More than 40 million Americans traveled in 2023 according to the U.S. International Trade Administration, making it a return to pre-pandemic numbers. How and when flights are booked can make a significant impact on pricing, insiders say, and with a little savvy, you could earn yourself more spending money on your next trip. “Airfare is one of the most uniquely volatile things we purchase,” Scott Keyes, founder of Going and author of Take More Vacations tells U.S News & World Report. “It can present an opportunity. Today’s expensive flight might be tomorrow’s cheap flight.” Here’s the best day to book the cheapest flights, according to experts.
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Tuesdays Vs. Sundays
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According to Google Flights, the cheapest day to book a flight is Tuesday, and the most expensive is Sunday, with Tuesdays being 1.3% cheaper compared to Sundays. “Looking at historical prices, the cheapest days of the week to fly are Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, which have been 13% cheaper than flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. If you exclude international trips, the potential savings jump to 20%,” the report says
Cheapest Airlines
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Different airlines can offer widely different pricing. “With Southwest and Spirit, you’re still going to get the cheapest fare further out,” aviation and transport journalist Edward Russell tells U.S News & World Report. “If you’re looking to fly American or United, they’re holding inventory, so it’s a roll of the dice.”
How Far Ahead Should You Book?
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Give yourself enough time to book the best flight. “Recent fare analysis by the Airlines Reporting Corporation, which processes ticket transactions for airlines and travel agencies, reported that over the past four years passengers paid the lowest price for domestic flights when buying just about six weeks in advance,” Kellie Pelletier, the airfare expert at Jetsetter, tells LearnVest.
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Flying On the Holidays
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Pelletier advises flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to save up to 50% off flights. “We saved $300 per ticket around Thanksgiving for our family of four by flying out the Saturday before Thanksgiving and coming back the Saturday after,” she tells LearnVest. “Not everyone can swing that with their work schedules, so my advice is to leave Thanksgiving day and return on Saturday for cheaper fares.”
Flexibility Is Key
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Flexibility about both dates and destinations can help you snag a brilliant deal. “Preserve your flexibility. It’s impractical not to book the nonrefundable fares from airlines because the gap between them and fully refundable fares is too large,” Joe Brancatelli, publisher of the travel website JoeSentMe.com, tells U.S News & World Report. “But don’t prepay hotels, car rentals or most other travel components. The difference in price isn’t that great. Flexibility has great value.”