Before you hit ‘buy’ on that flight, find out when airfare prices actually hit their lowest.
The search for cheap plane tickets is a mission we all embark on at some point or another. While there isn’t an exact art to booking the cheapest airfare, there are a few things to consider that can make it a little more affordable.
It’s long been thought that Tuesdays are the best day of the week to book a flight. Unfortunately, this isn’t really the case anymore and price factors depend more on the day you choose to fly out, as well as how far in advance you book your ticket.
With this in mind, let’s explore everything you need to know about the cheapest day to book a flight — and in the process, we’ll try and help you secure the best fare possible.
Ticket prices are notoriously fickle and can change multiple times a day due to algorithms that factor in variables like seat availability and demand. It makes sense that the more seats purchased on a flight, the more expensive the remaining seats will be.
The belief that Tuesday is the best day to book flights is no longer true, if it ever was. It might have been the case at one stage but pricing is far more unpredictable these days.
It's impossible to point to one specific day of the week that produces the cheapest airfares. The reason Tuesdays were often considered to be the best day to book a flight was because airlines released discounts on a Monday, causing other airlines to follow suit with lower ticket prices the following day to compete.
While this makes sense in theory, it’s not really the case in practice. Flight prices are dictated by supply and demand as well as the season; on-peak and off-peak seasonality play an important role in pricing.
In short, there is no ‘cheapest’ or ‘best’ day to book a flight. However, other factors can drive down the price of your ticket.
So we know that the day you purchase your tickets doesn’t really matter, but the day you choose to fly out can make a difference.
Selecting a midweek departure day, such as a Tuesday or Wednesday, can often result in a cheaper fare. The same goes for Sundays; flights departing on these days can be more affordable.
The same goes for the time of day you fly. Super early flights can be lower in price than lunchtime or evening flights.
However, this is affected by peak seasons and holidays, so it's not a year-round rule but something to keep in mind when booking your next trip.
Being flexible with your travel dates can also help keep costs down. If you’re not set on an exact departure and arrival date, look for dates nearby that might be cheaper — pushing your flight back a few days could make all the difference.
Now that we’ve debunked the myth around the best day of the week to book a flight, let’s look at what can actually impact how cheap or expensive your plane ticket is.
Here’s what to keep in mind.
This isn’t groundbreaking information, we know, but booking in advance is typically going to be better for your bank balance, so it’s worth the reminder.
In general, booking your travel as far in advance as possible can score you a cheaper ticket. For domestic flights, booking up to 6 months ahead is recommended, while it’s advised to book at least 4 months in advance for international travel.
While cheaper tickets aren’t a guarantee with this method, it can help you save a significant amount of money and you generally have more flight options to choose from.
While you can get lucky and score a great deal with last-minute flights, this doesn’t tend to be as reliable and it’s more of a gamble. The further in advance you book, the better.
PayLater has a handy flight price estimator tool that can help you figure out the best time to book. Simply input your proposed travel plans and it’ll give you an estimate of how much your flight might cost.
There are on-peak and off-peak times for travel and as expected, you’ll pay more during those on-peak times of year.
Christmas holidays, in particular, are one of the most expensive times of year to travel and plane tickets can skyrocket in December and January. The same goes for school holidays and summer periods.
If you can, try to book your travel for the off season and you should be able to score a more affordable price for tickets.
Airlines regularly have sales on flights, which can significantly reduce the cost of your ticket.
Subscribe to the newsletters of your favorite airlines and flight booking websites as these are often the first place sales are announced, and be ready to pounce on any that align with your travel plans.
This is where PayLater can come in handy, allowing you to secure the best flight deal on the spot without a large upfront payment. Simply choose from your favorite airline, find a flight, select weekly or bi-weekly installments for up to 26 weeks (with no interest or credit checks) and lock in today’s price with a small down payment.
Book Now, Pay Later allows you to hack how you travel — book your next trip without the upfront payment.
