Google Flights’ ‘No. 1 advice, always’ to score cheap airfare

Discovering an inexpensive flight can at occasions really feel as powerful as scoring an honest snack on an airplane.

However journey specialists typically agree on one piece of recommendation to getting an excellent deal on airfare: Be versatile.

“It is our No .1 recommendation, all the time, for vacationers” on the lookout for offers, mentioned James Byers, head of the product staff at Google Flights.

Flexibility could imply flying midweek as a substitute of through the weekend, or maybe touring outdoors of peak season for a selected vacation spot, he and different specialists mentioned.

“Strive to not lock your self into a very particular date,” Byers mentioned.

Even shifting journey by a day or two in both path could make a “enormous distinction,” he mentioned.

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the most cost effective days to fly. Tickets are 13% inexpensive than these for weekend flights, based on new Google Flights information.

Google examined common round-trip airfares from Jan. 1, 2021, via Aug. 1, 2025. It analyzed four-day to 16-day journeys departing from the highest 4,000 markets within the U.S.

Midweek departures are a “easy manner” to save lots of $42 a ticket, or about 14%, on common, for home airfare, based on a 2025 journey hacks report by Hopper.

Sunday is commonly the costliest day to fly, Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist, wrote within the report. It is usually a busy day in airports as individuals fly residence from weekends away, she wrote.

“Vacationers desirous about a weekend getaway can save considerably by departing mid-week and returning on Saturday or Monday, as a substitute of Sunday,” Berg wrote.

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After all, holidays can throw a wrench into these tips.

For instance, flying on the Wednesday earlier than Thanksgiving is probably going the costliest day to fly round that exact vacation, mentioned Sally French, a journey analyst at NerdWallet.  

As an added bonus, skipping weekend journey may also yield large resort reductions. Checking in on Friday or Saturday and staying via Sunday typically means paying a premium exceeding 20%, or about $50 extra per evening, relative to the most cost effective days of the week to verify in, reminiscent of Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, based on Hopper information.

Many vacationers fall for the “delusion” that the day of the week on which they buy their flight has a giant monetary impact, French mentioned.  

“It is not true,” she mentioned. “It is not the day that you just ebook [that’s important], it is the day that you just fly.”

Tuesday has traditionally been the most cost effective day of the week to ebook, but it surely’s just one.3% cheaper than Sunday, the costliest day, based on the Google Flights evaluation.

“If I had been giving my family and friends recommendation on what to search for, it would be decrease on the checklist as an element,” Byers mentioned. “I would not say, ‘Wait till Tuesday.'”

Flexibility on a extra macro stage may also assist cut back your airfare, French mentioned.

“Simply entering into a much less crowded month could be useful,” she mentioned.

This would possibly imply touring throughout a vacation spot’s shoulder season or offseason, specialists mentioned.

Airfare typically peaks in mid-summer and drops as early fall approaches, Berg wrote. For instance, home vacationers in 2024 saved 40%, on common, or about $150, by shifting from peak summer time months to September or October, she wrote, citing Hopper information.

After all, it might be tough for sure vacationers to be versatile.

Dad and mom could also be tied to summer time journeys as a consequence of college trip schedules, whereas employees in sure roles, say, lecturers or tax preparers, could also be restricted in after they can take day without work work.

Moreover, excursions or cruises typically include inflexible begin and finish dates, and it might not make monetary sense to tack on further days — and additional resort and meals prices — originally or finish of a visit, French mentioned.

There are different methods to save lots of, although, specialists mentioned.

Layovers, whereas probably burdensome, are sometimes a surefire manner to save cash. Reserving an itinerary with a layover saves vacationers about 22%, on common, versus flying nonstop, based on Google Flights.

Simply keep in mind to pack all of the important objects in your journey in your carry-on baggage in case your suitcase would not make it onto the following airplane, French mentioned.

Reserving forward, or, not ready till the final minute, usually yields financial savings, too, specialists mentioned.

The bottom costs have been 39 days earlier than departure for a home flight and 49 days for worldwide, based on Google Flights. The goal could range primarily based on vacation spot, specialists mentioned.