What is the best day and time to book flights?

There's a lot of speculation about the best day and time to book, with Tuesday and Wednesday often cited as the cheapest days to buy airline tickets. But does the day or time you buy a plane ticket really affect the price you pay?

Let's take a closer look at what influences the cost of a flight. And some of the tactics you can use to get a cheaper deal, Forbes writes.

What is the best day to buy plane tickets?

Vacationers often try to find the best day to book flights to get the cheapest price. Data from 2023 from the Expedia travel group shows that British travelers who booked flights on Sunday saved up to 23% on average compared to those who bought tickets on Friday.

But before you rush to set a reminder to book your tickets for that day, the science behind flight prices is much simpler. The reality is that airlines are looking to fill as many seats as possible on an airplane and set ticket prices based on this principle.

Sean Tipton, media relations manager at the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), said: "Airfares are determined by supply and demand - prices are much higher when there is more demand. They usually reduce prices when demand is lower to encourage customers to buy airline tickets."

Avoiding traveling during peak periods, such as the summer months or during the Christmas and New Year holidays, can help you get cheaper airfare because demand is lower outside of these periods.

However, it is not always possible to travel outside of these periods, especially if you have school-age children. But if you are traveling during peak times of the year, you can still save money by choosing a quieter day.

Tipton continues: "Demand for flights tends to be much higher on weekends, so prices are likely to be higher than if you're traveling in the middle of the week, say on a Tuesday or Wednesday."

Ultimately, finding a cheap flight depends not so much on the day you book, but on how popular your flight is.

"If there was a certain day or date that was announced as the cheapest to buy tickets, everyone would want to book their flights for that time, and the demand for them would skyrocket. That would drive up ticket prices," says Tipton.

When is the best time to book airline tickets?

As a rule, airlines offer cheaper prices when flights are new to the market, so booking early can help you find a cheaper deal.

According to Expedia, UK travelers who booked domestic flights at least five months in advance saved an average of 35% on their flight cost compared to those who waited until the last minute.

At the same time, airlines can also reduce prices for flights with many empty seats closer to the departure date to try to fill them. It all comes down to supply and demand.

For example, Expedia data shows that the ideal time to book international flights from the UK is between eight and 23 days before departure, allowing travelers to save an average of 8%. The worst time to book international flights is 36-63 days before departure.

How to find cheap flights

Whether you're ready to book your next trip or still in the planning stages, here are some tactics to help you find the best deal and save money on your next flight.

Book early

As a rule of thumb, the earlier you book your flights, the cheaper they are. Airlines release flights 12 months before the departure date, although you may be able to book them as part of a package deal 18 months before the departure date.

Use airfare comparison sites

Airfare comparison sites like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Bookings.com make it easy to find cheap flights. You'll need to enter the departure airport of your flight, the airport at your chosen destination, and the dates you'd like to travel. You can use the filters on your platform of choice to sort the results by price to find the cheapest option.

Set up price alerts

Platforms like Google Flights help you find and track airfares. Once you've found a flight, you can set up price alerts to receive notifications whenever the price of a ticket changes.

You can also view the price history of flights and see how the current price compares to the average price. This will help you understand whether you should buy a ticket immediately or wait until prices drop.

Consider buying two one-way tickets

Sometimes splitting a round trip into two one-way flights can be cheaper than buying a round trip ticket. Therefore, it is worth comparing the cost of both options to see if splitting your trip into parts will help you save money.

Be flexible with your schedule

The cheapest flights are usually outside of peak hours, such as early morning or late evening. If possible, flying during quieter periods can help you reduce your ticket price.

Consider connecting flights (instead of a direct flight)

You can save money on your flight by choosing a flight with one or two stops along the way. While this can help reduce the cost of your ticket, you'll need to weigh whether the extra time added to your trip is worth it. Plus, you'll still have to spend money when you change planes.

Join clubs with great deals

Signing up for airline clubs that offer great deals, such as Jack's Flight Club, can help you find cheap airfare. Although keep in mind that some of them charge a fee for access to a wider range of offers. For example, Jack's Flight Club offers a premium membership (currently costing up to £48 per year), which includes faster and more exclusive airfare deals than the free newsletter.

Make the most of your rewards points

Some rewards credit cards allow you to accumulate points that can be used to pay for a flight or vacation. It's worth checking to see if you have enough points to help you save on your flight.

How to buy cheap flights at the last minute

You can still book a cheap flight at the last minute using some of these tactics:

Compare prices online - this is an easy way to quickly compare ticket prices. You can sort the options by price to find the cheapest option for your trip.

Consider flying to a different airport: You may be able to get a cheap last-minute flight by flying to a different airport within or near your chosen destination.

Travel in the middle of the week: airfares are usually cheaper in the middle of the week compared to Friday and weekends. Traveling at less busy times, such as early in the morning or late in the evening, can also help you save money on last-minute flights.

Travel Wise wrote that the drop in airfares in 2023 opens up new travel horizons.