The best day of the week to book a cheap flight: experts

With everything from hotels to vacation rentals to international travel rising in price, bagging an airfare bargain has become more important than ever.

Just in time for the holiday booking frenzy, researchers from Expedia have analyzed thousands of flights from the Airlines Reporting Corporation’s database — in order to determine the cheapest day to book your next am-scray out of Dodge, as well as the best day to fly.

On average, Sunday is the best day for savvy savers to book a flight, according to the experts, with seat prices usually at their lowest of the week.

Conversely, plane tickets cost the most on Fridays, as interest in travel usually soars close to the weekend.

According to the experts, fliers that book a domestic flight on a Sunday can save an average of 8% on a flight. Those booking an overseas adventure can save a whopping 13% by booking on a Sunday as opposed to a Friday.

The company confirmed that savvy savers should select Sunday to book their flights, as seat prices are usually at their lowest of the week. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is pictured.
iStock

But while the Seventh Day might be the cheapest day to book a flight, it’s the most expensive day to take to the skies.

The Expedia analysis reveals that Thursday is the best day to travel abroad if you’re pinching pennies, with international airfares 14% less expensive on average when compared to Sundays.

Meanwhile, Saturday is the cheapest day to depart on a domestic flight.

The company confirmed that savvy savers should select Sunday to book their flights, as seat prices are usually at their lowest of the week.
Expedia

The company also advised travelers to book flights that depart before 3 p.m., as there’s far less chance of cancellation.

According to an Expedia survey, 32% of US air travelers try to avoid morning flights as getting up early to get to the airport on time can cause stress.

However, year-to-date flight status data reveals that flights that depart after 3 p.m. have a 50% higher chance of being canceled than those that depart earlier in the day.

While Sunday might be the cheapest day to book a flight, it turns out it’s the most expensive day to take to the skies.
Expedia

The data analysis comes just a week after a report revealed that international tickets to Europe have increased in price by a staggering 35% compared to last year.

Round-trip flights to Asia are up 23% from 2022 and an eye-popping 61% higher than they were in 2019, according to Hopper.

However, it’s better news for those doing domestic air travel, with fares across the US dropping 15% when compared to Aug. 2022.