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Do Flight Prices Really Drop on Tuesdays? Here's What the Data Says?

Budget Travel | 24 Jun 2025

Do Flight Prices Really Drop on Tuesdays? Here's What the Data Says?

Looking for the cheapest day to book flights? While Tuesday has long been believed to be ideal, real-world data shows prices drop at various times—if you know where to look. Here's everything you need on when flight prices drop, best day of week to book flights, and cheapest time to buy flights.

What the Data Shows on the “Best Day to Book Flights”

Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report reveals that Sunday emerges as the best day to purchase airline tickets, not Tuesday or Monday. On average, Sunday bookings save 6% on domestic and 17% on international fares compared to peak days like Monday or Friday.
NerdWallet and Kayak studies confirm that **mid-week flights—Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays—consistently offer the cheapest flight times, with Saturday departures being cheapest domestically .

Google Flights data suggests that ticket prices fluctuate hourly, and the traditional Tuesday myth now delivers only minor savings—around 1–2%. The bigger win comes from choosing the right day to fly, not merely book

Cheapest Day to Fly vs. Buy

Action	Best Day(s)	Savings & Notes
Book flights	Sunday	Save ~6% domestic, ~17% international
Fly on	Wednesday?/?Saturday	Up to 17% cheaper for domestic trips, 15–17% less on Wednesdays abroad
Buying at midnight?	No clear benefit	No significant pattern for nighttime purchases—prices follow demand

Why Prices Fluctuate on Certain Days

Airline pricing is driven by seasonality, demand cycles, seat inventory, and algorithms that adapt hourly.

Demand dips in summer shoulder seasons and midweek—triggering fare drops.
Airlines release rates and adjust availability early in the week (Sunday–Tuesday).
Cancellations or surplus seats can cause short-term pricing dips at unusual times.
2Key takeaway: The cheapest day to purchase plane tickets depends more on flight demand patterns than a fixed calendar day.

Best Days to Buy & Fly (Summarized)

Best day to buy flights: Sunday
Best days to fly: Wednesday and Saturday (domestic); Wednesday and Thursday (international)
Cheapest time to buy flights: Midweek booking (avoid Fri–Sun)
Best day of week to book flights: Anytime midweek—but prioritize your flight date more than booking day.

Smarter Booking Tips: More Than Just Timing

Use comparison tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Momondo, and Cheap Deals Fare to compare air travel prices across providers.
Set price alerts to track drops when demand shifts—automated tracking beats manual checking.
Fly off peak-season and consider shoulder months like August for domestic travel, which can be 12–30% cheaper .
Stay flexible with departure days—mid-week flights typically cost less regardless of booking day.

Final Verdict: When to Book & Fly Like a Pro

There is no fixed “best day to book flights”—focus instead on when you fly.
Sunday is statistically the best booking day, but the savings are modest.
Cheapest days to depart: Wednesday & Saturday for domestic, Wednesday & Thursday for international.

Best strategy: Use tools to set alerts, monitor mid-week bookings, and secure flights at optimal windows

Ready to Book?

Want truly cheap flight tickets 2025? Use Cheap Deals Fare to compare prices, track trends, and set alerts. Then fly midweek and book when the numbers drop—not based on myths.

- By cheapdealsfare Team