Optimal Days to Book Flights
By now, you’ve probably noticed that airline ticket prices jump around like a caffeinated squirrel—sometimes changing faster than you can hit refresh. While there’s no magic formula, Sundays have become the go-to day for booking, especially for international trips. Tuesday through Thursday also offer solid deals thanks to lighter search traffic and midweek promotions. Just avoid Friday and weekend bookings when everyone else is planning their getaways and prices spike accordingly.
The Best Days to Book Flights
Finding the best day to book a flight feels a bit like reading tea leaves, but there are some patterns worth knowing. While Tuesday used to be every traveller’s secret weapon, the sweet spot has shifted to Sunday through Thursday, when most people aren’t dreaming about their next vacation. Your best strategy? Book 1–3 months ahead for domestic trips and give yourself 2–6 months for international adventures. If you’re the type who plans beach vacations months in advance, you’re already ahead of the game.
But if you’re a last-minute business traveller, prepare for sticker shock. Popular routes like New York to Chicago get particularly pricey on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings when corporate travellers flood the market.
Days to Avoid Booking Flights
Want to watch your travel budget disappear? Try booking on Fridays and Sundays—the days when everyone’s either planning weekend escapes or scrambling to get home. These peak demand periods are like airline pricing gold mines, especially on busy routes where competition is fierce. Mondays can be just as brutal if you’re flying business-heavy corridors, since that’s when professionals kick off their workweek travels.
Pro Tip: Never, ever book in the frantic days before major holidays when panic-booking meets limited seats. Skip these high-traffic windows, and you’ll not only save money but also have better flight options to choose from.