A new report reveals that there's actually a rhyme and reason to getting a budget flight when booking on a certain day.
A recent data study from Upgraded Points shows that not only is there a way to score a good deal when booking on a particular day of the week, but that more savings can be had when you select by airline. For example, United Airlines prices tend to be highest on Thursday and Friday, but cheapest on Sunday.
Best days to book affordable flights
Across all airlines, the cheapest fares were available most often on Mondays and Tuesdays, where there was on average a 5.2% discount on the total airfare price. However, passengers who book their tickets on a Saturday will pay the highest prices, with an increase of 7.3 percent compared to the average ticket price.
When booking with a specific airline, American Airlines had the least change depending on the day booked, however, Thursdays and Fridays tended to be slightly cheaper. Delta Air Lines had the cheapest prices on Thursdays, with an average saving of $35. For passengers booking on low-cost carriers JetBlue and Spirit, Mondays and Tuesdays were the cheapest dates to book.
“Even though the prices of the flights we studied change from day to day, one thing remains constant: the importance of making an informed decision when booking a trip. As prices continue to rise, savvy travelers will look to save where they can,” Alex Miller, founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, said in the report.
The report analyzed more than 44,000 different flights over a four-week period to determine price fluctuations. The report does not include Southwest Airlines because the airline does not publish fares on Google Flights.
Previous studies have shown that booking a ticket no later than 2.5 months before a departure is the best time to book a flight. For comparison, for hotel stays the window is much shorter, with one study recommending that booking 15 days before arrival can help travelers get the best deal. However, travelers should be aware of price match and cancellation policies, as they are tools to get a better deal if the price drops from the time they make a reservation.
Additionally, for additional savings on airline websites, most carriers offer promotional fares.
Southwest Airlines is offering discounted flights every Wednesday morning, as part of a new “Wanna Go Wednesday” promotion, while United Airlines has a regularly updated “current deals and promotions” page with promotional flight prices. JetBlue has a “Best Fare Finder” to find a plane ticket deal.
shop the best travel experiences here
(Featured image credit: Westend61/Getty Images)
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
Related: The right time to book a flight at the best price for you, new study finds
Written by
Michael Capetta
