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.

In 2026, the most expensive months to fly are consistently July and December. July is the peak of the northern hemisphere's summer vacation season, where high demand for family travel to Europe, North America, and tropical destinations drives fares to their annual zenith. December is equally costly due to the dual surge of holiday travel for Christmas and New Year's Eve, with the period between December 20 and January 2 being the most expensive window of the entire year. Conversely, August has emerged as a surprisingly affordable summer month for 2026, with fares often 29% cheaper than in July as families prepare for the school year. Other "shoulder season" months like January, February, and September remain the gold standard for budget travelers, offering the lowest average ticket prices and significantly fewer crowds. If you must fly in the "expensive" months, experts recommend booking at least 6 months in advance or flying on the actual holiday (like Christmas Day) to find localized price dips in an otherwise high-cost market.