We've explained why Tuesday is the best day to shop for airline tickets in the past – because so many airlines release weekly sales early on Tuesday, which then prompts competing airlines to match prices – so Tuesday is a good day to find a lot of deals. But don't worry, you can find deals on other days, too.
We've explained why Tuesday is the best day to shop for airline tickets in the past – because so many airlines release weekly sales early on Tuesday, which then prompts competing airlines to match prices – so Tuesday is a good day to find a lot of deals. But don't worry, you can find deals on other days, too.
Research Prices in AdvanceYou'll save the most money on Travel Tuesday flights if you take the time to research the average prices ahead of time. Because these deals will not last for long, you need to be ready to pull the trigger quickly.
This led to the rise of the myth that the cheapest time to book a flight was on Tuesday (and specifically at 3am, many claimed). Airfare prices are now updated constantly and automatically, using complex algorithms, yet still myths persist that there's a cheapest day of the week to buy flights.
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.
Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to BookIn general, flights were slightly cheaper at midnight earlier in the week (Monday through Wednesday). However, this is only applicable to about 1.6% of U.S. markets, meaning that it's not likely you'll find the same savings on your specific route.
Fares can vary day-to-day, based on demand. Fares are usually lower on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and highest on Fridays and Sundays. Flights later in the evening are also usually lower demand.
Airlines don't restock on the same day every week like a grocery store, so you won't find deals by waiting until Tuesdays to book. However, you might find some modest savings if you're willing to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when there's less demand than usual.
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.
More specifically, Tuesday at about 15:00 eastern time. This is because many airlines release weekly sales early on Tuesday, which creates competition between airlines to match prices.
Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to BookWe found that travelers who search for flights on Tuesday at midnight save about 6% on their flights, making this the cheapest time of the week to book. In general, flights were slightly cheaper at midnight earlier in the week (Monday through Wednesday).
Generally, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest days to fly, while Fridays and Sundays are pricier, according to travel deal site FareCompare. Leisure travelers tend to fly on the weekends, either starting their vacations on Friday or taking a long weekend Friday to Sunday.
Is there a cheapest month to fly? If you're looking for a bargain month to travel, February is your best bet. Flights in January closely follow February for being most affordable. At the other end of the spectrum, December and July are the first and second most expensive months to travel, on average.
Southwest is still more affordableOur analysis found that Southwest's Wanna Get Away fares were, on average, cheaper than main cabin airfares on American, Delta and United in every scenario except one: American Airlines Main Cabin seats were about 1.5% cheaper than Southwest fares during the holiday season.
Travelers will find there's a window of time up till Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern time when Southwest makes an effort to match competitor sale prices, with the majority of sales ending by Thursday night. You might just be pleasantly surprised with some of the last-minute deals you come across within this timeframe.
Senior Fares apply only to those in the traveling party who are age 65 or over. Southwest Airlines has other discounted fares for those not meeting the above age requirements. Some restrictions and seating limitations may apply.
Travel Tuesday, sometimes known as Travel Deal Tuesday, is the day after Cyber Monday. It serves as an opportunity for travel companies to offer up discounts on hotels, cruises, flights, and more. Consumers can expect to find more travel deals on this day compared to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday.