Flights · May 16, 2025 · 6 min read
When flying costs less: the cheapest days
When flying costs less in 2026: the cheapest days (midweek), the cheapest times and months, and how to find the lowest-fare departures.
When you fly matters as much as when you buy the ticket. Shift your dates by a day, or a few weeks, and the same trip can cost far less. This is about the cheapest days, times and seasons to fly (for how far ahead to buy, see our companion guide). Here is how to pick departures that cost less.
The cheapest days of the week
Midweek beats the weekend
- Midweek departures are usually the cheapest: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the least-travelled and tend to have the lowest fares.
- Per KAYAK 2026 data, Thursday is often the cheapest day to fly domestically and Wednesday internationally.
- Friday and Sunday are typically the priciest, as travellers cluster around the weekend.
The move
- If you can flex a day, shift a Friday departure to Thursday or a Sunday return to Tuesday.
The cheapest times of day
Fly when others do not
- Early-morning flights (the first departures) and red-eye or late-night flights are usually cheaper than the convenient midday and early-evening slots.
- The trade-off: an early start or a late arrival for a lower fare; weigh it against airport transfers and sleep.
The cheapest months and seasons
Low and shoulder season win
- January and February are usually the cheapest months to fly: after the holidays demand drops and airlines cut fares to fill planes (KAYAK 2026).
- Shoulder season (spring and autumn) is generally cheaper and pleasant, away from the summer peak.
Avoid the demand spikes
- School holidays, Christmas and New Year, Easter and the summer peak push fares up sharply. Travelling just before or after these windows saves a lot.
It is really about demand
The honest rule
- The cheapest fare is mostly about demand: the fewer people who want your exact date, the cheaper it is.
- A festival, a major event or a holiday on your route pushes prices up regardless of the weekday.
- Check whether your dates overlap a big event at your destination (our city guides note these).
How to find the cheapest departures
Use flexible dates and nearby airports
- Use the flexible-dates or whole-month view on a flight search tool to see the cheapest days at a glance.
- Compare nearby airports for departure and arrival; a secondary airport can be much cheaper.
- Weigh direct versus a layover: a connection is often cheaper but costs time and adds risk.
- Set price alerts and be ready to shift a day. For when to buy, see our guide on when to buy a flight.
Your cheaper-to-fly checklist
- Aim for a midweek departure (Tuesday to Thursday); avoid Friday and Sunday.
- Consider an early-morning or late flight for a lower fare.
- Travel in low or shoulder season; avoid school holidays and peak weeks.
- Check for events at your destination that spike demand.
- Use flexible-dates and whole-month views; compare nearby airports.
- Found cheaper dates? Compare hotels for those dates too, for example hotels in Barcelona or hotels in New York.
Good to know
What is the cheapest day to fly? Midweek: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are usually cheapest, with Thursday often cheapest domestically and Wednesday internationally (KAYAK 2026); Friday and Sunday are the priciest.
What is the cheapest month to fly? January and February, when post-holiday demand drops; shoulder season is also cheaper than summer.
Are early-morning flights cheaper? Often yes; first departures and red-eyes usually undercut the convenient midday flights.
Does the day I buy matter? That is a different question; see our guide on when to buy a flight. Here we mean the day you fly.
Does Edenfinder compare flights? No; Edenfinder compares hotels. Use a flight search tool for fares, then compare hotels for your dates here.
Pick a low-demand day and season and shift your dates flexibly. Once you have the right dates, search hotels to complete the trip at the best price.
Edenfinder
Paradise has a price. We find it lower.
We compare prices for the same hotels across every major booking platform, with direct links to the right page.
Search your hotel →Frequently asked questions
When is the cheapest time to buy a flight?
As a rough guide, about one to three months ahead for short-haul and two to six months for long-haul. Prices tend to be highest in the final two weeks. There is no single perfect day to buy, so set a price alert and book when you see a fare that fits your budget.
Which days are cheapest to fly?
Mid-week departures, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, are often a little cheaper than Friday or Sunday, when everyone travels. Very early or late flights also tend to cost less. The saving is usually modest, so weigh it against convenience.
Does incognito mode get me cheaper flights?
No, that is a popular myth. Clearing cookies or browsing privately rarely changes the fare. Comparing several sites and being flexible with your dates is what actually finds the lower price.
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