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Whether there is a cheaper day to fly or the quietest time depends on a number of factors; the time of year, the airline and destination, and the airport you are travelling from. However, experts have found that booking flights or flying on certain days could play a role in increasing your chances of a more affordable ticket or a smoother airport experience.
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When is the cheapest day to fly?
There is a lot of speculation among experts about whether there even is the cheapest day to jet off.
While research in the US suggests Tuesday and Wednesday might be the cheapest, this isn't necessarily the case across the pond in the UK.
Back in 2019, Skyscanner's Flight Insights Report found that the cheapest day to fly was a Friday.
According to the report, travellers were able to save up to 21 percent on airfare if they choose to fly from the UK on a Friday.
However, given the huge changes the travel industry has undergone since the pandemic, these findings are unlikely to stand firm in 2022.
Instead, experts recommended doing your research well in advance to determine the cheapest deal regardless of the day to depart.
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When is the cheapest time to book?
Much like the cheapest day of the week, the cheapest time to book is also up for speculation.
However, experts collectively agree that planning in advance is your best bet for snagging a deal.
Money Saving Expert said: "Flights should generally be booked early but of course, recent travel uncertainty has left many unwilling to plan too far ahead.
"Last-minute bargains can be found too though, particularly if you're flexible about when you travel.
"If you're looking further into the future, unless you prefer sticking with the same airline and you're holding out for a sale you know is coming up, it's usually best to book as early as you can."
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Recent data from Jack's Flight Club found the cheapest time to book can vary between international and short-haul routes.
The experts explained: "We've found that short-haul flights are more predictable when deciding the best time to book: the best time to book a short-haul flight is a few weeks to four months before departure.
"The price variations for short-haul flights are consistently competitive, especially for popular destinations."
They continued: "Broadly speaking, buying tickets somewhere between eight months and six weeks in advance gets you the lowest prices."
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When do people have the 'best' airport experience?
If you are looking for a smooth airport experience, including fewer queues and better customer service, new research from HappyOrNot found that Wednesday could be the best day to travel.
HappyOrNot, the makers of the ‘smiley face’ consumer feedback terminals found in airports, analysed over 4.5 million customer feedback data points from airports in over 30 countries worldwide to provide travel insights ahead of the busy summer tourism period.
According to its report: "Data from the first quarter of 2022 reveals that the best day of the week to fly is Wednesday, while Sunday is the worst.
"The best time to fly is 8am, the worst being midnight."
The most common complaints from passengers were waiting times, customer service and staff friendliness.
Miika Mäkitalo, CEO of HappyOrNot, said: "By releasing these findings, we hope to equip travellers with the knowledge of when might be best to fly and the times they should probably avoid, as well as equipping airport operators with passenger experience data insights to be aware of as airports get busy again."
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FAQs
Tuesday and Friday flights can help you avoid the rush earlier in the week. Sundays and Mondays are the most expensive days to depart for domestic trips. If you can't fly on the cheapest days, flying on Tuesdays or Fridays might also be a good option.
What is the best day of the week to fly cheap? ›
The cheapest days of the week to fly tend to be Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, and the cheapest flight times are typically in the early morning or late at night. That said, fares can vary substantially according to the month, and flying before holidays can be extra pricey.
Do flight prices go down on Tuesday? ›
The myth has been going around for years, but the truth is that flight prices don't go down on Tuesdays. To be fair, they did at one point in time, and savvy travelers could score a great deal late on a Tuesday night.
What day of the week should I buy plane tickets? ›
As previously mentioned, booking airfare on Sunday is cheaper than other days of the week, especially Fridays. Be willing to fly mid-week. Since Thursdays tend to be the cheapest day to fly, see if you can tweak your travel plans so you depart and fly home during the week instead of on weekend days. Set price alerts.
What is the best day of the week to travel by plane? ›
The Best Days to Fly
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best weekdays to fly. Thursday is a bit more expensive but still reasonable. Saturday is usually the cheapest weekend day to fly. That does not mean you cannot find great flight prices on the other days of the week.
Do flight prices go down at night? ›
Are flights cheaper if bought at midnight? The ticket prices of the airline fluctuate every day and most of the time, resulting in an increase in the prices. Passengers should book a red-eye ticket because flight prices go down at night and they will find a cheaper ticket in comparison to day-time flights.
Do flights get cheaper closer to the date? ›
Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date or if you book too early—more than five months in advance. Instead, flights tend to be the least expensive when you book between 5.5 and 1.5 months (164 and 46 days) in advance of your departure date.
What time of day do flight prices drop? ›
Some experts suggest purchasing your tickets on a Tuesday afternoon, while others insist that this technique might not produce the results you're after. Buying airfare at the stroke of midnight can yield a small amount of savings, say others, but it may not always be worth it to stay up late just to book a flight.
Why buy flights on Tuesdays? ›
“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.”
Do flight prices change from Monday to Tuesday? ›
They say, “What day of week you purchase a flight has a negligible effect on flight cost. The average low fare only varies by $1 based on the purchase day of week. Whether you buy that ticket on Tuesday or Sunday it's going to cost about the same.”
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.
What time of the week do flight prices go down? ›
Average domestic airfare price by day
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.
What is the cheapest month to book a flight? ›
Is there a cheapest month to fly? If you're looking for a bargain month to travel, January is best. Flights in February are a close second for being most affordable. At the other end of the spectrum, November and July are the first and second most expensive months to travel, on average.
Why are Wednesday flights cheaper? ›
Demand is simply lower on those days (Tuesdays too!). Airlines are trying to fill planes with people, so they'll open up more seats at lower prices. You may notice that Saturday is a mixed bag on many routes in that evening flights are typically less expensive than earlier ones.
Is it cheaper to fly on Sunday or Monday? ›
If you're planning to book a flight, you may be trying to find the cheapest option. According to Google, it's cheaper to fly in the middle of the week, rather than on the weekend. Flights that take off between Monday and Wednesday can be between 12% and 20% cheaper than weekend flights.
What is the safest time of day to fly? ›
The Safest Time Of Day To Fly
Flying in the early morning or overnight often helps you avoid turbulence or the risk of storms, which means they're often viewed as the safest times of day to fly for many.
What is the cheapest airline to fly right now? ›
Fly with Frontier Airlines
Currently, Frontier Airlines offers the lowest-priced flights around United States. The lowest price we found over the next 12 months is $35.
What's the cheapest month to fly? ›
Is there a cheapest month to fly? If you're looking for a bargain month to travel, January is best. Flights in February are a close second for being most affordable. At the other end of the spectrum, November and July are the first and second most expensive months to travel, on average.
