Some believe Tuesdays are the cheapest day to book flights because that's when most sales start. Others swear that Sunday is the cheapest day to book because the agencies that usually book business trips at the weekend do so. You might be wondering, which one is it?
Google wants to provide reliable answers to these questions because, with its Google Flights platform, the company has a mountain of data on all connections and ticket prices on its servers. This data has been crunched for a full five years, and here are the results.
The simple answer: it doesn't exist. Over the long period that was tracked, there hasn't been one day of the week that is significantly cheaper than any other. On average, you can save just 1.9% by booking in the middle of the week (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) rather than at the weekend.
So rather than waiting for a specific day of the week, it's better to monitor prices for your desired destinations (including using a price alert) and then book when prices drop. Or simply download our app and sign up for push notifications to be automatically alerted to the best flight deals.
You'll be pleased to know there is a cheapest day to fly. Statistically, people who fly for personal holidays often choose a travel date from weekend to weekend. Therefore, flights on these days (especially Sundays) are the most expensive. On the other hand, if you fly on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, you should save an average of 12%, according to Google.
The answer depends largely on the flight route. While many short-haul and medium-haul routes are cheapest on average 3 to 9 weeks before departure, the best deals for transatlantic flights are usually found a little earlier, 7 to 16 weeks before departure.
Consider departing from abroad: Starting your long-haul journey in Amsterdam, Scandinavia or Southeast Europe can often save you more than the additional costs to get you there. As a bonus, why not stay in the country for a few days to experience a new place?
Stay flexible: If you are not fixed on a travel destination, but decide spontaneously based on the offer, you have a particularly high potential for savings.
Avoid popular travel periods: If you are not dependent on school holidays, consider travel dates outside of these periods.
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