What time of day can you get the cheapest flights?

Flying at unpopular hours, such as the red-eye or early in the morning, instead of the late morning through afternoon, increases your chance of getting the best deal. Recent statistics showed that flights leaving before 09:00 are cheaper than any other time of the day.



The cheapest flights are typically found during off-peak hours and less popular travel days. Here’s when to book for the best deals:

Best Times to Book Flights:

  • Early Morning or Late Night: Flights between 5:00 AM – 7:00 AM or after 8:00 PM are often cheaper because fewer people prefer these times.
  • Midweek Flights (Tuesday & Wednesday): Airlines tend to lower prices for flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as demand is lower than on weekends.
  • Red-Eye Flights (Overnight): These are usually cheaper but less convenient.

Best Days to Purchase Flights:

  • Domestic Flights: Book 1–3 months in advance.
  • International Flights: Book 2–5 months in advance.
  • Cheapest Day to Buy: Studies suggest Tuesdays at 3 PM ET can have lower prices due to airline sales.

Additional Tips for Cheap Flights:

  • Use incognito mode when searching to avoid price hikes from cookies.
  • Set up price alerts on Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Hopper.
  • Be flexible with dates and airports (nearby cities may be cheaper).

Would you like help finding deals for a specific route?

People Also Ask

The process is largely controlled by computer software and is increasingly being bolstered by AI, so price changes can happen at any second. That's why there's no specific time of day — or even a specific day of the week, for that matter — that's best for booking cheap flights.

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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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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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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. And midnight later in the week actually gets more expensive.

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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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How often do airlines update airfare information online? The airlines update fare information 3 times a day. They do not necessarily change airfare prices all three times, but they certainly can, and often do.

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The process is largely controlled by computer software and is increasingly being bolstered by AI, so price changes can happen at any second. That's why there's no specific time of day — or even a specific day of the week, for that matter — that's best for booking cheap flights.

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The same report claims that you should book flights at 5am for the most potential savings, avoid booking flights between 8–11pm, and book on Tuesdays for domestic flights and Wednesdays for international flights.

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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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“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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Time your booking right
“For domestic flights, if you're talking peak season, it's about three to seven months in advance,” he says. “For international flights — [it's] four to 10 months.”

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There is no evidence that sites are raising flight prices the more that you search for a specific trip, or by a previous search. So what's the answer behind the constantly changing flight prices, then?

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Booking Searches Are Low It is quite obvious that based on searches, airlines vary their prices. At midnight, fewer people are willing to open sites and book tickets. This drops down the overall price of the ticket and you can get the ticket at a very affordable price by dialing 1-802-341-3403.

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As Forbes explained, airspace is less likely to be crowded in the morning, as all the previous days' flights have long landed. But as planes build up and wait for takeoff, air traffic controllers begin to delay departures and landings.

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Fares can vary day-to-day, based on demand. Fares are usually lower on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and highest on Fridays and Sundays. Flights later in the evening are also usually lower demand.

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