Is it cheaper to travel in August or September?

Airfare for domestic trips in September and October is averaging $211 a ticket. That's down 29% from average prices for trips in June, July and August. Known as “shoulder season,” airfare typically drops in the fall as demand cools off after the busy summer months.



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Airfares for September and October are 29% lower than the average prices during the peak summer months for domestic routes, says Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. Prices for international flights, including to destinations in Europe, are down by a similar amount. Discounted plane tickets are typical for autumn.

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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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Spring break. For domestic flights in March and April, Google said, prices are typically lowest 23 to 59 days before departure, hitting their lowest price 38 days out. 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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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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Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date. According to CheapAir.com, you can expect rates to go up after that period.1 There may, of course, be some compounding factors that can affect this.

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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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It's often much cheaper to travel from May to early June and September through mid-October. The weather is still relatively warm during the shoulder season, and you'll beat the crazy summer crowds. This is when we find the best international flight deals!

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September is a very popular travel month in the United States. In early September, Americans visit their family members on Labor Day or plan outdoor and adventure activities during the last weekend of summer.

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In travel-industry jargon, the year is divided into three seasons: peak season (roughly mid-June through August), shoulder season (April through mid-June and September through October), and off-season (November through March).

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Average domestic airfare price by day
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically.
  • Saturday and Monday flights can help you avoid the Sunday rush.
  • Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally.
  • Book one to three months in advance.
  • Set a price alert.


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The general rule is that for domestic flights, travelers should start searching for flight tickets one to three months in advance. For international flights, the best prices are typically available from two to eight months in advance. Prices can also vary widely among airlines.

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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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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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Is it cheaper to book a flight at the last minute? We've said this before, but it's worth repeating at the outset—no, it's really not cheaper to book a flight at the last minute. Yes, last minute travelers used to score the occasional fare so low it might have induced shock, but that's no longer the case.

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The myth has been going around for years, but the truth is that flight prices don't go down on Tuesdays. To be fair, they did at one point in time, and savvy travelers could score a great deal late on a Tuesday night.

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Bottom Line. Booking on Friday will cost you more, and booking on Sunday can save you up to 15% on your airline tickets. But there are tons of ways to save even more on airline tickets instead of just waiting until Sunday to book your flights.

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22 and Nov. 26. The dates will vary, but it's always the same combo, Wednesday before/Sunday after. Picture the worst airport lines you've ever experienced and you get an idea of how bad it'll be, but it gets even worse because these are also the two most expensive days of the year to fly.

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