The Best Day to Book a Cheap International Flight Just Changed

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The Best Day to Book a Cheap International Flight Just Changed By: Pete Grieve Pete Grieve Lead News Reporter | Joined September 2022 Pete Grieve is a personal finance reporter. In his time at Money, Pete has covered everything from car buying to credit cards to the housing market. Has also written: How to Post a Job Online Will You Get a Tariff Refund After the Supreme Court Ruling?

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Is This Genius? See full bio Editor: Katherine Peach Katherine Peach Associate Editor | Joined January 2025 Katherine Peach is an associate editor with a focus on news and email at Money. She didn’t always intend to write about money. She’s a classically trained pianist who dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. However, in 2007 Katherine began working in financial publishing as an editor for Agora Inc. (Apparently, unearthing ideas about improving your personal finances isn’t such a bad career alternative!) Katherine’s writing and editing work has been featured in Investing Daily, Clever, Investor Junkie, The Palm Beach Letter, Truth & Plenty, Independence Monthly, NICHE, AmericanStyle, AntiqueWeek, Millennial Money, Money Done Right, TheStreet, Sure Dividend and many others. Katherine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Studies with concentrations in Archaeology and Ancient Languages and a minor in Literature from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Has also written: Stamp Prices Won't Rise This Month, but These USPS Shipping Costs Will Debit Card Fraud Is on the Rise. Here's What I Did When It Happened to Me New Bill Aims to 'Actually' End Taxes on Social Security Inflation's Silver Lining: The Social Security COLA Estimate for 2026 Is Up Social Security Recipients Are on Track for a 2.5% Raise Next Year See full bio Published: Feb 25, 2026 11:00 a.m. EST 4 min read Money; Getty Images The cheapest day of the week to book an international flight is now Friday, and the best day to book a domestic flight is Saturday. Expedia found a 3% savings on international flights for Friday bookings versus Sunday, the most expensive day to book, a company spokesperson said. On domestic routes, there's a 2% savings for bookings made on Saturday versus Monday, which is the priciest day to book. The day you travel — and how far in advance you book — has a bigger impact. Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdAlready packing bags for your next trip?Grab your toothbrush and don't forget the travel insurance! Should anything unexpected happen, travel insurance has you covered. Get all the details by clicking on your state now.HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexasView Rates According to Expedia's 2026 Air Hacks report, flying internationally in August is the cheapest month. By the end of summer, many Americans are already back from summer trips and routes are less busy. Fares can be $120 cheaper on average versus December. For domestic air travel, the cheapest day to fly is Tuesday, during the midweek lull. Domestic flights on Tuesday are 14% cheaper than on Sunday. Friday is the cheapest day to fly internationally, with flight prices 8% less expensive than on Sunday. A separate Google Flights report said flights on earlier weekdays (Monday to Wednesday) are approximately 13% cheaper than weekend days. Save Smarter: Take control of your money with the Rocket Money budgeting app. Tip: Start planning summer trips now Now is a good time to start planning your international summer travel. While international flight prices are typically cheapest in the month and a half before a trip, looking at flight options in late winter or early spring gives you time to monitor price movements. Old travel wisdom about booking flights six months in advance no longer applies, travel experts say. Expedia reports that international travelers save an average of $190 booking 31 to 45 days in advance. That may be cutting it too close for most people: Airfares are not guaranteed to fall, and your departure options could become more limited if cabins sell out. The absolute cheapest time to book international flights is a week or two in advance, according to Expedia and Kayak reports. But again, that's not practical in most situations. "Leaving it so late can backfire as it gives you little room for flexibility," Kayak advised in an August report. Allowing yourself only a few weeks to plan lodging for a June or July trip in a popular destination isn't ideal, either. Instead, set up price trackers now for summer season flights, and you can watch for a deal in the coming weeks. Experts also recommend avoiding crowded business travel routes when possible. "Business travelers head home earlier in the week these days, so new opportunities are opening up for leisure travelers to save by choosing smarter travel days," Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations, said in a release last week. Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdQuote, compare and buy in a few minutesView Rates🏖️ Best Price Guarantee - Buy Online! 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What to Know About 'Skiplagging' SHOWHIDEAds by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdEnjoy your trip worry-free with the help of Travel InsuranceView Rates