Floating around the Internet are all sorts of tricks and tips for booking the cheapest flight, but we have a bit of bad news —most of them are just urban legends. Sadly, that includes waiting until a specific time of day to book flights.
It might have been true at one point in time, when airlines pushed out price changes at a far slower pace, but in 2023, airline pricing is extremely dynamic. According to a 2023 report by CheapAir.com that crunched data for nearly a billion flights, airfare for a flight changes an average of 49 times from the date the flight goes on sale until departure. And it changes by an average of $43 each time. The process is largely controlled by computer software and is increasingly being bolstered by AI, so price changes can happen at any second. That's why there's no specific time of day— or even a specific day of the week, for that matter — that's best for booking cheap flights.
Related: 5 Best Flight Search Engines for Finding the Cheapest Flights
But that doesn't mean all hope is lost for deal seekers. One way to find cheaper airfare is not to look for flights at a certain time of day, but to look for flights a certain number of days before your flight.
The CheapAir.com report suggests a prime booking window of 46 days to 164 days before travel within North America for the lowest prices. Yes, that's a four-month window, which goes to show that flight pricing can change at any time. So before you add a calendar reminder for 164 days before your flight, remember that this suggestion is based on averages. The reality is pricing changes all the time.
The general rule of thumb for timing, however, is that booking flights at the last minute is more expensive than booking at least a few weeks in advance. But there are always exceptions —you might get super lucky and find a bargain on last-minute flights.
For a surefire way to keep prices as low as possible, you're going to have to be flexible about your travel dates. The key is to fly on days that are not as high-demand as others. CheapAir.com's report found Tuesday and Wednesday to be the cheapest days of the week to fly, offering nearly $100 in savings compared to Sunday, the most expensive day to fly. Fridays and Saturdays are also busy, with Friday travel leaning toward business travelers and Saturday leaning toward leisure travelers.
Related: The Best Time to Book a Flight for Domestic, International, and Summer Travel
You should also aim to avoid traveling during peak and holiday seasons when airlines will jack up flight prices to match the high demand. Peak travel varies by destination, but it isn't limited to the weather —keep in mind that special events like music festivals or sporting events can also affect airfare.
All this said, we do have one hack that we'd like to introduce to you to save money on your flight. Most airlines eliminated change and cancellation fees during the pandemic, and many of them made those changes permanent (but basic economy usually does not qualify.) That means you can change your flight at any time if you find a better price. As such, we recommend booking earlier rather than later —as soon as you find a price you're comfortable with. Then you just need to set up price alerts for your flight to see if the price changes before departure.
There is a bit of a caveat here —you may not get a refund for the price difference. Instead, you might end up with an airline e-credit. It all depends on your airline's overall policy as well as the specific rules associated with your ticket's fare class. So if you do plan on using this hack, make sure you'd be okay with receiving an e-credit rather than a refund. If you're a frequent traveler, we're sure you'll find a way to spend it.
FAQs
Best Time of Day to Book Flights
So there's truly no reason to look for flights at a specific time of day. What you can do, however, is set price alerts for a flight, which will give you real-time notifications about price changes. Expedia's alerts even use data to predict whether or not pricing will drop further.
What time of day do flight prices drop? ›
Some experts suggest purchasing your tickets on a Tuesday afternoon, while others insist that this technique might not produce the results you're after. Buying airfare at the stroke of midnight can yield a small amount of savings, say others, but it may not always be worth it to stay up late just to book a flight.
What are the best timings to book flights? ›
The best time to book airfare is within a window of 21 to 74 days before you plan to fly, and the cheapest tickets are generally on mid-week flights. You can also save if you use an airline miles credit to book flights that help you earn miles or points toward future air travel.
What day are flights cheapest online? ›
The price of your flight depends on a variety of factors, not just the day you book it and the day you fly out. However, data from Expedia's 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report shows that consumers can save money by booking on Sundays and flying out on Thursdays.
Are flights cheaper at midnight? ›
“It all varies, depending on the route you're flying, etc.” That means there isn't one best time to book a flight during the day—and that it's a myth that it's cheapest to book flights at midnight. Save 6% on domestic travel and 13% on international flights.
What flights are better morning or night? ›
The early bird may be known for catching the worm, but it also catches the best flights. In fact, people who get the first flight in the morning can usually expect a smoother trip, friendlier staff, a cleaner plane and, often, a cheaper ticket.
How much do flights go down on Tuesday? ›
According to our data and flight price history, Tuesday is the day to book. It seems most airlines launch their discounts on Monday nights, so you can pick up the best prices on Tuesday mornings. Typically, you'll save somewhere between 15 and 25 percent.
Do flights get more expensive as the day goes on? ›
Yes, for a large number of reasons. First, the more popular routes and times- like the 7:00 AM JFK-LAX, costs more than the red-eye. Direct flights usually cost less than connecting flights, and they may not be as frequent. It is best if you can plan in advance to get the best airfares.
Can your flight price be increased after you have paid and booked your flights? ›
Yes it is possible for the price of the ticket to go up between the time you paid and it is ticketed, even though you have made a booking. The price on the booking is guaranteed at ticketing, not at booking. Sort of like this: you buy a ticket at 11:55 PM, and the price for the ticket expires at midnight.
How far out should you book a flight for the best price? ›
A new study is solving the eternal question of when to book your flight for the best price. According to CheapAir.com's Annual Airfare Study, booking a ticket at least three weeks before departing, and no more than 2.5 months in advance, is the sweet spot for snagging the best flight deal.
No, it's not necessary that airline tickets tend to be cheaper if you purchase them at night. The price of airline tickets can change frequently based on various factors like demand, the time of year, and how close the travel date is.
How last minute should I book a flight? ›
Try to book before the week prior to travel.
If you're a big planner, last-minute might be a month before a trip. If you're more inclined to wing it, you might be willing to book a trip a day in advance. In an ideal world, you should try to book flights at least a week in advance.
What days are cheapest flight days? ›
Average domestic airfare price by day
- Tuesday and Friday flights can help you avoid the rush earlier in the week.
- Wednesdays and Saturdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally.
- Fly on the holidays (or as far from it as possible)
- Book one to three months in advance.
- Set a price alert.
According to a study by Expedia, the cheapest day to book flights is Sunday. When comparing Sunday flight prices to Friday, Expedia found that travelers save 5% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights. Sunday has been the best day of the week to book flights since before 2020.
What is the cheapest airline to fly right now? ›
Currently, Frontier Airlines offers the lowest-priced flights around United States. The lowest price we found over the next 12 months is $34.
How ahead of time should I book a flight? ›
In our experience, while fantastic deals can pop up at any time, the best time to book a flight (what we call the Goldilocks Window) is 1–3 months ahead for domestic travel and 2–8 months ahead for international travel—unless your trip is around a popular holiday or peak travel time, or you have very specific travel ...
Are flight prices going up or down? ›
The travel arrangements company BCD Travel expects global fares to drop next year, but just slightly — less than 1% compared to 2023 — with a more pronounced drop in airfares to and from Asia (3% for business class, nearly 4% for economy), according to its “Travel Market Report 2024 Outlook.”
What's the cheapest day to book a holiday? ›
Weekdays: Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally cheaper to book flights and accommodations compared to weekends. It's easier to get away at the weekend. More customers means higher prices! Saturdays are also a good day to find cheaper flight deals as.
