Best Days to Fly for Lowest Fares
The best days to fly for the lowest fares are typically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. These midweek and weekend days have lower demand from business travelers and weekend vacationers, so airlines price seats more aggressively to fill them.
What to Look For
When hunting for cheap flights, focus on these criteria:
- Day of week: Midweek (Tue–Thu) and Saturday are usually cheaper than Monday, Friday, and Sunday.
- Advance purchase: Booking 3–6 weeks out for domestic, 2–4 months for international often hits the sweet spot.
- Seasonality: Shoulder seasons (spring/fall) and off-peak months (Jan–Feb, Sep) beat summer and holiday peaks.
- Time of day: Early morning or late-night flights (red-eyes) tend to cost less than prime daytime departures.
- Flexibility: Using fare calendars or “whole month� search tools reveals the cheapest specific dates.
Tuesday (and Wednesday)
Strengths: Historically the cheapest days to depart for domestic routes. Business travel drops after Monday, and leisure demand hasn’t picked up yet. Both Tuesday and Wednesday consistently show lower average fares in airline pricing data.
Trade-offs: You may need to take extra days off work, and some routes have fewer flight options, especially on smaller carriers.
Who it suits: Flexible remote workers, retirees, and anyone planning a long weekend who can shift their return to Wednesday.
Saturday
Strengths: Often the cheapest day to fly for leisure trips. Many vacationers prefer Friday or Sunday, so Saturday departures see less demand. It also lets you avoid the Sunday rush when everyone returns.
Trade-offs: You lose a full weekend day at your destination, and Saturday flights can be limited on some business-heavy routes (e.g., small regional airports).
Who it suits: Budget travelers who want to maximize savings over a full weekend at home, and those flying to major tourist hubs where Saturday service is plentiful.
Thursday
Strengths: A good compromise between midweek savings and weekend convenience. Thursday departures are often cheaper than Friday, and you still get a decent chunk of the weekend at your destination.
Trade-offs: Not as consistently cheap as Tuesday/Wednesday, and evening Thursday flights can carry a premium as business travelers head home early.
Who it suits: People who can take a half-day Friday or work remotely, and those visiting friends/family over the weekend.
Red-Eye Flights (Late Night/Early Morning)
Strengths: Departing after 9 PM or before 6 AM often slashes fares by 20–30% compared to midday. These flights have lower demand, and airlines price them to attract budget-conscious travelers.
Trade-offs: You lose sleep, may need extra hotel nights on arrival, and airport transport can be pricier or less frequent at odd hours.
Who it suits: Students, backpackers, and anyone who can sleep on a plane and doesn’t mind arriving at 3 AM.
Holiday Off-Peak Days
Strengths: Flying on the holiday itself (e.g., Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day) is often the cheapest day of the entire holiday period. Demand plummets because most people want to be home already.
Trade-offs: You miss the holiday with family/friends, and airport services may be reduced. Also, return flights right after the holiday are still expensive.
Who it suits: Travelers with flexible family plans who prioritize saving money over celebrating on the exact day.
International: Midweek for Long-Haul
Strengths: For international routes, Tuesday and Wednesday remain cheapest, but also consider flying on “off-day� patterns like Monday to Wednesday returns. Transatlantic and transpacific flights show bigger savings on midweek departures than domestic.
Trade-offs: You may face jet lag arriving midweek, and some international routes have limited weekly frequencies (e.g., only 3 flights a week) so you must match your schedule.
Who it suits: Long-haul budget travelers who can adjust their itinerary by a day or two.
How to Choose
Start with your budget: if saving money is the top priority, target Tuesday/Wednesday and red-eyes. If you can’t shift your work schedule, Saturday is your best bet for a weekend trip without using too many vacation days. For holidays, flying on the day itself is the clear winner.
Use fare comparison tools with a “flexible dates� view (e.g., Google Flights, Kayak, Skyscanner) to see a month grid of prices. Sort by lowest price and look for the cheapest day that still fits your plans. Remember that round-trip pricing matters—sometimes a cheap outbound day is paired with an expensive return, so check the total fare.
A common trade-off: saving $50 might not be worth losing a full day at your destination. Calculate the value of your time and vacation days. If you’re flying for a wedding or a conference, you likely have no choice—but for leisure, flexibility is your biggest lever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really cheaper to fly on Tuesday?
Yes, on average. Airlines see lower business and leisure demand on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so they discount seats to fill planes. The savings are typically 10–20% compared to Friday or Sunday.
What is the cheapest day to fly for Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving Day itself is almost always the cheapest departure day. The Wednesday before is the most expensive. If you can travel on Thursday morning, you’ll save significantly.
Does booking on a certain day of the week matter?
No. The day you book has little effect on price—airlines update fares constantly. What matters is the day you fly and how far in advance you book.
How far in advance should I book to get the best fare?
For domestic flights, 3–6 weeks is the sweet spot. For international, 2–4 months. Booking too early (over 6 months) or too late (under 2 weeks) usually costs more.
Are red-eye flights always cheaper?
Not always, but often. They’re less popular, so airlines price them lower. However, on routes with few red-eyes, the discount may be minimal—always compare.
Is it cheaper to fly on Saturday or Sunday?
Saturday is cheaper. Sunday is the most expensive day to fly because everyone returns from weekend trips. If you can return on Saturday or Monday, you’ll save.
Bottom Line
For the lowest fares, book a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday departure, and consider red-eye times. Use flexible date search tools to see the exact price differences for your route. If you’re flexible, you can save 20–30% compared to peak days. The best pick overall: Tuesday departure with a Wednesday return—it consistently offers the lowest average fares for domestic travel.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.