Passengers stroll by means of the doorway of a TSA PreCheck in Terminal One at O’Hare Worldwide Airport in Chicago on Feb. 1, 2017.
Armando L. Sanchez | Chicago Tribune | Getty Photographs
Discovering a cheap flight can at instances really feel as robust as scoring a good snack on an airplane.
However journey consultants usually agree on one piece of recommendation to getting a good deal on airfare: Be versatile.
“It is our No .1 recommendation, at all times, for vacationers” in search of offers, mentioned James Byers, head of the product crew at Google Flights.
Flexibility could imply flying midweek as an alternative of throughout the weekend, or maybe touring outdoors of peak season for a specific vacation spot, he and different consultants mentioned.
“Attempt to not lock your self into a very particular date,” Byers mentioned.
Even shifting journey by a day or two in both path could make a “large distinction,” he mentioned.
The most affordable days to fly
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the most affordable days to fly. Tickets are 13% cheaper than these for weekend flights, in accordance with new Google Flights data.
Google examined common round-trip airfares from Jan. 1, 2021, by means of Aug. 1, 2025. It analyzed four-day to 16-day journeys departing from the highest 4,000 markets within the U.S.
Midweek departures are a “easy method” to save lots of $42 a ticket, or about 14%, on common, for home airfare, in accordance with a 2025 journey hacks report by Hopper.
Sunday is usually the costliest day to fly, Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist, wrote within the report. It is usually a busy day in airports as individuals fly house from weekends away, she wrote.
“Vacationers fascinated with a weekend getaway can save considerably by departing mid-week and returning on Saturday or Monday, as an alternative of Sunday,” Berg wrote.
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After all, holidays can throw a wrench into these tips.
For instance, flying on the Wednesday earlier than Thanksgiving is probably going the costliest day to fly round that individual vacation, mentioned Sally French, a journey analyst at NerdWallet.
As an added bonus, skipping weekend journey may yield massive lodge reductions. Checking in on Friday or Saturday and staying by means of Sunday usually means paying a premium exceeding 20%, or about $50 extra per evening, relative to the most affordable days of the week to test in, corresponding to Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, in accordance with Hopper knowledge.
Do not fall for this journey ‘delusion’
Cannot afford the lodge? Vacationers will pay employees to allow them to take images within the pool.
Daniloandjus | E+ | Getty Photographs
Many vacationers fall for the “delusion” that the day of the week on which they buy their flight has an enormous monetary impact, French mentioned.
“It is not true,” she mentioned. “It is not the day that you simply ebook [that’s important], it is the day that you simply fly.”
Tuesday has traditionally been the most affordable day of the week to ebook, nevertheless it’s just one.3% cheaper than Sunday, the costliest day, in accordance with the Google Flights evaluation.
“If I had been giving my family and friends recommendation on what to search for, it might be decrease on the record as an element,” Byers mentioned. “I would not say, ‘Wait till Tuesday.'”
Journey outdoors of peak season
These various journey traits provide one thing totally different than the standard trip.
Alexandr Dubynin | Second | Getty Photographs
Flexibility on a extra macro stage may assist cut back your airfare, French mentioned.
“Simply moving into a much less crowded month might be useful,” she mentioned.
This may imply touring throughout a vacation spot’s shoulder season or offseason, consultants mentioned.
Airfare usually peaks in mid-summer and drops as early fall approaches, Berg wrote. For instance, home vacationers in 2024 saved 40%, on common, or about $150, by shifting from peak summer season months to September or October, she wrote, citing Hopper knowledge.
After all, it could be troublesome for sure vacationers to be versatile.
Dad and mom could also be tied to summer season journeys because of college trip schedules, whereas staff in sure roles, say, academics or tax preparers, could also be restricted in after they can take day without work work.
Moreover, excursions or cruises usually include inflexible begin and finish dates, and it could not make monetary sense to tack on extra days — and additional lodge and meals prices — at the start or finish of a visit, French mentioned.
Different airfare hacks
D3sign | Second | Getty Photographs
There are different methods to save lots of, although, consultants mentioned.
Layovers, whereas probably burdensome, are sometimes a surefire method to economize. Reserving an itinerary with a layover saves vacationers about 22%, on common, versus flying nonstop, in accordance with Google Flights.
Simply keep in mind to pack all of the important gadgets to your journey in your carry-on baggage in case your suitcase would not make it onto the subsequent airplane, French mentioned.
Reserving forward, or, not ready till the final minute, usually yields financial savings, too, consultants mentioned.
The bottom costs have been 39 days earlier than departure for a home flight and 49 days for worldwide, in accordance with Google Flights. The goal could fluctuate primarily based on vacation spot, consultants mentioned.
