In the past, you could count on Tuesdays as the best day to book a great flight deal. However, that time has certainly passed, with airlines getting hip to the game. But that doesn’t mean you can’t ever find a great price on flights.
“The sweet spot is usually one to three months before a domestic trip and two to six months before an international trip,” Jesse Neugarten, the founder and CEO of Dollar Flight Club, shared. According to Neugarten, airlines use dynamic pricing, so fares change constantly, but “in those windows you’ll often find the best balance of availability and price before last-minute demand kicks in.”
Henri Chelhot, the CEO of FlightHub, agreed, noting that the three to six-month timing is the sweet spot. “Prices are constantly shifting with demand, competition, and the time of year,” Chelhot said. “That is why I always tell travelers it is better to set fare alerts and watch how prices move, rather than trying to follow a single rule.”
Need an even more specific date to book? Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s global travel trends expert, had this to say: “Finding a cheap flight is less about the day you book, and more about how popular your flight is since flights are priced based on supply and demand. Skyscanner data from millions of flight bookings in the last year show the overall best time to book flights from the U.S. is on average 23 weeks before departure.”
According to all the pros, flying in the middle of the week provides the best deals, though as Chelhot noted, “Saturdays can be interesting too, since most travelers would rather fly home on Sunday.” He added, “What I tell people is not to lock themselves into the idea that one day is always the cheapest. Try a few different options, because sometimes just moving your flight by a day can save you quite a bit.”
Neurgarten also noted that airlines tend to drop fares on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, as those days tend to have empty seats. “Even shifting your trip by a day can mean saving 15 to 20 percent,” he added.
Here are three other expert tips to snag an affordable flight.
Go pro and try a split ticket.
Neurgarten said if you’re really dead set on finding the best deal possible, you could always try booking a split ticket. “Instead of booking one round-trip ticket, book two one-way tickets or separate legs on different airlines,” he explained. “For example, I once booked New York to Rome by splitting it into New York to Dublin and then Dublin to Rome, and saved nearly $480 compared to a single round-trip fare. It takes a little more effort, but the savings can be massive.”
Try alternative airports.
Chelhot suggested that travelers look around for nearby secondary airports that may offer better deals. “Looking at different airports, flight times, or even destinations you may not have considered can open up better deals,” he shared. “Traveling in shoulder seasons or during less popular hours can also make a big difference.”
And make sure you’re getting the most out of any flight.
Sometimes, you just have to book that ticket no matter the cost. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the price worth it. “Choose airlines that still offer seat back entertainment, like Delta and some United flights,” Neugarten said. “Having movies, TV shows, and flight maps right in front of you makes the experience far more enjoyable than relying solely on your phone or tablet, especially on long-haul flights where battery life and Wi-Fi can be hit-or-miss.”
