How to Score the Cheapest Flights in 2024, According to Google
Millions of people are already booking flights for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. As you start planning ahead for your vacation, you may be wondering when are the best or cheapest days to travel? Is it cheaper to buy early or wait until closer to the holidays?
Just in time, Google Flights has just released its key insights on Travel data and trends for 2024including answers to the questions above. Flights and their prices are constantly changing, Google has compiled four years of airfare data and trends to provide American travelers with a comprehensive guide on how to get the cheapest flights and the best times of year to fly.
Read more: Use your iPhone to easily check flight delays and cancellations
What is the cheapest day of the week to fly?
If you’re planning on booking a flight, especially around the busy holiday season, you’re probably trying to find the most budget-friendly option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available if you fly on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with Tuesday is the cheapest dayaccording to historical flight data. Flying early to mid-week can save travelers 13 to 20 percent on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday being the most expensive day to fly.
Do you really save money with a layover?
It won’t surprise you to learn that flights with stopovers are cheaper than nonstop flights, but you may not realize just how significant those savings can be. Google Flights data shows that Travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a stopover instead of a direct flight.
Is there a best day of the week to book flights?
While there are certainly cheaper days to fly, there aren’t really any cheaper days to book. “There’s not much advantage to buying your tickets on a specific day of the week,” the Google report said.
Google Flights indicates that Tuesdays are usually the cheapest day of the week to bookaccording to the data, but bookings on Tuesday are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday.
Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance?
To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it’s better to book your trip far in advance, especially if you have to fly on a specific day or time. However, there are some patterns you can analyze to determine whether it’s better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations, and travel dates.
For domestic flightsprices are generally lowest between 21 and 52 days for your trip — with 38 days before departure, which is on average the cheapest day to book.
For international flightsprices are generally lowest between 50 and 101 days for your trip, but it’s generally good practice to book as early as possible. According to Google, “average prices don’t really drop before departure, but they usually start to increase within 50 days of the flight itself” when it comes to international travel from the US.
What is the best time to book a flight in which season?
Here’s what Google says about the best times to book flights and vacations to certain popular destinations.
Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights during the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available 26 to 59 days in advance, with flights departing 45 days in advance being the cheapest. So it’s best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October.
Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights during the winter holidays are usually available between 36 and 72 days in advance, with 58 days in advance being the cheapest. It is best to book Christmas or holiday travel in the second half of October.
Summer vacation: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 13 to 43 days in advance. On average, 21 days before departure is the cheapest day to book.
Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 and 59 days in advance. On average, 44 days before departure is the cheapest period to book.
When is the best time to book a flight to Europe?
International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper 50 or more days before departure, with 94 days on average the cheapest day to book. As with all international travel it is generally good practice to book as early as possible.
When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean?
International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the only exceptions to the broader international trend, Google said. That’s because flights are generally lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days turns out to be the cheapest.
What are the best holiday destinations?
Google has also provided insight into the most searched destinations for each holiday.
Thanksgiving: The most popular destinations for travel between November 24 and December 1 are Orlando, Florida; Cancun, Mexico; New York; Tokyo; London and more.
More domestic locations are on the Thanksgiving list.
Christmas and New Year: The most popular destinations for travel between December 22 and January 5 include Tokyo; Orlando, Florida; Cancun, Mexico; Miami; New York and more.
The most common searches on Google Flights show that people are more interested in traveling abroad during Christmas and New Year.
For more information, check out CNET’s picks for the best credit cards for travel in 2024. You can also check out the 12 essential travel items you should always pack and the worst airlines for delayed and canceled flights.
