also occasionally lead to incredibly low error fares. Sites like Secret Flying alert you to these unpublished deals when they rarely appear.
Some risks to be aware of include:
- Baggage may get lost – Bags will continue to final city on booking
- No mileage rewards – Carriers don’t offer miles on hidden city tickets
- Potential airline ban – Repeated hidden city ticketing may lead to a carrier blocking you
However, these techniques can unlock substantial savings for savvy flyers who carefully follow the rules.
Fly budget airlines
Discount carriers like Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant offer lower base fares than major airlines. Their stripped-down, no frills approach allows them to offer rock-bottom pricing.
Some tips for flying budget airlines:
- Watch baggage fees – Extra charges can add up quickly
- Bring your own food – Many don’t offer free snacks or drinks
- Book directly – Avoid third-party sites that may charge extra fees
- Sign up for email lists – Sales and promotions are frequently offered
As long as you know what to expect, flying budget can be a cheap way to travel domestically and around Europe. Just be ready to pay extra for everything beyond the basic ticket.
Conclusion
Flexible travelers who carefully monitor fares and strategically book flights can save substantial amounts on airfare. Flying on cheaper days of the week at off-peak times is one of the easiest ways to lower costs.
Maximize savings by combining cheap travel days with other money-saving tactics like airline sales, points and budget carriers. With the right approach, you can travel more often for less.
