This is Google flights’ ‘No. 1, always’ for the score of cheap tickets

Finding a cheap flight can sometimes feel as hard as scoring decent snacks on the plane.

Travel experts, however, generally agree on one defeat to get a lot of tickets: be flexible.

“It’s our Council No. 1, always for travelers,” said James Byrs, the head of the product team in Google Flights.

Flexibility can mean flying in the middle of the week instead of a weekend or perhaps travel outside the top of the season for a specific goal, he said and other experts.

“Try not to block a really specific date,” Byers said.

Even shifting traveling a day or two in the direction of Eith can do “huge different”, he said.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are generally the cheapest days for flying. Tickets are 13% expensive less than tickets for weekend flights, according to the new Google Flights data.

Google examines average circular flights from 1 January 2021 to 1 August 2025. It analyzed four -day to 16 -day trips from the highest 4,000 markets in the US

Departures in the middle of the week are a “simple way” to save $ 42 per ticket or about 14%on Aperrage for home tickets, according to a 2025 hack report from Hopper.

Sunday is often the end of the day to fly, Hayley Berg, Hopper’s main economic, he wrote in postponing. It is usually a busy day at airports, when people fly home from weekends, she wrote.

“Travelers who are thinking about the weekend escape can never save by leaving in the middle of the week and return to Suturday or Monday, instead of Sunday,” Berg wrote.

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The race, holidays can throw the key into these instructions.

For example, flying on Wednesday before thanksgiving is probably the most expensive day to fly around this particular holiday, said Sally French, travel analyst in Nerdwallet.

As another bonus, weekend travel can also bring large hotel discounts. Checks on Friday or Saturday and stay by Sunday in general means paying a premium enthusiasm of 20%, or about $ 50 more per night, compared to the cheapest days of the week, such as Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, according to Hopper data.

Many travelers fall on the “myth” that the day of the week when they buy their flight has a great financial effect, the Frenchman said.

“It’s not true,” she said. “It’s not the day you book (that’s important), it’s the day you fly.”

Tuesday was a historically cheap day of the week, but according to Google Flights analysis, it’s just 1.3% cheaper than Sunday, the most existing day.

“If I gave my friends and family advice on what to look for, it would be lower as a factor on the list,” Byers said. “I wouldn’t say,” wait until Tuesday. “”

Flexibility at macro level can also reduce your tickets, the Frenchman said.

“Only a less crowded month can be useful,” she said.

This could mean traveling during the shoulder season or offseason at the finish, the experts said.

Airfare generally culminates in the middle of summer and decreases as autumn approaching soon, Berg wrote. For example, home travelers saved an average of 40%in 2024, or about $ 150, moving from the peak summer months to September or October, Cing Hopper Data.

From the race, it may be difficult for some travelers to be flexible.

Parents can be tied to summer trips due to a school holiday plan, while workers in certain roles say, teachers or tax preparations can be limited when they can take time off.

In addition, or cruises in general come up with rigid initial and end data, and at the beginning or at the end of the trip, they may not have a financial meaningful solution for the next day – and other cost of hotel and food – said French.

There are other ways to save, experts said.

The connected items, albeit potentially Bubensome, are often a certain way to save money. Depending on Google Reservation, itinerary with a stopover saves an average of 22%passengers, compared to flying nonstop.

Do not forget to pack all the basic items for your trip to your transmission baggage in case yours follow to not get into the next plane, the Frenchman said.

Reservation ahead, or not wait at the last minute, often brings savings as well, said experts.

The lowest prices were 39 days before leaving for home flight and 49 days for International, according to Google flights. The goal may vary depending on the goal, the experts said.