AUSTIN,
Texas, May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new
study by Upgraded Points answers an age-old question – are some
flights cheaper depending on the day you book?
"Long held to be a myth, it turns out that there actually
is a best day to book a flight if you want to save money,"
said Keri Stooksbury,
editor-in-chief of Upgraded Points. "Knowing this will help
maximize your travel savings while making informed choices that are
both practical and budget-friendly for everyone."
Study Methodology
To identify the most expensive days to book flights, the study
collected Google Flights data daily for four consecutive weeks,
analyzing over 44,000 one-way economy fares across 10 of the
busiest domestic flight routes in the nation. Each ticket price was
recorded three to four weeks in advance on the same weekday to
eliminate any time-based bias and ensure consistent comparisons. To
calculate the average cost of a plane ticket by day of the week,
all flight costs were averaged for that day.
Day-by-Day Airfare Trends: The Best Booking Days for Major
U.S. Airways
- American Airlines: Consistency is key with American, where
the average flight cost is $279.
Thursdays top the price chart at $285.60, but waiting until Friday offers some
savings, dropping to $271.85.
- Delta Air Lines: Delta shows a unique pricing pattern
where Thursday ($181.05) offers
savings over Friday ($216.67),
suggesting a strategic booking opportunity for cost-conscious
travelers who time it right.
- JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines Early-Week Wins: For
those flying JetBlue or Spirit, early-week bookings are the best
budget choice. Prices surge towards the weekend, with JetBlue
seeing a $50 increase from Monday to
Friday and Spirit flights costing around $30 more on Saturdays compared to Mondays.
- United Airlines Midweek Savings: United presents a mixed
bag of pricing, with the highest rates seen on Thursday
($299.47) and Friday ($298.36). However, booking on Sunday
($281.66), Monday ($283.63), or Wednesday ($284.22) can lead to notable savings, making
midweek and Sunday the most economical options.
Best Days to Book for Budget-Friendly Flight Costs
- Weekend Wallet Woes: Booking flights at the week's end can
hit the wallet hard. Saturdays see the highest average ticket price
at $241.61, with Fridays close behind
at $238.47.
- No Sunday Scaries: Contrary to its weekend counterparts,
booking on a Sunday offers a price closer to the weekly average, at
$224.66.
- Midweek Moderation: As the week progresses, flight prices
start to moderate. Wednesday and Thursday bookings cost an average
of $222.76 and $222.21, respectively, providing a slight savings
compared to the overall average.
- Early Week Wins: For the thriftiest airfare, aim for the
start of the week. Monday bookings average $213.44, while Tuesday, the most economical day,
dips slightly lower to $213.31,
making it the best day for budget-conscious travelers.
For a detailed look at each airline studied, which airline had
the most consistent pricing, and more, please visit the full
study.
About Upgraded Points LLC
Headquartered in Austin, Texas,
Upgraded Points is a travel company that helps to demystify the
complex world of travel and credit cards. Launched in 2016 by
Alex Miller, Upgraded Points uses
targeted research efforts and in-depth studies to help travelers
maximize their travel, points, and experiences. Learn more at:
www.UpgradedPoints.com.
Media Contact:
Alex Miller, Founder
1-214-646-8866
376921@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Upgraded Points