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For years, travelers swore that Tuesday was the best day to buy airline tickets. Today, however, that rule is largely outdated. Airlines now use sophisticated pricing systems that adjust fares in real time based on demand, competition, and seat availability. As a result, the lowest fares can appear on almost any day.
That said, recent data suggests that some booking days may offer slightly better prices than others. More importantly, when you fly, how far in advance you book, and how flexible you are with your travel plans generally have a much bigger impact on what you’ll pay. Here’s what to know before booking your next trip.
Key Points
• While Friday may be slightly cheaper than other days for booking, the specific day of the week matters less than overall travel flexibility and timing.
• Flying on Fridays or midweek days generally costs less than weekend flights due to lower leisure travel demand.
• Experts suggest booking domestic flights one to three months in advance and international trips two to eight months early for the best deals.
• You can often find significant savings by being flexible with your travel dates, destinations, and time of day.
• Setting up flight price alerts and planning your travel budget well in advance are effective strategies for managing trip costs.
Is There a Best Day of the Week to Book Flights?
While there isn’t a single “best” day to book flights, some days appear to offer slightly lower average fares. According to Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report, Friday is the cheapest day of the week to book airline tickets, while Sunday tends to be the most expensive. Even so, the difference is relatively modest: Booking on a Friday instead of a Sunday saves travelers about 3% on average.
If you’re searching for the lowest fares, booking on a Friday may be worth trying. However, the day you purchase your ticket generally matters far less than factors such as:
• Your departure and arrival airports
• When you travel (both the season and day of the week)
• Whether you choose nonstop flights or connections
• The cabin class you book
• How far in advance you book
• Whether you need to check baggage
How Far in Advance Should You Book a Flight?
Commercial airlines typically open their booking windows 330 days (roughly 11 months) before departure. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean booking as early as possible will get you the lowest fare.
Instead, research suggests there is often a “sweet spot” that balances availability and price, though the ideal booking window depends on whether you’re flying domestically or internationally and whether you’re traveling during peak season.
Domestic vs. International Booking Timelines
According to airfare deals site Going, the best time to book domestic flights is one to three months before departure, while international flights are often cheapest when booking two to eight months in advance.
However, cutting it even closer can sometimes pay off. Expedia’s data shows that booking a domestic flight 15 to 30 days before departure can save travelers an average of $130 compared with booking six months ahead. For international trips, booking 31 to 45 days before departure saves an average of $190 compared with purchasing tickets six months in advance. Surprisingly, some last-minute international travelers may find strong deals by booking just five to eight days before departure, with average savings of $225 compared with booking six months ahead.
However, waiting until the last minute may not be a good strategy if you’re traveling during busy periods like summer vacation, Thanksgiving, or the winter holidays. According to Going, travelers planning peak-season trips should aim to book domestic flights three to five months ahead and international flights four to 10 months in advance.
Waiting too long during peak travel periods increases the chances that you’ll have to:
• Settle for a less desirable cabin class
• Fly into or out of a different airport
• Accept inconvenient departure times or connecting flights instead of nonstop service
• Miss out altogether if the flight sells out
Recommended: Creating a Travel Fund
What Are the Cheapest Days to Fly?
According to Expedia’s data, Friday is the cheapest day to fly, with fares about 8% lower than Sunday, the most expensive day. Tuesday is the second-cheapest day to travel.
If flying on a Friday or Tuesday isn’t practical, midweek departures (Tuesday through Thursday) are generally your next best option. Weekend flights typically command the highest prices due to strong leisure travel demand.
If your schedule allows flexibility by month, January is typically the cheapest month for domestic travel, with average fares about 19% lower than in December, according to Expedia.
Top Strategies for Finding Cheap Airfare
While it’s impossible to predict exactly when airfare will drop, a few proven strategies can improve your odds of finding a good deal.
Be Flexible With Travel Dates and Destinations
Flexibility is one of the most effective ways to save on airfare. Shifting your departure day by even a day or two — or traveling just before or after a holiday — can sometimes produce significant savings.
The time of day also matters. Flights departing before 6:00 a.m. or late at night are often less expensive because they’re less convenient. According to a 2026 study by the sleep research platform NapLab, weekend red-eyes cost, on average, 22% less than daytime weekend departures. Interestingly, the opposite is true during the workweek: Weekday overnight fares tend to cost about 10% more than daytime flights because they’re popular with business travelers.
Being flexible about your destination can also help. Flying into a nearby city and then taking a train, bus, rental car, or regional flight to your final destination may significantly reduce your total travel cost. You may even discover a new place worth exploring along the way.
Set Up Flight Price Alerts
Price alerts can take much of the work out of finding affordable airfare. Instead of checking fares every day, you can let travel websites monitor prices for you and notify you when they change.
Popular travel platforms, such as Skyscanner, Kayak, Google Flights, Expedia, or Priceline, allow users to create customized alerts based on travel dates, airports, and airlines. Keeping your search criteria flexible generally increases your chances of receiving alerts for lower fares.
Travel During Off-Peak Seasons
Choosing to travel during slower times of the year is often one of the simplest ways to save money.
According to Going, July and December are the most expensive times to fly because demand is highest. In contrast, January and February often offer the lowest fares following the holiday travel season, with September and October all providing good opportunities for savings.
Shoulder season — the period between peak and off-peak travel — is also worth considering. For example, visiting Europe in April or May, or again in September or October, often means pleasant weather, smaller crowds, and airfare that may be 20% to 40% lower than during the summer peak, according to Going. Florida can also be a good shoulder-season destination during these months, when temperatures generally remain warm but demand is lower than during spring break or the winter holidays.
How to Save for Your Trip
Travel costs typically extend beyond airfare. Hotels, meals, local transportation, attractions, and unexpected expenses can quickly add up, making it worthwhile to start saving well before your departure date.
One simple approach is to estimate your total trip cost, divide that amount by the number of weeks or months until your vacation, and automatically transfer that amount into a dedicated travel savings account each payday. If your bank lets you create separate accounts for your goals, such as savings buckets or vaults, consider setting one aside just for travel. Keeping your vacation fund separate from your everyday savings can make it easier to track your progress and avoid spending the money on other expenses.
If you’re saving several months in advance, keeping your travel fund in a high-yield savings account can help your money earn competitive interest while remaining easily accessible when it’s time to book your flights or pay for your trip. While interest earnings won’t cover the cost of a vacation, they can help your savings grow faster than they would in a traditional savings account.
Recommended: Savings Goal Calculator
The Takeaway
The idea that there’s one perfect day to buy airline tickets is mostly a thing of the past. Today’s airline prices change constantly based on demand, making flexibility one of the best tools for finding lower fares. Booking within the recommended window, flying on less popular days, traveling during off-peak seasons, and setting fare alerts can all help reduce the cost of your next trip. Combining those strategies with a dedicated savings plan can make your next vacation more affordable from the moment you start planning.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
Do airlines really lower their prices on Tuesdays?
Not anymore. While Tuesday was once considered the best day to book flights, airlines now use dynamic pricing that adjusts fares throughout the day based on demand and seat availability. According to Expedia’s 2026 data, Friday is now the cheapest day to book on average, though the savings compared with booking on Sunday (the most expensive day) are only about 3%. Factors like when you travel and how far ahead you book generally have a much bigger impact on price.
Is it cheaper to buy plane tickets at the last minute?
Usually not, especially for holiday or peak season travel. However, airfare does not always rise as your departure date nears. Expedia data shows that domestic flights booked 15 to 30 days before departure and international flights booked 31 to 45 days ahead often cost less than those booked six months in advance. That said, waiting until the very last minute risks limited flight options, inconvenient connections, or missing out on travel altogether, particularly during busy seasons.
What are the most expensive days of the week to fly?
According to Expedia’s 2026 data, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly on average. Friday offers the lowest average fares, with Tuesday also ranking among the less expensive days. While the day of the week can influence airfare, factors like season, route, and demand usually have a greater effect on ticket prices.
How early should I book holiday flights to get the best deal?
For major travel periods like Thanksgiving, winter holidays, and summer vacation, it’s generally best to book earlier than you would for an off-season trip. The airfare deals site Going recommends aiming to book domestic holiday flights about three to five months in advance and international holiday travel four to 10 months ahead. Booking early gives you a better chance of finding lower fares and securing your preferred flight times before they sell out.
Does clearing browser cookies actually help find cheaper flights?
Probably not. There’s little evidence that clearing your browser cookies consistently leads to lower airfare. While some travelers worry that airlines raise prices after repeated searches, airfare changes are usually driven by demand, seat availability, and pricing algorithms — not your browsing history. Instead of deleting cookies, you’re generally better off comparing fares across multiple booking sites, enabling price alerts, and remaining flexible with your travel dates to improve your chances of finding a lower fare.
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