Are you planning to travel this holiday season? If so, you want the most comfortable experience on your flight. Tap or click here for an inexpensive carry-on footrest to make your next flight more relaxing.
Now that you’re ready for a comfortable flight, it’s time to book it. But when exactly is the best time to book a flight? You’ve probably heard that it’s cheaper to book on a Tuesday. But like technology and people’s habits change, so do the optimal booking days.
Read on for some tricks to scoring the best deals.
Here’s the backstory
The airline industry was ravaged by COVID in the first two years of the pandemic, seeing a steep decline in passengers. Thankfully, things are starting to look up, and people are planning to fly to their holiday destinations again.
But if you’ve been holding out for Tuesdays to score a deal, we have bad news. According to Expedia’s 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, you missed it every time by two days.
Based on average round-trip ticket prices for flights from January through August 2022, you can save up to15% when you book on a Sunday. Expedia says domestic flights booked on a Sunday average savings of 5%, and international flights can save 15%.
Also, the best time to book a domestic flight is at least a month before. Expedia said the sweet spot for affordable flights falls between 28 and 35 days before departure. And domestic flights are cheaper if you travel on a Wednesday.
If you book too far in advance, you can pay more. If possible, avoid buying a ticket three to six months before your departure date.
How to save on international flights
International flights buck this trend. You can save an average of 10% if you book a flight a least six months in advance, compared to those who booked within two months of flying.
And with millions of people planning to travel this holiday season, flight disruptions are inevitable. If you know how to play the booking game, you can dramatical reduce your chances of getting bumped.
Expedia suggests finding flights that are early in the day. Flights that leave after 3 p.m. have the best chance of being canceled. Almost 50% higher. Yikes!
Want to save the most money while minimizing your chance of delays? Then you should book your flight on a Sunday and ensure it takes off before 3 p.m. on a Wednesday. Sweet!
Keep reading
Flight canceled? Don’t fall for these airline scams
Tech tips that will make your long-haul flights more bearable
