Ultimately, you want to remain as flexible as possible when considering travel dates. Because flight prices vary based on demand, tickets are more likely to be pricier on more in-demand days, like Fridays and Sundays, according to flight deal website Going.

According to flight booking data for 2026, Sunday is consistently the most expensive day to book both domestic and international airline tickets. While many people use their leisure time on weekends to plan trips, this high demand often results in higher fare prices across major search engines. In contrast, Friday has emerged as the new cheapest day to book, with travelers saving an average of 3% compared to Sunday bookings. Regarding the day of travel, Sunday also remains the most expensive day to actually fly, with high demand from returning weekend travelers pushing prices up. To save the most money in 2026, experts suggest booking your trip on a Friday and choosing to fly on a Tuesday, which is the least busy and least expensive day to depart for domestic routes. For international travel, the "sweet spot" for booking is typically 31 to 45 days before your departure; booking too far in advance (180+ days) can actually be up to 28% more expensive than waiting for mid-term "saver" rates to be released by the airlines.