For easier leisure travel, consider Wednesday and Thursday, excludes Thanksgiving Weekend. Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays also come in as the cheapest days to fly, because they're not popular travel days. Due to popularity, Sundays and Fridays are usually the most expensive days to fly.

For both domestic and international travel in 2026, Tuesday and Wednesday remain the least busy and most affordable days of the week to fly. These midweek days sit in the "lull" between business travelers heading home on Fridays and vacationers starting their trips over the weekend. According to recent travel data, flying on a Tuesday can save you up to 15% compared to flying on a Sunday, which is consistently the busiest and most expensive day at the airport. Saturday is also a surprisingly good option for domestic flights, as many people prefer to be already at their destination by then. If you are flying internationally, Friday has recently emerged as a competitive day for deals, but for pure "peace and quiet" at the terminal, the middle of the week is your best bet. Booking your flight for an early morning departure on these days can further reduce the risk of delays and ensure a much shorter wait time at the security checkpoints.