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What is the best day to book flights?

Knowing the best day to book flights can save you a few hundred dollars, especially on a long-hall flight to China. You can save a lot when you know some insider tips of how airlines price tickets.

Friday is now the most expensive day of the week to buy air tickets, on average 10% to 15% higher than Sundays.

What’s the best day to book flights? A year ago my advice was to buy flights on Tuesday or Wednesday, but new research suggests weekends offer the cheapest tickets. Friday is now the most expensive day of the week to buy air tickets, on average 10% to 15% higher than Sundays.

The theory was on Monday airlines looked at weekend sales and then offload the remaining seats on Tuesday. I often found Tuesdays the best time to book a flight during 2012-2014, but this has now changed.

Airlines Reporting Corporation research now indicates the cheapest tickets (across the last 12 months) were sold on Saturday and Sunday. Why were these days the best day to book flights? I suspect the airlines understand that at weekends the market is mainly value-seeking consumers, not businesses or agencies. It makes sense to offer the best deals at the weekend.

“I would shop at the weekend and the beginning of the week and avoid Friday.”

Senior vice president of global tour at Expedia was quoted in the British newspaper, the Telegraph, as saying “I would shop at the weekend and the beginning of the week and avoid Friday.”  The clearly, the best day to book flights is Saturday and Sunday.

Industry insiders believe during the week airlines have already run out of the very cheapest seats, having high numbers of business travellers competing for seats, the market is busy. The airlines will adjust seat prices to demand much more dynamically.

Irrespective of the day you book your tickets, air travel is getting cheaper.  The International Air Transport Association published new data last week that show airfares have fallen year on year. It is also my experience, but I still need to be savvy to find the cheapest tickets.

How Far in Advance Should You Book Flights?

This is a question we often wonder about; we often fly long hall. We are planners, love to book early, and get it done and dusted, however, we have noticed tickets booked 12, 10, 8 or 6 months in advance are often still available within 3-4 months at a similar price, or much cheaper.

‘…most airlines don’t start actively managing seat prices until about three months before departure for domestic and six for international.’

Airline insiders have told us ‘most airlines don’t start actively managing seat prices until about three months before departure for domestic and six for international.’ So prices might be responsible and stable if you are booking 6-12 months in advance, but you won’t be getting the best deal.

The American aviation data group said ‘customers buying flights in Europe should plan to purchase tickets 140 days in advance to get the best price. However, those purchasing flights within the US should buy 57 days ahead of departure.’ Of course this is on average, so keep in mind often particular low competition routes, key holiday times, or special events can affect this.

1st Class and Business Class Ticket Saving Tips
Try Flight Fox www.flightfox.com, you pay a flight booking specialist a set fee (50 USD), and they will find flights and deals you won’t find yourself. You will save a fortune. I make no commission on this link, it’s a good service and so happy to recommend it.

Economy Class Saving Tips

– Try to fly midweek, unsociable hours, away from your home country or destinations national holidays and special events.
– Start searching for flights five months before your flight
– Book on weekends
– Beware your browser cache
– Use comparison sites but do go direct to the source, the airline, see if you can save more. Often they do not always display the most recent data, price and can not always show the full charges. It’s a guide.
– Search for alternatives, often some low-cost airlines might not list on the comparison sights
– Consider an out the box route. I’ve flown return to Bangkok and stayed two nights in the 5 star Banyan Tree hotel on route to China, booking two tickets with two different airlines, and paid in total the same as a Helsinki Guilin return

Find out which airline is best for economy, business or value on this respected and accurate ranking.