What is the most expensive month to go on holiday?

As expected, August is the most popular and most expensive time to travel outside of term time. But according to Which? and Skyscanner, the cheapest weeks to go abroad over the summer holidays are the last 2 weeks.



Globally, December is consistently the most expensive month to go on holiday. This is driven by the massive surge in demand for travel during the Christmas and New Year’s period, when families travel to see relatives and vacationers flock to warm-weather destinations. In 2026, airfares in December are estimated to be roughly 29% higher than in August. Other "peak" expensive windows include July, due to the Northern Hemisphere summer school holidays, and late March or April during the Easter and Spring Break season. Conversely, February is often the cheapest month for travel as demand plummets after the holiday rush. To avoid the highest costs, travelers often look for "shoulder seasons" in May or October, when the weather is still pleasant in many regions but the "holiday premium" on flights and hotels has significantly decreased compared to the December peak.

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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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But January and October — when most people are back at work after those popular vacation times — are usually the cheapest months to fly.

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May to July is the best time for perfect weather While ideal weather windows vary across the country, this is the period when most places have shaken off their winter chill and embraced the vibrant bloom of spring and early summer.

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resulting in lower prices and the cheapest day of the week to fly. So, you guessed it, that means the most expensive days to book flights are those days when most travelers are heading out – or coming home. That means flying Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays will typically be more expensive.

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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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Domestic airline prices are on the decline in 2023, finally retreating after spiking just a year ago. International fares are still high. After soaring in 2022, prices for domestic airline tickets are on the descent.

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Airfare will be volatile but still low during this time, so you should monitor prices using a flight tracker. KAYAK gives a few more days, suggesting that travelers should buy by Oct. 24 – this is when prices were the cheapest in 2023.

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Book a summer trip. Expedia data shows that August is the cheapest warm-weather month to fly, with average ticket prices nearly 10% lower compared with July. Tickets are also cheaper in August than during the December rush. For the lowest fares on domestic flights, travel in January or February.

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The summer season, which runs from late May or early June through the end of August, is when many families are available to travel. As a result, it's the most expensive time to visit Europe. 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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Generally, the worst days of the week to fly domestically are Sunday, Monday, and Friday.

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Is there a cheapest day of the week to fly international? Many of the same concepts apply. Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays will almost always be your best bet.

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By almost all metrics, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is pretty much the worst day of the year to fly. In 2019, 2021 and 2022, it was the busiest single day of the entire year in terms of U.S. passengers, based on TSA passenger data.

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Flying to Europe in 2024 without spending a fortune is in the cards after a long stretch of sky-high prices. Airlines have added new routes between the U.S. and Europe and announced plans to increase flights on some routes next spring and summer.

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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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World's Best Low-Cost Airlines 2023
  • AirAsia.
  • Scoot.
  • IndiGo.
  • Flynas.
  • Volotea.
  • Transavia France.
  • Sun Country Airlines.
  • Southwest Airlines.


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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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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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What age group travels the most? Millennials between 23-38 seem to be the age group that travels the most with an average of 35 vacation days a year.

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You enjoy great weather
You can still catch some of the summer sun when traveling in September, meaning you get the best of both worlds. It's not too hot and not too cold in most areas and offers a happy medium when it comes to vacationing at this time of year.

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