When it comes to booking flights in 2025, timing is everything. According to Expedia’s latest Air Hacks 2025 report, picking the right day to purchase your ticket can lead to major savings.
The data reveals that Sunday is the best day to book flights, while Monday and Friday are the worst—so if you’ve been buying tickets at the end of the work week, you may be overpaying.
The Best Day to Book Flights
For the fourth year in a row, Expedia’s research found that booking flights on Sunday results in the biggest savings. International travelers can save up to 17%, while domestic flyers can expect a 6% discount compared to booking on a Monday or Friday.
Meanwhile, the most expensive days to book airfare remain Monday and Friday, when ticket prices tend to surge due to demand from business travelers and last-minute buyers.
Best Days to Travel for Cheaper Flights
Just as important as booking day is the day you actually fly. The study found that:
- Saturday is the cheapest day to fly for domestic travel, with savings of 17%.
- Thursday is the best day for international flights, saving travelers 15%.
- Sunday is the most expensive day to fly, so avoiding it could help cut travel costs.
How Early to Book Flights
The Expedia report also analyzed the best advance booking windows for securing the lowest fares:
- Domestic flights: The cheapest fares are available 34 to 86 days before departure (about 5 to 12 weeks in advance).
- International flights: The best prices are typically found when booking 18 to 29 days in advance, a surprising shift from previous years when booking months ahead was advised.
These insights suggest that waiting too long or booking too early can result in higher prices, making it crucial to time your purchase strategically.
Other Key Takeaways for 2025 Travelers
- Best Month to Travel: August is the cheapest month to fly, with an average savings of 12%.
- Most Expensive Month: March sees the highest airfare prices, so planning travel outside this peak period could save you money.
- Quietest Travel Periods: Tuesdays and the month of February see the least air traffic, making them ideal for avoiding crowds.
- Best Time to Avoid Cancellations: Flights departing before 3 PM have 22% fewer cancellations, while September has the lowest overall cancellation rates.
Trending Destinations in 2025
The report also highlighted the cities seeing the highest growth in bookings:
Domestic (U.S.):
- Detroit (+170%)
- New York (+70%)
- Kansas City (+65%)
- Washington, D.C. (+65%)
- Philadelphia (+65%)
International:
- Goa, India (+155%)
- Bucharest, Romania (+150%)
- Tijuana, Mexico (+85%)
- Perugia, Italy (+70%)
- Chengdu, China (+65%)
If you want to save money on flights in 2025, the key is booking on Sundays, flying on Saturdays or Thursdays, and avoiding peak months like March. Timing your purchase just right—between 34 and 86 days before domestic trips and 18 to 29 days for international travel—can also lead to significant savings.
💡 Looking for more ways to optimize your flight experience? Check out this clever trick on how to get a free window seat without paying extra!
