The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results

Post Published July 2, 2024

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The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Sunday savings surprise for domestic and international flights





The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results

According to the study, travelers can save around 5% on domestic flights and up to 15% on international flights by booking on a Sunday rather than a Friday.

Additionally, the ideal window for booking cheap flights has shifted to 30-37 days before departure, with Sunday being the best day to book for significant savings.

However, the trend of Sunday being the cheapest day to book flights is not new, as it has been the case even before 2020.

Booking flights on a Sunday can yield significant savings, with travelers saving up to 15% on international flights and around 5% on domestic flights compared to booking on a Friday.

The ideal booking window for the best flight deals has shifted from 28-35 days in advance to 30-37 days before departure, with Sunday being the optimal day to book.

Flying before 3 pm can also contribute to cost savings, as it helps minimize the impact of delays on flight prices.

Expedia's study found that the savings from booking on a Sunday instead of a Friday have increased from 17% for domestic flights and 24% for international flights in 2021 to 5% more in 2022, indicating a growing trend.

Interestingly, the best day to book flights has remained consistent, with Sunday being the optimal choice since before 2020, even as the ideal booking window has shifted.

The continued trend of Sunday being the best day to book flights suggests that airlines and travel providers may be adjusting their pricing strategies to take advantage of this consumer behavior.

What else is in this post?

  1. The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Sunday savings surprise for domestic and international flights
  2. The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Saturdays emerge as most expensive booking day
  3. The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Optimal booking window 3-25 weeks before departure
  4. The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Tuesday myth debunked small savings compared to other factors
  5. The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Midweek flights offer better value than weekend travel
  6. The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Airline discounts often released during low-demand periods

The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Saturdays emerge as most expensive booking day





Saturdays emerge as the most expensive day for booking flights, with the average ticket cost reaching $241.61, surpassing even Fridays at $238.47.

The research indicates that waiting until the end of the week to finalize travel plans can result in significantly higher costs.

In contrast, Sunday remains the best day to book flights, allowing travelers to save up to 20% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights compared to booking on Fridays.

The optimal booking window has shifted to 30-37 days before departure, highlighting the importance of planning ahead for the best deals.

The average ticket cost on Saturdays was $61, significantly higher than the average of $47 on Fridays, making Saturdays the most expensive day to book flights.

Booking flights towards the end of the week, during the weekend rush, appears to come at a premium price, likely due to increased demand as travelers finalize their weekend getaway plans.

Contrary to popular belief, the best day to book flights is not Tuesday, as many had previously thought.

Experts recommend booking on Sundays, which can save travelers up to 20% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights compared to booking on Fridays.

Midweek days like Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday also tend to offer slightly better rates than Fridays and Saturdays, which are typically the most expensive days to book flights.

For the best savings, travelers should aim to book their flights about a month in advance, especially for international travel, as this can result in significantly lower costs compared to last-minute bookings.

The trend of Sunday being the cheapest day to book flights has remained consistent even before 2020, suggesting that airlines and travel providers may be adjusting their pricing strategies to capitalize on this consumer behavior.

Booking flights before 3 pm can contribute to additional cost savings, as it helps minimize the impact of delays on flight prices, which can often drive up the final ticket price.


The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Optimal booking window 3-25 weeks before departure





The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results

According to CheapAir.com's annual airfare study, booking a ticket at least 3 weeks before the travel date, but no more than 2.5 months in advance, is the sweet spot for snagging the most affordable flight fares.

This booking window seems to provide travelers the best balance between early planning and not booking too far in advance.

According to CheapAir.com's Annual Airfare Study, booking a ticket at least 3 weeks before departure and no more than 25 weeks in advance is the sweet spot for finding the best flight fares.

For domestic flights, the ideal booking window is typically 1-2 months ahead of the travel date to get the best deals.

For international flights, travelers should aim to book 3-5 months in advance to secure the lowest fares.

Booking award travel either when the schedule opens or at the last minute can be the best strategy, as airlines often release more award seats closer to the travel date.

Midweek days, such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, are generally the cheapest days to fly, with significant savings compared to booking on Fridays or Sundays.

Flights booked before 3 pm can result in additional cost savings, as it helps minimize the impact of delays on final ticket prices.

The optimal booking window has shifted from 28-35 days in advance to 30-37 days before departure, indicating airlines and travel providers are adjusting their pricing strategies.

Interestingly, the trend of Sunday being the cheapest day to book flights has remained consistent even before 2020, suggesting airlines are capitalizing on this consumer behavior.


The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Tuesday myth debunked small savings compared to other factors





Recent studies have debunked the "Tuesday myth" of booking flights being the cheapest day.

The savings from booking on a Tuesday are relatively small, around $3 on average, compared to other factors like flexibility, airline credit cards, and travel dates that have a greater impact on finding the best flight deals.

Experts suggest there is no single best day to book flights, as the savings are marginal across the week.

The "Tuesday myth" of booking flights on Tuesdays being the cheapest has been debunked by recent studies.

The savings from booking on a Tuesday are relatively small, around $3 on average for domestic flights in the US.

Experts suggest there is no single best day to book flights, as the savings are marginal compared to other factors like flexibility, airline credit cards, and travel dates.

While Tuesdays may not be the optimal day to book, data shows that flights departing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally cheaper than the rest of the week, likely due to reduced business travel demand.

The best time to book a domestic flight is typically 1 to 4 months before the departure date, while for international flights, it's 2 to 8 months in advance.

Last-minute bookings are not necessarily cheaper, as airlines often charge more for these tickets, contrary to the common belief.

The myth that flight prices increase the more you search for them is not supported by evidence, as other factors play a more significant role in price changes.

Booking flights on a Sunday can yield significant savings, with travelers saving up to 15% on international flights and around 5% on domestic flights compared to booking on a Friday.

The continued trend of Sunday being the best day to book flights suggests that airlines and travel providers may be adjusting their pricing strategies to take advantage of this consumer behavior.

Booking flights before 3 pm can contribute to additional cost savings, as it helps minimize the impact of delays on flight prices.


The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Midweek flights offer better value than weekend travel





The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results

Midweek flights, particularly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, offer slightly better rates compared to flying on weekends.

Fridays and Saturdays are typically the most expensive days to book flights, with prices running 5-15% higher than midweek travel.

Travelers can save an average of $56 per ticket on domestic airfare by booking midweek flights instead of on weekends, with the savings increasing to over $60 during busy travel seasons.

Midweek flights, particularly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, can save travelers up to $60 per ticket on domestic airfares during peak travel seasons compared to weekend flights.

The savings spike to over $100 per ticket when flying midweek over the holidays, making it a significant cost-saving strategy for holiday travel.

A recent study by Expedia found that booking flights on Sundays can provide up to 15% savings on international flights and around 5% on domestic flights compared to booking on Fridays.

The ideal booking window for the best flight deals has shifted from 28-35 days in advance to 30-37 days before departure, with Sunday being the optimal day to book.

Saturdays have emerged as the most expensive day to book flights, with the average ticket cost reaching $61, surpassing even Fridays at $

Booking flights towards the end of the week, during the weekend rush, appears to come at a premium price, likely due to increased demand as travelers finalize their weekend getaway plans.

Contrary to popular belief, the "Tuesday myth" of booking flights on Tuesdays being the cheapest has been debunked, with the savings being relatively small, around $3 on average for domestic flights.

Flights booked before 3 pm can result in additional cost savings, as it helps minimize the impact of delays on final ticket prices.

The trend of Sunday being the cheapest day to book flights has remained consistent even before 2020, suggesting that airlines and travel providers may be adjusting their pricing strategies to capitalize on this consumer behavior.

For international flights, travelers should aim to book 3-5 months in advance to secure the lowest fares, while for domestic flights, the ideal booking window is typically 1-2 months ahead of the travel date.


The Best Day to Book Flights New Study Reveals Surprising Results - Airline discounts often released during low-demand periods





Airline discounts are often released during low-demand periods, such as midweek days and off-peak travel seasons.

This allows airlines to incentivize bookings and fill seats during times when demand is typically lower.

Travelers can take advantage of these discounts by being flexible with their travel dates and booking flights on days like Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Airline discounts are frequently offered during off-peak travel seasons, such as late fall and early winter, when demand for flights is lower.

Airlines often introduce seat sales and promotional fares to incentivize travel during these slower periods, which can result in significant savings for savvy consumers.

According to industry data, airline ticket prices can be up to 25% lower during low-demand periods compared to peak travel seasons.

Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the cheapest days to book flights, as airlines often release discounted fares on these days to fill seats for the upcoming weekend.

Midweek flights, particularly on Wednesdays, can be up to 15% less expensive than weekend flights, as business travel demand is typically lower on these days.

Airline loyalty programs frequently offer bonus miles or discounted redemption rates during off-peak travel periods, making it an opportune time for travelers to maximize their points and miles.

Destinations that are popular for leisure travel, such as beach and ski destinations, often see the most significant discounts during their respective off-seasons.

Airlines may offer discounted fares or package deals to encourage travel to less-visited destinations during low-demand periods, providing travelers with unique opportunities to explore new places.

The use of advanced data analytics by airlines has enabled them to more precisely target and time their discount offerings to coincide with periods of lower demand, further optimizing their revenue management.

Travelers who are flexible with their travel dates and destinations can often take advantage of these airline discounts to secure significant savings on their flights.

While the specific discounts and timing may vary by airline, the general trend of offering more attractive fares during low-demand periods has become an industry-wide strategy to maximize occupancy and revenue.

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