Summer vacations are back. After a couple of muted years because of COVID-19, expect more and more foot traffic at airports this year. But what about prices? If you’re looking to score a cheap plane ticket, you’ll want to be savvy when trip planning and booking flights. So many factors come into play regarding the price of air travel, from whether you’re looking at international flights vs. domestic flights to which day you take off. When you book may also matter. Airline prices may vary (just like their reliability).
What’s the best time to book a flight? What’s the cheapest day to fly? Cheapair.com analyzed more than 917 million airfares in every continent. The report is robust. We scoured it to bring you the answers to your most pressing questions.
How to score a cheap plane ticket, according to data
Booking air travel? Here’s how to get the most bang for your buck, so you have more to spend at your destination.
Canada
Average airfare: $45
Cheapest days to fly: Customers saved an average of $47 per ticket on Tuesdays compared to Sundays.
Cheapest months to travel to Canada: February and March
Mexico
Average airfare: $504
Cheapest days to fly: Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly to our neighbors to the South. Customers pay $95 less flying on a Wednesday versus a Sunday, the most expensive day to fly.
Cheapest months to travel to Mexico: February and September. Expect to save $200 on a plane ticket in February compared to December.
Caribbean
Average airfare: $548
Cheapest days to fly: Score cheap tickets to the Carribean by choosing to fly on a Tuesday. You’ll keep about $79 in your pocket choosing that date versus the prime day, which is Sunday.
Cheapest months to travel to the Caribbean: January and February
Central America
Average airfare: $577
Cheapest days to fly: People who fly to Central America on a Tuesday save about $67 more than those who opt for a Sunday.
Cheapest months to travel to the Caribbean: January and February
South America
Average airfare: $798
Cheapest days to fly: Tuesday travelers snag the most savings — $75. Plot twist: Saturday is the priciest day to fly to South America.
Cheapest months to travel to South America: February, March, and May
Europe
Average airfare: $986
Cheapest days to fly: Tuesday airline tickets are generally the cheapest — $121 less per ticket compared to Saturday flights.
Cheapest months to travel to Europe: February and March
Africa
Average airfare: $1,287
Cheapest days to fly: Tuesdays, which are $90 cheaper per ticket than Saturdays.
Cheapest months to travel to Africa: February and March
Oceana
Average airfare: $1,977
Cheapest days to fly: Tuesdays generally net travelers $141 in per-ticket savings versus people who fly on Wednesdays.
Cheapest months to travel to Africa: October and November
Asia
Average airfare: $2,046
Cheapest days to fly: Wednesdays save customers $286 per ticket compared to Sundays.
South Pacific
Average airfare: $1,085
Cheapest days to fly: Save $96 per ticket by flying on a Tuesday instead of a Sunday.
Cheapest months to travel to Africa: February and March
Middle East
Average airfare: $1,287
Cheapest days to fly: Tuesdays, which are $90 cheaper per ticket than Saturdays.
Cheapest months to travel to Africa: February and March
What is the best time to book a flight and score a cheap airline ticket?
The best time to book a flight to each of these destinations is 10 months in advance. Some have longer prime windows for booking flights. For example, Canada’s prime window is about three to 10 months, and Mexico’s is 1.5 to 10 months. Want to jet off to Asia? Try to book at least 4.5 months in advance. However, the best time to book a flight remains 10 months to ensure the top price.
