Scoring cheap flights isn’t about luck—it’s about timing. Recent data from major industry players like Expedia, The Points Guy, NerdWallet, and others provide clear, evidence-based insights into exactly when to book and fly to maximize savings. Here’s your ultimate guide.
1. Best Days to Book Flight Tickets
Sundays Win
- Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report shows that Sundays are consistently the cheapest day to book—with domestic fares averaging 6% less and international fares up to 17% cheaper compared to Mondays or Fridays.
- Budgeting a Sunday booking can save you ~8–13% off list price.
Forget Tuesday Myths
- The longstanding idea that Tuesday is the ideal booking day is largely debunked Google and Hopper study show weekdays vs weekends yield only ~1.9% difference
- Airlines employ complex, dynamic pricing algorithms—there’s no single “magic day” for bargains.
2. Best Days to Fly
Domestic Routes
- Traveling mid-week—Saturday departures instead of Sunday—can save ~17%.
- Generally, flying Monday–Wednesday offers the lowest fares, while weekend travel (especially Sundays) tends to be expensive .
International Routes
- Flying on Thursdays is often 15–17% cheaper than Sundays
- Avoid weekend international departures—for best value, aim for mid-week flights
3. Best Time in Advance to Book
Domestic Flights
- Booking 1–3 months before departure (~25–90 days) is the sweet spot; yields ~25% savings over last-minute bookings
- Expedia data suggests ~28 days ahead is ideal
International Flights
- Optimal booking window is 18–60 days before departure, with 18–29 days showing up to 17% savings over early booking (>3 months out).
- Expert consensus: between 2–8 months prior, but always jump on deals once found
4. Best Months to Travel
- August is surprisingly the cheapest travel month. Domestic travelers save ~12% vs February, and international travelers save ~7% vs March
- February and March are high-cost periods
- Shoulder seasons (Jan–Feb, Sep–Oct) offer 30–44% savings compared to peak summer months.
5. Key Myths Debunked by Data
- Myth: “Book super early for best deals.”
Truth: For domestic flights, 1–3 months is optimal; international fares are best at 18–60 days prior - Myth: “Tuesday is the cheapest booking day.”
Truth: No single best day—Sundays tend to fare better but savings vary . - Myth: “Summer travel is always expensive.”
Truth: August is actually often cheaper—12% savings domestically vs February; international savings vs March .
Best Time to Fly to India from Canada? Discover the Ideal Season for Your Trip
6. Pro Tips to Maximize Savings
- Set Fare Alerts
Tools like Hopper, Expedia, Kayak, and Google Flights alert you to price drops and deal windows - Use Incognito Mode
Clear cookies or book in private mode to prevent dynamic pricing inflations . - Be Flexible with Airports & Dates
Checking adjacent airports or shifting by a day can significantly reduce cost - Leverage Rewards Cards & Flight Deals Tools
Credit card travel perks and subscription tools (like Expedia Price Drop Protection) add value - Avoid Peak Holiday Booking Windows
Avoid booking domestic Thanksgiving and Christmas flights in November—target October
7. Summary Table
| Booking Timing | Domestic Flights | International Flights |
| Advance Window | 25–90 days before (~28 days ideal) | 18–60 days before |
| Best Booking Day | Sunday (~6% savings vs Fri/Mon) | Sunday (~17% vs Fri/Mon) |
| Best Travel Days | Saturday, mid-week | Thursday, mid-week |
| Cheapest Month | August | August |
Direct vs. Connecting Flights to India – Pros and Cons for Travelers
Final Takeaway
A smart flight strategy involves:
- Monitoring fares 2–3 months out (domestic), 1–2 months (international).
- Booking on Sunday when deals appear.
- Flying on mid-week days—Thursdays, Saturdays.
- Capitalizing on August travel and shoulder seasons.
- And always using alerts, flexibility, and reward tools to stay ahead.
Airfare pricing may seem chaotic, but patterns—and savings—emerge when you follow the data.