Are flights to Europe expensive in August?

June, July and early August will be expensive. Use our helpful data charts to quickly identify how airfares are trending and to know when to buy for the best prices. You'll also want to use our simple calendar to highlight the least and most expensive days to fly.



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Summer vacation. For domestic flights in July or August, prices are typically lower 14 to 44 days out, hitting rock bottom 21 days before takeoff.

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It mostly comes down to supply and demand. Demand is contributing to higher prices as travel continues to surge post-pandemic, Berg said. Sustained strong demand in 2023 continues to put additional pressure on prices, especially to and within regions where travel has only recently reopened like parts of Asia.

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The US has far fewer airlines than Europe. Less competition = higher fares. On routes where there is more competition (such as between Chicago and New York) flights tend to be cheaper, while on routes to smaller airports, especially those served by a single airline, airfares can be much higher.

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The cheapest day to travel is Sunday — when vacationers can score significant savings on tickets, according to recent data. Travelers who choose to fly on Sundays can save up to 5 percent off the cost of their tickets in July and August, according to data from Skyscanner shared with Travel + Leisure.

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In general, prices are lower between 23 and 59 days prior. July and August summer vacation travel is best booked 14 to 44 days ahead, with prices generally bottoming out around 21 days.

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For most destinations, peak summer is madness for travel. And that high demand for peak season raises flight prices for you. Typically, flight prices increase from mid-May or maybe early June through to mid-August or early September as families get out for summer break and other travelers set out for sunny adventures.

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Airfares have dropped from July to August by nearly 3%. Perhaps even more significant is the stark drop over the past year. August 2023 U.S. airfares averaged 13% lower than what they were in August 2022. Things get especially interesting when compared to pre-pandemic prices.

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While the cheapest day to actually pay for airfare can vary from one week to the next, Expedia data shows consumers who book airfare on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save approximately 5 percent on domestic flights and 15 percent on international airfare.

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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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The summer season, which runs from late May or early June through the end of August, is when many families are available to travel. As a result, it's the most expensive time to visit Europe. The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid/late March—are often the cheapest time to fly.

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From the US, regular prices for a flight to Europe range from $700–$1,000+ in low season and $900–$1,500 in high season.

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Why: According to the airline calendar, August 23 marks the start of the fall travel season because a lot of kids are back in school and demand for leisure travel drops significantly. The airlines know when we want to fly (and when we don't) and price fares accordingly.

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Buy your tickets at the right time (to the extent possible). Airfares flex like crazy, but in general it's wise to start looking for international flights at least four to six months before your trip, especially for travel in spring, summer, or fall.

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Bottom line. Surprisingly, there is very little evidence that online travel sites are raising prices the more that you search for a specific trip. In fact, they tend to show lower prices to logged-in users.

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Best Time To Book International Flights According to a study conducted by Expedia, data shows that you want to book at least six months in advance for international travel. The study found you'll save an average of 10% by booking six months in advance instead of two months or less.

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Book a summer trip. Expedia data shows that August is the cheapest warm-weather month to fly, with average ticket prices nearly 10% lower compared with July. Tickets are also cheaper in August than during the December rush.

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Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically. The cheapest days to depart if you're flying within the U.S. are midweek — generally Tuesday or Wednesday. For economy tickets, Tuesdays are about 24% lower than peak prices on Sundays, which translates to savings of about $85 per ticket.

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  1. Flexibility is your friend. ...
  2. Fly into a major hub. ...
  3. Avoid Weekend flights. ...
  4. Make “mix it up” your mantra. ...
  5. Late summer saves money in Europe. ...
  6. Take a break from the big cities for a cheap Europe vacation. ...
  7. Go Deeper in one country rather than shallow across many. ...
  8. Be thoughtful about dining options.


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Camping in Europe If you are looking for something even cheaper than a hostel, then camping would be a good choice, especially if you are visiting in the summer. There is an endless number of campsites in Europe even when you are in major cities. These campsites also offer facilities like bathrooms and cooking areas.

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Ireland, Scandinavia, and the Iberian peninsula take the cake when it comes to consistently cheap flights. But the savings don't have to stop there. The first runner-up is Reykjavik (KEF) in Iceland. It's a major hub for cheap flights from both Europe and North America thanks to some low, low fares from Icelandair.

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