This myth might be losing steam.
The long-held belief that airfare is cheaper when booked on certain days may not be true, according to travel experts.
While people previously thought that the cheapest days to book flights are on Tuesdays, data from Google Flights shows that the prices don’t vary much from day to day.
“That’s a convenient yet outdated myth that ignores the fact airfare is constantly changing not just daily, but by the hour and even by the minute,” Thrifty Traveler told The Mirror.
According to Google Flights data, Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than Sunday, which is considered the most expensive day of the week to book a trip.
The cheapest days to fly, however, are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, which are typically 13% cheaper than flights any other day of the week.
When it comes to booking for big trips and holiday vacation, your instinct may be to to book well in advance — but it isn’t necessarily true.
Google Flights data shows that the best time to book for Thanksgiving is anywhere from 26 to 59 days from departure — with costs ringing in at their lowest just 45 days out.
For the holidays in December, the lowest cost is 58 days prior to take-off, while spring break trips should be booked 44 days in advance to snag the cheapest price.
While domestic flights are typically lowest between 21 and 52 days prior to departure, international flights should be booked further in advance — and not just because of the new travel authorization rules that are soon to be implemented.
According to Google Flights, jetsetters should book their European vacations 94 days ahead of time, while general international trips are at their lowest fare 101 days before departing. On the other hand, prices rise within 50 days of departure for international flights.
“Booking flights early can be the key to savings, but sometimes it pays to wait until just a few months (or less) before departure,” Thrifty Traveler explained. “If you have specific travel dates, you should set up a Google Flights Price Alert to get a heads up when the price drops.”
