What is the cheapest and most expensive day to book flights?

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.



As of 2026, the long-standing "Tuesday booking" myth has largely been debunked by AI-driven dynamic pricing, but some general trends still hold true. Statistically, Sunday is often the cheapest day to actually purchase your tickets, with potential savings of up to 15% compared to mid-week bookings. In terms of the day you fly, Wednesday remains the cheapest day to be in the air, as mid-week travel avoids the weekend "leisure rush" and the Monday "business rush." Conversely, Friday and Sunday are typically the most expensive days to fly due to high demand for weekend getaways. The most expensive time to book is usually Friday, as airlines often hike prices heading into the weekend when people have more free time to plan trips. For international travel, the "sweet spot" for booking is usually 4 to 6 months in advance, while for domestic flights, 1 to 3 months is ideal. To get the best price, avoid booking on a Friday for a Sunday departure, as this "last-minute weekend" window is almost always the peak of the pricing curve.

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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.

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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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Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to Book
In 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.

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There's no sugarcoating it: Airfare is expensive. And while waiting until the last minute might sound like a good idea, it typically is cheaper to book your flights in advance. We are seeing fewer last-minute deals than in years past, especially when it comes to flights, a Kayak spokesperson tells Travel + Leisure.

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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.

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If you're wondering, “Is Skyscanner reliable?” the answer is a resounding yes. With over 100 million satisfied customers every month, it's the ultimate metasearch engine for flights, hotels, and car rentals.

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“Historically, Tuesdays were the cheapest day to book flights,” says Laura Lindsay, global travel trends expert for trip-booking website Skyscanner. “This was broadly true prepandemic as seasonality and even weekly pricing cycles were more predictable. However, this is no longer a hard and fast rule.”

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At midnight, fewer people travel and there is low last-minute reservation so to fill them, they release multiple offers. With these discounts, you can set aside some amount.

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The best day of the week to buy airline tickets Although you may have heard that flight prices are lower on Tuesdays, the general consensus these days is that there is no single day of the week to score good deals on airfares. Deals get doled out every day of the week.

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