> At a Glance
> – Domestic flights hit lowest prices 23-51 days before take-off, peaking at 39 days out
> – International fares start rising 50 days before departure-book earlier
> – Mid-week departures (Mon-Wed) save 13 % versus weekend flights
> – Why it matters: Timing your click can shave 22 % off airfare without changing destination
Google’s annual Travel Report crunches years of past ticket data to show when seats are cheapest-no crystal ball required.
Cheapest Days to Fly
Tuesday wins again. Historical prices show Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday beat weekend fares by roughly 13 %, with Sunday the costliest day to lift off.
Booking Sweet Spots
Domestic trips bottom out 23-51 days before departure, averaging 39 days out. International routes stay low until 49 days pre-flight, then climb steadily.
Season-by-season snapshots:
- Thanksgiving – book 24-59 days ahead; cheapest at 35 days
- Christmas – book 32-73 days ahead; cheapest at 51 days
- Spring break – book 28-61 days ahead; cheapest at 43 days
- Summer – book 14-43 days ahead; cheapest at 21 days
Europe vs. Mexico & Caribbean
Europe flights reward early birds-48 days or more in advance. Mexico and Caribbean buck the trend, dipping 26-79 days out and hitting bottom at 50 days.
Layovers vs. Nonstop
Accept one stop and pocket 22 % savings on average, Google’s data shows.
Day-of-Week Booking Myth
Tuesday bookings edge out Sunday by just 1.3 %-statistically pocket change.
Google Flights stated:
> “Average prices don’t meaningfully drop anytime before departure but they usually do start to rise within 50 days of the flight itself.”
Key Takeaways
- Fly Tues/Wed and save up to 13 %
- Domestic? Circle 39 days on the calendar
- Going abroad? Book before 50-day mark
- One stop beats nonstop by 22 %
- Booking day of the week barely moves the needle
Lock in dates during these windows and let the algorithms do the heavy lifting-your wallet gets the upgrade.
