Tuesday has been hailed as the magic day to book flights at the cheapest rates for years. However, According to USA Today, data from Hopper and Google Flights challenge this notion. An analysis spanning six years revealed that airfare booked on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays is only 1.9% cheaper than those booked on weekends. This marginal difference suggests that the day you book might not significantly impact your savings.
Hopper’s lead economist, Hayley Berg, emphasized this point, stating, “The best day, and time, to book a flight depends on a number of factors. We found that Tuesday was the cheapest day just 1% of the time.”
The Surprising New Best Day
Contrary to popular belief, Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks report, published in September 2023, highlights Sunday as the best day to book flights. Travelers who booked on Sundays saved an average of 13% compared to those who booked on Fridays, the most expensive day. An Expedia travel expert, Christie Hudson, noted that these findings are based on billions of data points from the Airlines Reporting Corporation and OAG, a global travel industry data platform.
While the day of booking plays a role, other factors significantly impact airfare pricing. Tools like Hopper or Capital One Travel to monitor flight prices can help you identify the best booking times. These tools often provide alerts when prices drop, ensuring you maximize potential savings. For domestic flights, aiming to book between one and three months before departure saves a great deal. On the other hand, four to five months in advance is ideal for international flights.
Choose The Right Day To Fly
The day you fly can significantly affect your ticket price. Flying in the middle of the week, such as on Tuesday or Wednesday, can save you an average of 18% on domestic summer airfare. For international travel, the savings are even more substantial. Hopper found that flying to Europe on a Tuesday or Wednesday can save $435 per ticket. Google Flights also supports this, stating that flights on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday are 12% cheaper on average than those on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
