Our study draws on customer booking data in order to provide insight on the best time to book
flights. We have analysed the data from all bookings made through our website between
July 2018 and
June 2019 in order to identify clear trends and prices, for example the cheapest months to book
flights to
specific destinations or how long in advance is best to book flights. We use the most up-to-date
intelligence
so that you can take advantage of the best deals and share our knowledge on the cheapest
time to book
flights! Here is a little secret: the cheapest time of the year to book a flight is on
any Sunday
in January.
When is the best month to book flights?
Booking a holiday should be an exciting time! But with so many destinations at your fingertips, it
can be
hard to choose and nailing the best time to book a flight can seem like a minefield. So,
take
advantage of our insight to make sure you get the best deal!
According to our data, January is the best month to book a trip, with an average
flight
price of £241 for trips leaving from the UK, compared to an average price for July of £288. But, of
course,
prices and trends vary by destination and length of flight, and other factors including seasonality
and
weather. So try to book your flight in January to get the best prices.
Domestic flights
For domestic flights, September is the best month to book your travel, with an average price of £145,
fluctuating to £174 for flights in July.
Long-distance travel
If you are heading to Europe, or further afield, then look at the winter months (January/February) to
take
advantage of the cheapest fares! Wherever your dream destination, we have the data and expertise to
make sure
that you get the best deal for your flights! Whether you want to head off and explore Europe, or hop
across
the pond to enjoy some sight-seeing in America, then September is the best month to book, with
average flight
prices of £143 and £519 respectively.
Exotic destinations
If you’re seeking something further afield, then January booking offers the best prices for
travel to
Africa (£441) and Oceania (£895), and certainly try to avoid booking
flights to
these destinations in July when price averages increase by £122 for African trips and £286 for
travel to
Oceania! If the Eastern delights of Asia appeal, then January and September are the
best
months to book that dream holiday, with average prices of £475, compared with average prices in May
and June
of over £540.
Month
Domestic
Jan
£ 144
Feb
£ 150
Mar
£ 155
Apr
£ 158
May
£ 164
Jun
£ 170
Jul
£ 173
Aug
£ 155
Sep
£ 143
Oct
£ 153
Nov
£ 149
Dec
£ 146
Domestic
What is the best day of the week to book a flight?
It is not only the month that you travel that can impact the price of your flight, but also which day
of the
week you book your flight. According to our data, Sunday is the cheapest day of the week to
book
flights, but once again, it depends on your destination.
If you are flexible around what day you choose to travel, then you might also be able to save
yourself some
money! We recommend that, if possible, you always check prices a few days before or after your
preferred date
to make sure you find the cheapest time to book flights.
Travelling to Europe
If you are heading to Europe, look at prices for different days, as price averages fluctuate from
£185 for
booking on a Saturday, up to a whopping £615 for a Thursday! European weekend breaks have become
increasingly
popular, but you could end up paying over double to travel to your European destination purely
depending on
the day of the week!
Travelling to America
For those who are planning to holiday in America, Sunday is again the cheapest day to
book,
saving you around £57 compared with a Friday, which is the most expensive day to book.
Travelling to Africa and Asia
If you are jetting off to Africa or Asia, there is less variation in price from one day to the next.
However,
it is still worth having a look as you could save around £30 by booking on a Sunday, which is the
cheapest day to book flights, compared with a Thursday, when average prices are
highest.
Travelling to Australia
There is also a significant variation in price, depending on the day you book your travel, for
flights down
under to Australia and wider Oceania. The average prices for booking flights on a Monday are £988,
rising to
£1104 if you would prefer to book on a Wednesday.
When to book flights: the best month and days depending on destination
£ 975
How many days in advance should you book to get the cheapest flights?
We all know that booking flights in advance can save you money – but how far in advance is
the
best time to book? We tend to think that the further in advance we book, the
cheaper the flights
will be, however, our data reveals that this is not always the case. Aim to book your flight
about 31-43
days before you travel to take advantage of lower prices. But once again, the optimum booking
period depends
on your destination!
Booking in advance
For domestic flights, the best time to book is 44-50 days in advance, saving around £46 compared
to booking
just three weeks in advance. However, if you are planning a trip to Europe then book flights
slightly
further in advance (71-80 days) to get the cheapest flights (£198 average
compared to £242
if you book last minute – up to 2 days in advance).
For holidays to Africa, we recommend booking around 2 months in advance, which is the best time
according
to our data to book the cheapest flights.
But don’t worry – you don’t always need to be super organised to book the cheapest flights!
Booking last minute
If you are planning to visit America, our data shows that booking roughly a month in advance
would save you
around £259 compared with the cost of booking just a few days in advance!
Similarly, the cheapest flights to Asia are available around a month in advance (£604 average),
while the
cost of flights rises to £689 if you want to book over 100 days in advance. It doesn’t always
pay to be
organised!
If you are more spontaneous, and want to visit Australia or wider Oceania, then the best
flight
deals are available by booking just 3 weeks in advance (£895 average), compared to
£1287 if you
book 3 months in advance!
Country
Price (£)
Days in advance
Portugal
£ 151
6-10
Romania
£ 227
26-30
Turkey
£ 145
6-10
Spain
£ 145
41-50
Netherlands
£ 116
91-100
France
£ 132
11-15
Thailand
£ 551
16-20
Cyprus
£ 201
6-10
Italy
£ 141
31-36
UAE
£ 444
26-30
HOW MANY DAYS IN ADVANCE
should you book your flight?
