The best days to book flights and save money on your vacation

Recently updated on April 4th, 2025 at 12:51 pm

Looking to score the best airfare deals and find cheap flights for your next vacation? Timing is everything. According to travel expert Ashley Woodring, knowing the best days to book flights can make a significant difference in how much you pay. Whether you’re flying domestically or internationally, understanding the optimal booking window, the cheapest travel days, and when to avoid booking can help you save big.

The best days to book domestic flights

If you’re booking flights within the U.S., or short-haul to another country, planning ahead is key—but not too far ahead, says Ashley.

‘The best time to book domestic flights is typically 1 to 3 months before departure for the best fares. For peak seasons (holidays, summer), booking 3 to 6 months ahead is ideal.’

In Expedia’s Travel Hacks Report, they found that: ‘Domestic Airfare should be booked 28 days or more before departure; travelers saved up to 24% compared to those who booked at the last minute, surpassing the 10% savings travelers saw on average in 2022. 

Ashley’s expert tips for domestic flights:

• Set Price Alerts – Use Google Flights or Hopper to track price drops and book when fares are at their lowest and then book with your trusted travel advisor or on your own.
• Fly on Off-Peak Days – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays usually have the lowest fares compared to Fridays and Sundays, so definitely worthwhile to check our pre/post nights for your tour if it could offer a lower fare.
• Be Flexible with Airports – Check nearby airports (e.g., flying into Oakland instead of SFO or BWI instead of DCA) for lower fares.
• Avoid Booking Too Last-Minute – Last-minute fares tend to be expensive unless you’re booking a budget airline or a flash sale.

The best days to book international flights

When it comes to international travel, Ashley notes that booking even earlier is better:

‘The best time to book international flights is 3 to 6 months before departure (or even 9-12 months for peak seasons like summer in Europe).‘

Ashley’s expert tips for international flights:

1. Be Flexible with Departure Cities – Sometimes flying from a major hub like JFK, LAX, or ORD can be much cheaper than smaller regional airports.
2. Midweek Departures Save Money – Flying Tuesday or Wednesday can be significantly cheaper than weekend departures.
3. Consider Booking Two One-Way Flights – Sometimes booking separate one-way tickets (especially with different airlines) can save money.
4. Look for Stopovers – Some airlines offer free or cheap stopovers in cities like Reykjavik (Icelandair), Lisbon (TAP Air Portugal), or Doha (Qatar Airways), allowing you to explore another destination for free. Your travel advisor can help look for those options if you’re looking to add or finding a stopover that could enhance your overseas travel experience!
5. Don’t Book Too Late – Unlike domestic flights, international fares rarely drop at the last minute—they usually increase.

Flight booking tips from Jack’s Flight Club

The best time to book flights isn’t always predictable, but using years of collected data, you can develop a strategy to find the cheapest fares. Jack’s Flight Club, a cheap-flights-newsletter, have two golden rules to finding airfares that don’t break the bank:

1. Book flights 3–9 months in advance
   
2. Never wait until the last minute

According to Jack’s Flight Club, airlines use complex algorithms to price seats and adjust fares based on demand. As tickets sell, flight prices rise; if demand is low, they drop—but this doesn’t mean last-minute (the days before departure) deals are common. In fact, airlines often hike prices closer to departure, targeting business travelers who have to travel on that departure and have little flexibility. There’s also one more factor to take into consideration: short-haul vs. long-haul.

Short-haul flights

Short-haul flights (under 6 hours) tend to have steadier airfare prices, and they are the only departures which can have good deals close to a few weeks before the departure, especially in competitive markets like Europe, where budget airlines frequently run flash sales.

‘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. ‘

Long-haul flights

Long-haul flights (6+ hours) require a different strategy—booking far more in adance usually yields the lowest prices. However, certain airlines like charter carrier TUI may offer rare last-minute discounts, particularly for beach destinations. Regional demand also plays a big role; flights to major hubs are more likely to see price wars, while niche routes stay expensive.

What’s the best day of the week to book a flight?

Here are some useful tips based on this travel research from Expedia:

• The best day of the week to book a flight: is Sunday.
• Domestic flights: The cheapest day of the week to fly is Saturday; the most expensive is Sunday.
• International flights: The cheapest day to fly is Thursday; the most expensive is Sunday.
• Quietest day to travel: Tuesday is typically the least crowded travel day.
• The cheapest month: flying in August is the cheapest by 12%.
• The most expensive month: March is the most expensive month to travel.

The worst days to book flights

Just as there are best days to book flights, there are also worst days to book flights:

• Weekends tend to be more expensive to book – Avoid booking flights when it’s a Sunday, when demand is highest.
• Peak travel dates mean higher prices – Holidays, school breaks, and major events drive prices up.
• Last-minute fares are rarely deals – While some hope for last-minute price drops, airlines often raise prices closer to departure.

Do flight prices go down on Tuesdays?

Yes, flight prices can go down on Tuesdays, but it’s not a guaranteed rule. Airlines often release fare sales on Monday nights, meaning by Tuesday morning, you might see discounted prices. However, this trend is less consistent than it used to be due to dynamic pricing algorithms that adjust fares in real time based on demand.

When is the cheapest time to buy flights?

Flight prices don’t necessarily drop at a specific time of day, but studies suggest that booking flights in the early morning (5 AM–9 AM) can sometimes yield better deals, as airlines often adjust fares overnight. Additionally, prices may temporarily drop on Tuesday afternoons when airlines release fare updates and match competitors’ discounts.

That said, airfare pricing is dynamic, and the best way to find a deal is by setting price alerts on tools like Google Flights or Hopper and being flexible with your travel dates. Let me know if you’d like me to add this insight to your document!

Essential travel hacks for saving $$

These are some of the best travel hacks for saving money while flying, from Ashley, Jack’s Flight Club and more.

• Expedia’s Travel Hacks recommend flying before 3 p.m. so reduce the chance of delays and cancellations. Statistically, if your flight departs after 3pm it has a 50% higher chance of being canceled than earlier flights.
• Jack’s Flight Club recommends signing up for airline newsletters to keep track of seasonal sales. You can also sign up to cheap flights newsletters, like Jack’s Flight Club themselves.
• Join Frequent Flyer Programs – Enroll in airline loyalty programs like American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, or United MileagePlus to earn free flights.
• Get the Right Travel Credit Card – Cards that offer travel perks, including miles, lounge access, and free checked bags.
• Use Points & Miles Strategically – Booking long-haul international flights with miles often provides the best value compared to domestic redemptions.
• Track prices with Google Flights tracker – Pick out specific dates and use google tracker to let you know when prices change for that period
• Travel in Shoulder or Off-Seasons – Visiting Europe in September–October or April–May can save you hundreds on flights and touring.
• Consider Guided Tours for Multi-Country Trips – If you want to visit multiple destinations in Europe, a guided tour can often be much more cost effective and more convenient than booking everything separately. Touring has the benefit of contracting and knowledge and the relationships across the globe to ensure you aren’t missing anything and getting it at the best value. 
• Look for Sales – Trafalgar often run promotions like Last-Minute Deals, September on Sale, or Black Friday Sales, which can offer significant discounts.
• Pack Light to Avoid Fees – Many budget airlines charge for checked bags, so using carry-on luggage only can save money.

Is there anything we’ve missed? Do you have your own tips for booking flights at the best price? Let us know in the comments below!