Oct 8, 2026

This Used To Be the Cheapest Day To Book a Flight — Here's What Changed

For years, booking flights on a specific day of the week was the Holy Grail of cheap airfare — a simple hack that supposedly saved you serious cash. But here's the thing: the travel world has changed dramatically, airlines have gotten smarter about pricing and that old trick might be as outdated as printing your boarding pass.

So, we dug into the data and talked to the experts to find out what actually works now. The results? They're not what you'd expect, and they might just change the way you book your next flight.

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When Is the Cheapest Day To Book?

According to Expedia's 2024 data, Sunday was the cheapest day to book a flight, while Friday was the priciest — a 13% difference that could save you $65 on a $500 ticket. But fast forward to 2026, and that gap has basically evaporated. The 2026 Air Hacks Report found Friday edged out Sunday as the cheapest day, with a meager 3% difference (about $15 on a $500 ticket).

Google Flights analyzed booking data from 2021 to 2025 and found an even smaller gap: Tuesday was cheapest, but only 1.3% cheaper than Sunday, the most expensive day. "For a $500 ticket, that's just $6.50, and one price change could erase that difference," explained Andres Serra, head of operations at Optimise Travel.

James Byers, group product manager for Google Search, told Travel + Leisure that people won’t save much money by booking on any particular day of the week. Instead, they should focus on how far in advance they book. Google advises booking 39 days in advance for domestic flights and 49 days in advance for international flights to get the best deals.

What Changed?

Airlines didn't just raise prices — they fundamentally changed how they set them. Katy Nastro, a travel expert and aviation correspondent at Flighty, explained that airlines are now using artificial intelligence-based tools that adjust pricing in real time based on seat availability and demand. As a result, there’s no single best day to book a flight.

She acknowledged that many reports suggest that certain days of the week are considered cheaper “on average,” but the reality is that nobody books averages, as they focus on what’s available when they’re searching. It’s more reliable to focus on windows to book within and the days to target.

Since costs are higher overall, you have to be more diligent about booking in advance. Nastro recommended starting your search two months out for domestic flights and up to eight months out for international flights if you want a chance at finding the best price.

Is There a Cheaper Day To Fly?

While there's no best day to book, there absolutely is a best day to fly. According to Google's data, flying Monday through Wednesday typically costs about 13% less than weekends.

This difference makes sense: fewer people want to travel midweek, so airlines price accordingly. But even this is getting harder to predict. Airlines constantly adjust prices throughout the day based on remaining seat inventory and competitor pricing. To maximize efficiency amid higher fuel costs, they may even adjust their schedules and limit the number of flights available to avoid having to drop prices.

The Real Strategy

Forget waiting for a magic booking day. Instead, follow Serra's approach: "When I plan a trip, I watch the specific route, set up price alerts, check nearby airports and try leaving a day or two earlier or later. If the price is normal or low for that trip and my dates are set, I book it rather than waiting for a specific day of the week."

Flexibility beats superstition. The days of a guaranteed "cheap booking day" are gone, but smarter travelers can still find deals by staying diligent and adaptable.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by

Martin Dasko

Edited by

Ashleigh Ray