The month of June and Fridays now seem to be the best time to fly for those looking for cheap travel.
Travelers looking to reduce the costs of their next vacation may need to rethink old assumptions about when to book and travel, according to new research from Expedia.
In its Air Hacks 2026, the online travel agency identifies significant changes in Cheapest days and months to traveldriven in part by changing corporate travel patterns. Based on millions of data points from bookings and consumer surveys, the report suggests that June became the most affordable month to fly — with average fares 68% lower than in December, saving passengers around £250 (€300) per ticket.
Friday It has overtaken other days as the cheapest day of the week to fly, with travelers saving up to 18% compared to Saturday flights. For business class passengers, Thursday offers the best value for money, with fares on average 17% lower than on Sundays, the most expensive day for this class.
“Business travelers are returning home earlier during the week, so they are new opportunities arise for leisure travelers to save by choosing smarter travel days,” said Melanie Fish, Expedia spokesperson.
While Friday may offer the lowest fares, it’s also the busiest day to travel, according to the report. Tuesday, on the other hand, is the least busy day to flyrefers to .
The timing of your reservation is also important. Expedia advises travelers to wait until closer to the departure date than they imagine — but not to leave it until the last minute. For domestic flights in economy class, the most economical period is 31 to 45 days before departure, with an average saving of £38 (€46) compared to bookings made more than six months in advance. International travelers can save even more by booking 15 to 30 days in advance, reducing average fares by £93 (€112). Book on Sunday seems to offer the best deals overall.
Traveler flow patterns are also changing seasonally. January is now the least busy month for air travel, while August remains the most congested. Specific dates with low traffic include March 4th, 5th, and 9th, as well as December 31st. Among the busiest days are October 24th and 25th, May 24th and August 22nd.
