Brits warned to avoid booking flights on weekday if they want cheap deals

27 September 2023 , 11:49

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Brits warned to avoid booking flights on weekday if they want cheap deals

You could cut your plane ticket expenses by almost a quarter if you book at the right time, according to a new report.

Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report analysed 'billions of data points' to work out how you can make air travel as cheap and comfortable as possible. The outcome includes insight into when to book, how to avoid cancellations and the best day to depart on your trip.

The report also shows travellers feel overwhelmed by the planning process. According to a survey of 2,000 UK flyers, Expedia found that nearly half of respondents (49%) find air travel more daunting than doing their taxes and making small talk.

Travellers who book on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save, on average, around 21% on domestic flights and 24% on international flights. If you book domestic flights at least five months before take-off you can save 35%.

The report gives an insight into the best times to book a flight to save money (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Travellers that booked 162-180 days prior to departure saved 34% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute, the Expedia report claims. Meanwhile, for international airfare the ideal booking period is eight to 23 days prior to departure, while the worst booking period is 36 to 63 days prior to departure. The amount you can save is 8% if you plump for the right time frame.

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You can get a good insight into when the flight you want to book is likely to be cheapest by studying the flight tracking data on Expedia's app and offered through Google.

If you leave on a Friday, you'll end up saving as much as 26% more than if you leave on a Sunday, which is the most expensive day to start a trip. For those who are most concerned about cancellations, departing before 3pm is the best way to minimise your chances of getting grounded.

Flight data show that planes leaving after 3pm have a 4% higher chance, on average, of being cancelled than those that depart earlier in the day.

When it comes to current travel trends, both the number of scheduled short-haul and long-haul flights is nearly at 2019 level after the coronavirus lockdowns stopped a large majority of commercial services from flying. Average ticket prices have decreased by up to 3% compared to 2022.

New York City, Dubai, and Bangkok range among the most popular domestic destinations of UK flyers. The most popular international destinations are Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Istanbul. The fastest growing destination, according to Expedia flight demand data, is Beijing in China.

"Airlines are adding capacity and increasing service to meet the sustained air travel demand we’ve seen throughout 2023. Air travel has proven resilient over the past few years, with travellers increasingly taking to the skies for both business and leisure. Fortunately for those travellers, the cost of airfare has been below 2022 levels for most of the year," said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC.

Milo Boyd