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What are the cheapest days to book a flight?

What are the cheapest days to book a flight?

With prices going up everywhere, booking a flight can feel overwhelming. However, the good thing is that there are some hacks and strategies you can use to stretch your travel budget a little further.

One of the best tips is to know the best days to book your flights. Picking the right days to book can make a big difference and save you a good chunk of money. Here is a simple guide to help you find those cheap flights without breaking the bank.

Image: A photo of a woman standing at an airport terminal, gazing at the flight information display that shows dates, times, and destinations.

What are the Cheapest Days to Book a Flight?

Tuesdays and Fridays are often the best days to find lower fares for domestic flights. This is because ticket prices tend to be about 12% lower on these days compared to others.

Mondays and Sundays are typically more expensive and busier, so it is best to avoid booking on these days if you want to save some cash.

For international flights, Wednesdays and Saturdays are generally cheaper days to fly. While the difference in price might not be huge, these days can still offer better deals compared to other times.

Note that this information is based on historical fare data and booking patterns observed by travel booking apps and platforms like Hopper, Skyscanner, and Kayak. They usually analyse large volumes of flight booking data to determine which days tend to offer the best prices. 

However, it is always good to check multiple sources and use fare comparison tools to get the most accurate and up-to-date information for your specific travel needs.

Image: A photo of a hand holding a boarding pass at a busy airport terminal, with multiple people visible in the background.

How to Get the Best Flight Deals

Finding the cheapest flight deals, especially when looking at the days of the week, is really just a game of chance. You need some real strategies to increase your chances of scoring a great deal and save some money.

Here are some ways to find those budget-friendly flights and make the most out of your travel budget;

Be Flexible with Your Dates

One of the easiest ways to save money on flights is by being flexible with your travel dates. If you are not locked into specific days, you have got a better shot at finding cheaper flights. 

This is because airline ticket prices can change a lot depending on the time of year, the day of the week, and even the time of day. For example, flights around holidays or peak vacation times are usually more expensive because that is when everyone else wants to fly too.

On the other hand, flying during less busy times, like the middle of the week or early in the morning, can save you quite a bit. You would be surprised at how much the price drops just by shifting your trip by a day or two. 

Book in Advance

We have all heard the saying, “The early bird catches the worm,” and it couldn’t be more true when it comes to booking flights. If you know your travel dates in advance, it is a smart move to book your tickets early.

But how early is "early"?

For domestic flights, booking about one to three months ahead is usually a sweet spot. For international trips, you may want to start looking at least two to six months ahead.

Airlines often offer their best prices when tickets first go on sale, but as the seats fill up and the departure date gets closer, prices tend to rise.

Use Fare Comparison Websites

Fare comparison websites, like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights, are fantastic tools that show you the best deals from different airlines in one place. They also often show you price trends over time, so you can get a sense of whether the fare you are seeing at the moment is a good deal or if you should wait for a potential drop.

Another great feature is that many of these sites let you search for the cheapest flights across an entire month, so you can see exactly which days have the lowest fares. If your travel dates are flexible, this can help you pinpoint the best time to fly and save even more.

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