Finding an affordable plane ticket can sometimes feel harder than finding an edible snack at 30,000 feet. But travel experts say there’s one golden rule for stretching your airfare budget: be flexible.
“It’s our No. 1 advice, always, for travelers,” said James Byers, head of product at Google Flights.
That flexibility might mean shifting a trip to midweek instead of the weekend, or picking shoulder-season travel over peak summer holidays. Even adjusting your itinerary by a day or two can lead to surprisingly big savings.
Midweek Wins
According to Google Flights data, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly, with tickets averaging 13% less than weekend fares. Hopper’s 2025 Travel Hacks report found that midweek departures save travelers about $42 per ticket—or 14%—on domestic flights.
By contrast, Sundays are often the priciest, as airports fill with weekenders rushing home. “If you’re planning a quick getaway, consider leaving midweek and returning Saturday or Monday,” said Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist.
Hotels Play the Same Game
It’s not just airfare—flexibility pays off with hotels, too. Checking in on a Friday or Saturday typically costs more than 20% above the midweek rate, Hopper reports. Travelers who can check in Tuesday through Thursday may save about $50 a night.
The Booking Day Myth
A common belief is that the day you book matters—say, Tuesdays are the cheapest. Not true, says Sally French, a travel analyst at NerdWallet. “It’s not the day that you book, it’s the day that you fly,” she emphasized.
Google Flights backs this up: the difference between booking on the cheapest day (Tuesday) versus the most expensive (Sunday) is just 1.3%—hardly worth the wait.
Think Seasonally
Another overlooked hack? Traveling during the offseason or shoulder season. Airfare peaks in mid-summer but drops significantly come early fall. In 2024, U.S. travelers who shifted their vacations from July to September or October saved an average of 40%—roughly $150 per ticket, according to Hopper.
Of course, not everyone can be flexible. Parents tied to school schedules or professionals in seasonal jobs may have less wiggle room. Cruises and tours, too, lock travelers into rigid start and end dates.
Other Smart Savings
If you can’t move your dates, other tactics help:
- Take the layover. It may not be glamorous, but flights with stopovers are about 22% cheaper than nonstop itineraries. Just keep essentials in your carry-on in case your checked bag lags behind.
- Book ahead. Google Flights found the sweet spot is 39 days before departure for domestic flights and 49 days for international. While it varies by destination, last-minute booking almost always costs more.
Bottom Line
Cheap airfare isn’t about gaming the booking system—it’s about timing your travel wisely. Be flexible on dates, consider shoulder seasons, and don’t shy away from a layover. Those small adjustments can add up to hundreds of dollars saved, leaving more in your budget for the fun part: enjoying the trip.
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