Report: Friday Is Now Cheapest Day to Fly
Friday has become the cheapest day of the week to fly, a shift from previous years, according to Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report. The report finds that travelers can yield the best fares by departing or returning on a Friday. The analysis also identified the most affordable months for travel, aiming to help budget-conscious planning.
- The shift to Friday being the cheapest day for flights is a recent development, as last year's Expedia report identified Thursday for international and Saturday for domestic travel as the most affordable. This change is attributed to a decrease in business travelers heading home at the end of the week, creating an opportunity for leisure travelers. - August is the most affordable month for overall travel, with flights being 29% cheaper on average than in December, which can save travelers around $120 per ticket. For domestic travel specifically, January is the cheapest month due to lower post-holiday demand. - The ideal time to book domestic flights is between 15 and 30 days before departure, which can result in savings of about $130 compared to booking more than six months in advance. - While Friday is now the cheapest day to fly, Tuesday is the least busy day of the week to be at the airport. The report identifies February 25, March 4, and November 18 as some of the slowest travel dates in 2026. - Several international destinations have seen significant price drops year-over-year, including flights to Morelia, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan; and Honduras, with decreases of over 30%. - A rising trend of "micro-cations," or 24-hour trips, is noted among younger travelers, with 25% of both Millennials and Gen Z planning to fly to a destination for just one day. Popular day-trip destinations include Toronto, Nassau, San Juan, and Montreal. - Domestic first-class fares have seen a significant decrease, dropping 27% year-over-year. - In contrast to the new findings for Fridays, previous analysis from other sources has often cited Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday as the cheapest days for domestic flights.
