Expedia Reveals Cheapest Flight Days
Expedia's latest report shows Friday is the cheapest day to book flights, with travelers potentially saving up to 8% on total airfare. Flying on Wednesday produces the greatest savings compared to weekends. The best booking window is 28–35 days before departure for European flights and 21–60 days ahead for domestic trips.
- The recommendation to book on a Sunday to save money has been a consistent finding for three consecutive years. This can result in savings of 6% for domestic flights and 17% for international flights compared to booking on other days of the week. - While Friday is the cheapest day to depart for domestic travel, Thursday is the most economical option for international flights, potentially saving travelers up to 7% compared to flying on a Saturday. Sunday is typically the most expensive day to start a trip. - Contrary to the belief that airfare consistently rises, average ticket prices for domestic economy flights decreased by 1% in 2024 compared to the previous year, while international economy tickets saw a 4% drop. - For those considering an upgrade, the price difference between premium and economy seats has narrowed. Compared to 2019, the gap has decreased by 10%, making premium options more accessible. - To minimize the chances of flight cancellations, it is advisable to book flights that depart before 3 p.m. Flights scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. experience the lowest cancellation rates. - Airlines utilize a strategy known as dynamic pricing, where fares fluctuate based on demand, competition, and the time of booking. This is why prices can change frequently and why booking on certain days or within specific windows can lead to savings. - The on-time arrival rate for reporting airlines was 78.10% for the full year of 2024, a slight decrease from 78.34% in 2023. The flight cancellation rate for 2024 was 1.4%, a slight increase from 1.3% in the prior year. - Global passenger traffic was expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024, reaching an estimated 9.5 billion passengers. The United States and China were the two largest aviation markets in 2024, with 876 million and 741 million passengers, respectively.
