Your Guide to the Cheapest Days for Booking Travel ✈️

Best Day to Book a Flight

The bad news? There’s no magic day that guarantees the lowest fare.

The good news? Sundays tend to offer a small edge. According to Expedia’s 2025 Air Travel Hacks Report, travelers booking on Sundays saved an average of 6% on domestic flights and 17% on international flights compared to booking on Mondays or Fridays.

That said, this isn't a hard-and-fast rule. A separate study by Google found little difference across most weekdays. The bottom line? Cheap flights can appear any day of the week. The key is to book when you see a price that feels right—and set up price alerts so you’re ready to pounce.

Best Day to Fly

If there’s a secret to flight savings, it’s flying on low-demand days.

• Domestic flights: Saturdays are usually the cheapest day to fly within the U.S.

• International flights: Try Wednesdays or Saturdays for the best deals.

• Avoid: Sundays and Mondays—both are consistently the most expensive days to fly.

Even shifting your itinerary by a day or two can make a big difference. A Tuesday or Friday flight might not be the absolute cheapest, but it could still save you 10–15% over flying Sunday morning.

Best Day to Book a Hotel

While hotel pricing varies by location and season, industry data shows that booking your hotel on a Sunday or Monday can often lead to lower nightly rates—especially for weekend stays.

Pro tip: Check prices midweek for last-minute weekend deals. Many hotels offer unsold rooms at a discount on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for that coming weekend.

Best Time to Book in Advance

For Domestic Flights

Aim to book 1 to 3 months before your trip. According to Google and Expedia data, the sweet spot is between 34 and 86 days out.

For International Flights

You'll typically want a bit more lead time. Flights from the U.S. to Europe are cheapest 2 to 6 months in advance, with 129 days out often being the sweet spot.

Around the Holidays

Holidays are their own beast. Prices spike fast, so book early. For Christmas, for example, Google recommends booking about 58–71 days ahead of departure. Flying on the holiday (like Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day) can also mean big savings compared to the days before or after.

Editor’s Note: My Favorite Tools

After years of hunting down cheap flights, I’ve learned that the day you book matters less than the tools you use. My go-to? Google Flights using the Explore feature. It shows you the cheapest options by date and destination . and lets you discover new places you didn’t know were affordable.

I also love Skyscanner for comparing airlines and finding flexible routes, especially for international trips. And don’t forget to set price alerts and use airlines’ no-fee cancellation policies to your advantage. You can always rebook if the fare drops.

Bottom Line

The best day to book? Whenever you find a good deal.


The best day to fly? Usually midweek or Saturday.

Focus less on rigid booking “rules” and more on flexibility, smart tools, and planning ahead. You might not score a $84 mistake fare to Ireland (true story!), but with the right mindset, you’ll still travel smarter—and cheaper—this year.