If you’ve ever suspected certain days of the week carry higher ticket prices than others, your intuition is correct.
The least expensive days to travel by plane are… drumroll, please… Tuesday and Wednesday. These midweek dates attract fewer travelers because they don’t align with the usual Monday-through-Friday work routine, so airlines often reduce fares slightly for those flights.
That’s the brief version. There’s more to understand when reserving a flight if you want to make sure you’re getting the best possible price.
Why Midweek Flights Tend to Be Cheaper
A 2019 analysis from CheapAir.com confirmed what earlier research showed: flying during the middle of the week typically costs less.
In some instances, those savings can approach $85 compared with the priciest day — Sunday — with Friday usually the next most costly. Weekend travel is popular because people are off work and children are out of school, so if you can depart on less convenient days, you’ll often pocket a few extra dollars.
And to be clear, the timing of your ticket purchase matters far less than when you fly. Many travel pros agree that the day you buy a ticket doesn’t usually produce substantial price differences.
When to Book: Hit the Prime Booking Window
Another important variable in landing a good fare is how far ahead you reserve your seat.
The ideal period is the prime booking window, which generally spans from about three weeks to four months prior to your departure. CheapAir.com reports fares inside this window are within roughly 5% of their lowest point and tend to remain steady rather than suddenly rising.
If you prefer to organize trips well in advance, expect to pay a premium for bookings made more than six months ahead — sometimes around $50 extra compared with the prime window — but you’ll gain access to a broader selection of flights.
Conversely, waiting until the eleventh hour rarely rewards you. Reserving less than two weeks before departure often leads to higher prices.
Seasonal Patterns in Airfare
With the prime booking window in mind, also consider how prices shift depending on the time of year you plan to travel.
Winter
If you’ve flown home for year-end holidays, you’ve seen this firsthand: winter is generally the priciest season to fly. CheapAir.com cites the average domestic airfare in winter as $433 — a noticeable jump.
On the plus side, you’ll get to join hordes of fellow travelers in packed terminals. To blunt some of winter’s sticker shock, aim to book roughly 94 days before your trip, which is the average best time to buy during the season.
Spring
Spring break brings many families and college students on the move for a week in March and April. Snagging lower rates often means flying midweek. The average optimum booking time in spring is about 84 days ahead of travel.
Summer
Try to travel later in the season. Early summer — especially July — tends to be the most expensive month to fly, while late August into September frequently yields better bargains. Plan to book around 99 days before departure.
Fall
Autumn is commonly a shoulder season — that transition period between high and low travel times — for many destinations, when overall travel volume is lighter.
You can find deals in fall so long as you steer clear of Thanksgiving week; approximately 69 days in advance is the sweet spot for booking during this period.
Your Destination Changes the Best Booking Timeline
It’s not just that some cities cost more to reach than others — the optimal lead time for buying tickets differs by region too. CheapAir.com provides recommended booking windows by destination:
- Canada: 59 days ahead
- Mexico & Central America: 61 days
- Caribbean: 76 days
- South America: 81 days
- Middle East/Africa: 119 days
- Asia/Pacific: 90 days
- Europe: 99 days
One last tip — not strictly about which weekday is cheapest but important for saving money: check nearby alternative airports. Regional airports served by smaller carriers can have fares that look unreal compared with major hubs. A $55 fare to Orlando? Don’t laugh — it happens.
Use this handy list of lesser known airports around big cities and compare prices before you pull the trigger. Also consider reading about the best time to buy plane tickets for more buying strategies.
Safe travels!
Alex Parker is a senior editor at Savinly.
