Best Days and Times to Book Flights in 2025: Save Big on Airfare

Planning a trip is thrilling, but high airfares can quickly dampen the excitement. Fortunately, with the right timing and strategies, you can significantly reduce your flight costs in 2025. While there’s no universal rule for snagging the cheapest tickets, data-driven insights and practical tools can guide you to the best deals. This comprehensive guide explores the optimal days, times, and strategies for booking flights in 2025, whether you’re planning a domestic getaway or an international adventure. We’ll also cover holiday-specific tips, useful tools, and answers to common questions to help you save big on airfare.

General Tips for Booking Flights

Flexibility is your greatest asset when hunting for affordable flights. Being open to adjusting your travel dates, times, or even airports can lead to substantial savings. For example, flying midweek—particularly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays—can save you $50-$100 per ticket compared to weekend flights. Choosing a nearby airport, like flying into Oakland instead of San Francisco, can also cut costs.

Flight search engines are invaluable for finding deals. Platforms like Google Flights, Kayak, and Skyscanner allow you to compare prices across multiple airlines. These tools often include features like calendar views, which show price trends over a month, helping you identify the cheapest days to fly. Setting up price alerts is another smart move, as it notifies you when fares drop for your desired route.

Bundling flights with hotels or car rentals can also save money. For instance, bundling a flight and hotel can save an average of $240. Additionally, signing up for airline newsletters or loyalty programs can give you early access to flash sales and exclusive deals.

Best Days to Book Flights

The idea of a “best day” to book flights has been debated for years, with some swearing by Tuesdays and others claiming midnight bookings yield the lowest fares. According to recent data, Sundays are statistically the best day to book, offering savings of 6% on domestic flights and up to 17% on international flights compared to pricier days like Monday or Friday. This is because airlines often adjust fares over the weekend, making Sunday a prime time to check for deals.

However, flight prices fluctuate constantly based on real-time demand, so no single day guarantees the lowest fare. For example, a study found that Mondays and Tuesdays might also offer lower prices, while Fridays and Saturdays are typically the most expensive due to higher booking activity as the weekend approaches.

The key takeaway? Focus on the booking window rather than a specific day. Regularly checking prices and using price alert tools can help you book when prices dip, regardless of the day.

Best Times of the Year to Book Flights

The time of year you book and travel can significantly impact airfare. August is the cheapest month to fly, even though it’s peak summer travel season. This is likely because many travelers prefer July or September, leaving August with lower demand and shorter delays. Conversely, February and March are the priciest months due to spring break and other holidays.

For summer travel, start monitoring prices early in the year. For international trips to Europe, February is a good time to book, aiming for 3-5 months in advance. For destinations like Asia or Oceania, booking 5-7 months ahead is ideal. Domestic summer flights are best booked 1-3 months out, with 38 days before departure often yielding the lowest prices.

Holiday-Specific Booking Tips

Holiday travel requires extra planning due to high demand. Here are specific tips for major holidays in 2025:

• Thanksgiving: Book in early to mid-October, about 4-6 weeks before the holiday. Prices are lowest around 45 days out. Start monitoring in August and set price alerts to catch deals.

• Christmas: Book by Halloween for the best fares, as prices rise closer to the holiday. The lowest prices are around 58 days before Christmas. Consider using refundable points or miles for flexibility.

• New Year’s Eve: Book well in advance, as winter holidays see high demand. However, New Year’s Day can sometimes offer last-minute deals, especially if you fly on the holiday itself.

• Spring Break (March): For domestic trips, book in early February. For international travel, book before the winter holidays to avoid price spikes. Avoid last-minute bookings, as demand is high.

Traveling on the holiday itself or a day or two before/after can also save money, as these dates often have lower demand.

Tools and Strategies for Finding Cheap Flights

Several tools can help you find the best flight deals:

• Google Flights: Offers a robust search with price alerts, a calendar view for price trends, and historical data to predict low fares. It’s ideal for finding the cheapest days to fly.

• Hopper: Predicts when prices might drop and offers a price freeze option, allowing you to lock in a fare for a few days.

• Kayak: Features a Best Time to Travel tool that suggests the cheapest days based on historical data.

• Skyscanner: Includes a Savings Generator and a whole month search tool to find the cheapest dates. It also compares prices across multiple airlines.

Bundling flights with hotels or car rentals can lead to additional savings. Data shows that bundling can save an average of $240. Subscribing to airline newsletters or joining loyalty programs can also provide access to exclusive deals and flash sales.

Another strategy is to consider multi-city flights or open-jaw tickets, which allow you to fly into one city and out of another. This can be cost-effective for international trips, especially when paired with budget airlines or regional carriers.

Conclusion

Booking flights at the right time can transform your travel budget, making your dream trips more affordable. By focusing on the optimal booking windows, leveraging tools like Google Flights and Skyscanner, and staying flexible with your plans, you can save hundreds of dollars in 2025. Whether you’re jetting off for a summer vacation or a holiday getaway, these strategies will help you navigate the complex world of airfare pricing with confidence. Happy travels!

FAQs

Q1: Is there really a best day to book flights?

While recent data suggests Sundays offer savings (6% for domestic, 17% for international), prices fluctuate constantly based on demand. The booking window (e.g., 1-3 months for domestic, 3-5 months for international) is more critical than the specific day.

Q2: How far in advance should I book my flight?

For domestic flights, book 1-3 months in advance (ideally 38 days). For international flights, aim for 3-5 months, and for holidays, book even earlier (e.g., by Halloween for Christmas).

Q3: Can I find last-minute deals?

Last-minute deals are rare in 2025, as airlines often raise prices closer to departure due to high demand. Booking early is generally more cost-effective, especially for peak periods.

Q4: Does the time of day matter when booking flights?

The time of day has minimal impact, as airlines update fares continuously. Some experts suggest booking earlier in the day might occasionally yield better deals, but the evidence is inconclusive.

Q5: Are there specific months that are cheaper to fly?

Yes, August is the cheapest month to fly in 2025, while February and March are the most expensive due to spring break and holiday demand.