Is There A Best Day to Book Flights? Follow These Pro Tips!

Any savvy traveler knows how to hack their way into finding the most affordable air tickets. If you consider yourself one, knowing the best day to buy airline tickets should be one of those tricks up your sleeve. 

If you're unsure, don't fret because I'm about to show you the tricks to determine the best time to book your flight. Since airfare will cover the majority of your travel budget, saving in this department will mean you could have more money to spend on travel experiences! Cha-ching!

Now boarding the Savings Express!

What Days of the Week Are Flights Cheapest?

You might've heard a rumor that Tuesdays are the cheapest day of the week to book a flight. While that's partly true, it's not the only day of the week when you can find affordable flights.

According to the Google Flights team, it's time to let go of the notion that you can only find affordable air tickets on Tuesdays! You can also find great deals on airfares on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Based on data analysis from the Google Flights team for the past five years, booking your tickets on those days can offer 1.9% savings. Admittedly, it's not much, but it's still 1.9% less than what you'd usually pay if you book on other days of the week, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. 

The team went on to conclude that airfare prices are constantly changing. Several factors impact the actual cost of airline tickets. So, don't wait around for Tuesday if you can find good deals on other days.

Worst Day to Book Flights

For starters, avoid booking your flights on a Friday! It's long agreed to be the worst day to book your flights, especially if you want cheaper tickets.

According to experts, airfare prices are highest on a Friday. This data is based on the 2023 Air Travel Hacks report, based on over 15 billion passenger flights across nearly 500 airlines. 

Best Time of Day to Book Flights

For all the bargain hunters, you shouldn't be solely concerned about the best day to book flights. You must also know about the best time of day to book flights.

That should be around 5 AM, according to data from Skyscanner. It's the best example of how the early bird gets the worm. To be more specific, that's 5 AM on a Sunday. Since not many people are browsing flights during this time of day, airlines might reward those diligent enough to do so. 

If that's too early to log onto your computer and browse flights, Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning are excellent alternatives. 

Best Day to Book International Flights

There's no significant difference in the best day to book international or domestic flights. 

If you're looking for a bargain, shop around for airline tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 

The general rule of thumb is that you have to book early. For example, you must book your international flights six months before your departure. Sometimes, you can find last-minute ticket deals, especially if there are vacant seats and airlines want to fill them up. But it's rare, so it's best not to take your chances. 

International flights cost more, so they need more planning. Shopping around for prices before you book is essential, so you'll know how prices fluctuate over a few weeks.

Using this information, you'll know if the price drop is the lowest it can get or if it will continue to drop. You can then make an informed decision to book now or wait later. 

Using this approach, you can save 15 to 25 percent on airline tickets. 

Do Flight Prices Go Down on Tuesday?

It's somewhat true, though there's no guarantee booking your flights on a Tuesday could mean more savings.

According to data, airlines go through a cycle for flight prices throughout the week. The lowest prices are usually available earlier in the week, so Tuesdays and Wednesdays are excellent times to buy your tickets. 

Air Travel Tips for More Savings

If saving money on your next flight is a priority, take note of these air travel booking tips.

• Book your domestic flights a month in advance to save up to 10% on airfare tickets. For international flights, book them six months in advance.
• Use tools to help you find affordable flights, such as these travel deal sites. 
• Use flight comparison sites and set up alerts on your phone. You'll be notified in real time if prices drop so you know when to book.
• Travel in the offseason. The further your departure is from your booking time, the cheaper the ticket! 
• Be flexible with your travel plans if you're more concerned about booking affordable flights. 
• Pick your travel destination first. If you stick to specific dates, you'll find it challenging to find affordable airline tickets. But if you're flexible enough, finding the most affordable tickets and dates for your intended destination is easier. 

You can also use these expert tips on how to find cheap flights! 

Best Services to Find Affordable Flights

Scott's Cheap Flights

Scott's Cheap Flights is an excellent service for finding affordable flights. Once subscribed, they can alert you of any travel deals. It's a legit flight deals website, so you can confidently use their services when booking flights.

Matt's Flights

Matt's Flights is another excellent travel deal site that is legitimate. They have a premium service, but you can try the free version first to know if they're worth it when finding travel deals. Overall, it's an excellent option for anyone looking to save on domestic and international flights.
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Hopper App

The Hopper App is another tool for finding affordable airline tickets. While there are some issues with the features and functionalities of the app, it's proven helpful in finding flight deals. It's also free, so trying it out is basically risk-free!

Find the Best Flight Deals with Pilot!

Patience is a virtue when finding affordable flights, and knowing the best day to book flights is not enough. Having some tools at your disposal is a good idea, such as online comparison sites and travel deal sites. The more data you have available for comparing flight prices, the better you can determine whether they're a good deal.