Wondering how to score flight deals? Google has done the hard work for you by going through five years of data to reveal the cheapest days to fly, the best times to book flights, and tips to ensure you are getting a good deal. According to the tech giant, the search query “cheapest airline tickets” has increased over 240% from April to August 2022. Similarly, people are searching for the best times to book flights and the best ways to find cheap flights. Google took notice and laid out its best answers based on data collected from the last five years.
Best Days to Book and Fly
Best Days to Book
Travelers may have heard from friends or family that booking flights on a Tuesday would get them the best rates. This “tip” has engrained itself into travelers’ minds so much that it has become a commonly held belief. However, Google found that it really doesn’t make much difference which day of the week you decide to book flights.
They found that booking a flight on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday only saved about 1.9% compared to booking on the weekend. While it is slightly cheaper, it may be better to go ahead and secure your flight as soon as you solidify your plans.
Best Days to Fly
According to Google, the cheapest days of the week to fly are the first few days of the week. Flying out on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday is about 12% cheaper than weekend flights. That figure takes into account domestic and international flights. Savings closer to 20% can be found if you only consider domestic flights. It can be hard to make it work if your trip dates are set, but if you can be flexible with your departure date, you can often save a significant amount of money on a flight.
How Far Out To Book Your Flights
One of the most interesting insights from Google is the number of days ahead of your intended travel date you should book your flights for the most savings. With five years of data to support their findings, you can trust that these guidelines will stretch your dollar further when booking flights.
For The Holidays
Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, so this tip may come in handy soon! For Thanksgiving flights within the U.S., the cheapest time to book is 36 to 74 days before your departure date. The lowest flight prices fall in the middle, at 52 days before departure.
For Christmas flights within the U.S., prices are lower between 20 and 88 days before your departure date, and the lowest prices have historically been 22 days before your intended travel date. That may be a bit too close for comfort for many travelers. With many U.S. airlines making cuts to their fall and winter schedules this year, it may be a good idea to go ahead and book sooner rather than later.
For Europe Trips
Planning ahead will definitely save you money when flying to Europe from the United States. Based on the last five years, the best times to book were between 50 and 179 days before departure. The cheapest flights will typically be 129 days before your departure date.
For The Caribbean & Mexico
While you won’t have to plan ahead as much as you would for a trip to Europe, it still pays off to plan early when traveling to Mexico or the Caribbean. The cheapest tickets will be found when you book 59 days ahead of your departure date, and prices are lower between 37 and 87 days out.
For Spring Break
Those looking to get away for spring break don’t have to plan too far ahead. For any trips starting in March or April, the cheapest time to book is between 23 and 59 days ahead. For the most savings, book 38 days ahead.
For Summer Flights
Summer is great for those who don’t want to plan very far ahead and offers the most savings 21 days before departure for trips starting in July or August. Prices are cheap between 14 and 44 days ahead of your departure date.
More Ways To Save, According to Google
- Don’t mind a layover? According to Google, you can save 20% on flights by flying a route with a layover vs. a nonstop flight.
- Check whether prices are typical. Google’s price insights will let you know whether or not the fares you are looking at are good compared to pricing over the last 12 months.
- Track prices with Google Flights to receive emails about price drops.
