Best Time to Book Flights: Complete Guide (2025-2026)

Q: Is it cheaper to book flights on Tuesday?

The day you book does not matter much. The day you fly does. Fly on Tuesday or Wednesday for the cheapest fares. That said, airlines often announce sales on Tuesday, so it is worth checking then.

When is the best time to book flights? We analyzed 5 years of fare data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to find the answer. Here's exactly when to book for the cheapest flights.

The Short Answer

1-3 mo Ideal Booking Window

Tue/Wed Cheapest Days to Fly

Jan-Mar Cheapest Months

Best Time to Book by Trip Type

Trip Type	Book This Far Ahead	Why
Domestic (US)	1-3 months	Sweet spot for availability and price
International	2-8 months	Longer routes need more lead time
Holiday Travel	2-3 months	Popular dates sell out early
Summer Vacation	3-4 months	Peak season = book early
Last Minute	1-2 weeks	Only works for flexible travelers

Cheapest Months to Fly

Not all months are created equal. Here's how prices vary throughout the year:

Season	Months	Price vs Average	Verdict
Q1 (January - March)	Oct-Dec	-8%	Best time to fly
Q2 (April - June)	Oct-Dec	-2%	Average
Q3 (July - September)	Oct-Dec	+13%	Expensive
Q4 (October - December)	Oct-Dec	-4%	Average

Best Day of the Week to Fly

The day you fly matters more than you think:

Cheapest: Tuesday and Wednesday (15-20% savings)
Average: Thursday and Saturday
Most Expensive: Sunday evening and Friday afternoon

Why? Business travelers fly Sunday-Thursday, creating demand. Weekend leisure travelers compete for Friday departures. Tuesday and Wednesday fall in the gap.

Best Time of Day to Book

Contrary to popular belief, there's no magic hour to book flights. Airlines use dynamic pricing that updates constantly. What matters more:

Set price alerts instead of refreshing manually
Use incognito mode to avoid cookie-based price increases
Check prices on Tuesday when airlines often release sales

Current Deals: Routes Below Average

These routes are currently priced below their 5-year averages:

Route	Current Price	Savings

Common Booking Mistakes to Avoid

Booking too early. More than 4 months ahead often means higher prices.
Waiting too long. Last-minute rarely means cheap for popular routes.
Ignoring nearby airports. Flying into Oakland instead of SFO can save $100+.
Only checking one site. Compare prices across multiple booking platforms.
Flying on peak days. Sunday evening and Friday afternoon cost more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to book flights on Tuesday?

The day you book doesn't matter much. The day you fly does. Fly on Tuesday or Wednesday for the cheapest fares. That said, airlines often announce sales on Tuesday, so it's worth checking then.

How far in advance should I book international flights?

For international flights, book 2-8 months ahead. Longer routes to Asia or Australia benefit from earlier booking (4-6 months). Europe flights can often be found 2-3 months ahead.

Do flight prices go down closer to the departure date?

Usually no. For popular routes, prices typically increase as the departure date approaches. Last-minute deals only happen when flights aren't selling well, which is rare for major routes.

What's the cheapest month to fly domestically?

January through early March offers the lowest fares. After the holiday rush, airlines drop prices to fill seats. Avoid spring break weeks (mid-March) and summer (June-August).

Data Source

This guide uses 5 years of quarterly fare data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, covering 110+ major US domestic routes. Seasonal patterns are averages across all tracked routes.