Everyone has heard that buying airline tickets is cheaper on Tuesday. While that used to be true, more recent statistics suggest that when you plan to fly is actually more important than when you buy airline tickets. That isn’t to say that buying an airline ticket on Tuesday won’t save you money – but it’s not the tried and true method it once was.
Why are airline tickets cheaper on Tuesday?
Years ago, buying airline tickets was cheaper on Tuesday than any other day. According to people that know the airfare industry well, sales on tickets used to go public on Tuesday. This meant that in order to get the airline tickets on sale, a person had to check on Tuesday before they were all gone. Back in those days, managers were manually updating prices and inputting discounts. Just after the new information posted, tickets were cheaper. Since the sale prices were always inputted on Tuesdays, it became well known that airline tickets were cheaper on Tuesday.
Even though it used to be that way, it isn’t that way anymore. Today’s technology allows these prices to update more frequently and sales can happen at any time, which put an abrupt end to airline tickets being cheaper on Tuesday.. This means that on a single flight there can be more than 10 different price points and they can change at the drop of a hat. Before it was easy and everyone knew that they could get cheaper airline tickets on Tuesday, but now, there is no clear time to book the cheapest flights. According to 2017 data, there was less than 1% variance on a specific flight price no matter what the day.
Are airline tickets really cheaper on Tuesday?
It turns out when you buy airline tickets is not as important as when you use them. Flights themselves are actually cheaper when they depart on Tuesday or Wednesday. Historically, data shows that flying out on Wednesday is the cheapest with Tuesday coming in a close second. According to the most recent numbers a seat on a plane is about $73 cheaper on Tuesday or Wednesday than any other day of the week. However, airline tickets aren’t always cheapest on those two days.
The price of an airline ticket on Tuesday (or any other day) is actually determined by demand, destination and the market price for that time period. Finding affordable airline tickets is more about planning in advance and lying in wait for the exact moment to pounce on a discounted price. Since the discounted prices for airline tickets are not the cheapest on Tuesday, it’s recommended to check more frequently or set up alerts on your smartphone for when the prices of airline tickets fluctuate.
How to get the cheapest airline tickets?
Travel gurus say to start checking for the flight prices at least 6 weeks in advance. Some experts say the first price drop in an airline ticket happens a few months before the flight is scheduled. It’s said that the first price drop is usually the lowest and should be taken advantage of. For those who like to live on the wild side, last minute deals on a flight leaving soon can also be really inexpensive.
Overall, getting the cheapest airline tickets is about price shopping, patience and not relying on third parties to give you the best deal. Even though the airline tickets are not always cheaper when bought on a Tuesday, flying out on a Tuesday is almost always a good idea.
FAQs
What is the cheapest day of the week to book a flight? According to our data and flight price history, Tuesday is the day to book. It seems most airlines launch their discounts on Monday nights, so you can pick up the best prices on Tuesday mornings. Typically, you'll save somewhere between 15 and 25 percent.
What is the cheapest day of the week to buy airline tickets? ›
As previously mentioned, booking airfare on Sunday is cheaper than other days of the week, especially Fridays. Be willing to fly mid-week. Since Thursdays tend to be the cheapest day to fly, see if you can tweak your travel plans so you depart and fly home during the week instead of on weekend days.
Why is it best to buy plane tickets on Tuesday? ›
“Historically, Tuesdays were the cheapest day to book flights,” says Laura Lindsay, global travel trends expert for trip-booking website Skyscanner. “This was broadly true prepandemic as seasonality and even weekly pricing cycles were more predictable. However, this is no longer a hard and fast rule.”
Is travel Tuesday a real thing? ›
Travel Tuesday takes place on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which means the celebration falls on November 28. From the early hours of the day, you can find deals on the websites of the airlines of your choice, as well as travel agencies and other tourism companies.
Do Delta prices go down on Tuesdays? ›
Fares are usually lower on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and highest on Fridays and Sundays. Flights later in the evening are also usually lower demand. Search nearby area airports. Low fares sold out at one airport, may be available at another nearby airport.
Do airline tickets go down at night? ›
“It all varies, depending on the route you're flying, etc.” That means there isn't one best time to book a flight during the day—and that it's a myth that it's cheapest to book flights at midnight. Save 6% on domestic travel and 13% on international flights.
What time do flight prices drop on Tuesday? ›
Do Flight Prices Go Down on Tuesday? The myth has been going around for years, but the truth is that flight prices don't go down on Tuesdays. To be fair, they did at one point in time, and savvy travelers could score a great deal late on a Tuesday night.
What is the most expensive day to book a flight? ›
For the second year in a row, Expedia (EXPE) 's annual Air Travel Hacks Report for 2024 identified this day of the week as the best time to book. Those who buy on Sunday instead of Friday (the most expensive day to shop for plane tickets) will save on average 17% on domestic flights and 24% on international ones.
When's the best time to book a flight? ›
Aim to book domestic flights one to two months ahead of time. For international flights, plan on booking three to five months ahead of the trip.
Should I wait till Tuesday to book a flight? ›
There is no single day of the week that is best to book a flight. You can find deals any day of the week since flight prices fluctuate with demand.
Round-trip tickets are usually cheaper than one-ways, sometimes significantly so. NerdWallet compared fares across multiple international routes and found that, typically, buying two one-way tickets costs 20% more than a single roundtrip. Click to access available viewer actions.
What time on Tuesdays is best to book flights? ›
This means that for domestic flights, the best day and time is Saturday around 6 a.m. and for international flights, the cheapest is Sunday at 6 a.m. If you're looking to snag airline sales and book flights on a Tuesday, try to book them around 3 p.m. (EST).
How much do you save on travel Tuesday? ›
Getting a great deal on your trip! Travel Deal Tuesday -- the Tuesday after Thanksgiving -- may be your best bet for discounts on hotels, rental cars, flights and even rental homes. Hayley Berg, the lead economist at online travel agency Hopper, says that prices typically drop by 30% to 60% on flights and hotels.
Does Southwest do travel Tuesday deals? ›
Unlike some airlines that rarely offer sales on fares, Southwest regularly puts flights on sale. Pretty much every Tuesday, in fact. The sales typically apply to cash bookings as well as redeeming Southwest points.
What time does travel Tuesday deals start? ›
Discounts start almost as early as the first minute on Tuesday, but some experts say the prime time for the best online deals starts at 06:30 ET on Tuesday, peaking at 09:30 ET.
What time on Tuesdays do flights go down? ›
Do Flight Prices Go Down on Tuesday? The myth has been going around for years, but the truth is that flight prices don't go down on Tuesdays. To be fair, they did at one point in time, and savvy travelers could score a great deal late on a Tuesday night.
Is Tuesday afternoon the best time to buy airline tickets? ›
Shop on Tuesday
Many airlines release weekly airfare sales in the early morning hours of Tuesday, and by mid-afternoon, competing airlines have had the time to catch up and match sale prices. In other words, shoppers now have the widest range of deals to choose from when it comes to securing cheap airline tickets.
What time of day do flight prices drop? ›
Some experts suggest purchasing your tickets on a Tuesday afternoon, while others insist that this technique might not produce the results you're after. Buying airfare at the stroke of midnight can yield a small amount of savings, say others, but it may not always be worth it to stay up late just to book a flight.
By Makaylaon
