Whether you’re traveling for business, going on vacation, or visiting family or friends, you’ll spend a good amount of time deciding what flights to book for your trip. Booking can be one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip, especially when you’re figuring out the best available dates to fly, the most cost-effective prices, and the most reliable airlines to fly with. Travelers would probably appreciate any good advice to help reduce the stress of booking; we’re here to offer some helpful hints to find the best days to book flights.
Aim for Weekdays If You Can
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There’s a common belief that travelers should book their flights on Tuesday to get the best deals since airlines usually launch new sales on Tuesdays and then try to match prices with their competitors, but that’s no longer a consistently accurate bit of advice. Airlines nowadays vary on what days and times they post their best deals and lowest prices, so most trip advising sites suggest that the best time to book flights is when you can find the cheapest ones.
Still, studies of various airline prices show that booking flights that depart during the midweek (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) can save fliers up to $100 compared to flying on the weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays). Furthermore, flights booked earlier in the week tend to be less expensive than ones booked near the end of the week since prices tend to increase the later in the week it is.
Know That The Best Days Can Differ When Flying Domestically and Internationally
Obviously there are a whole host of differences to consider when flying domestically versus internationally, but did you know that the best days to fly on domestic flights and fly on international ones can differ significantly? Since Sundays and Mondays tend to be the busiest and most expensive days to depart when flying domestically, sites like NerdWallet suggest picking Tuesday or Friday flights, which can be less crowded and up to 12% cheaper than ones on Sundays and Mondays. On the other hand, Wednesdays and Saturdays tend to be the least expensive days to fly internationally.
Whether you’re flying domestically or internationally, though, trip advising sites agree that fliers should book them at least one to two months in advance rather than waiting in hopes of a last minute deal. Some sites like Forbes go even further, suggesting that you should book two to six months in advance if possible when flying internationally.
Remember That Flexibility is Key
Since there are so many factors that play into finding the most cost-effective, least crowded flights available, you can benefit greatly by being as flexible as possible when booking. Be open to using free tools like Google Flights to track prices over time and find better deals. Be open to shifting from more expensive weekend flights to cheaper weekday ones to save on costs. Be open to rebooking your flight if you can find a cheaper cost and the airline’s change and cancellation policies make rebooking easier.
Final Thoughts
While the best days to book and take flights can differ due to airline prices, destination, and more, generally the midweek days of Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays tend to be the least expensive and least crowded to fly on. Though there might not be a one-size-fits-all answer for every situation, hopefully these tips will help make booking your next airplane ride less headache- and stress-inducing.
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