Travel expert shares the ‘best’ day to book your flight – it’s neither Saturday or Sunday | Travel News | Travel

A travel expert said booking your next flight on a certain day could save you over 20% on plane fares. The tip comes just in time, as travelling costs continue to rise for various reasons, including high operational costs and increased fuel prices.

Sam Argyle, Managing Director at Alternative Airlines, claimed travellers can save nearly a quarter when booking flights by following a simple rule. The expert explained that while most people book flights on a weekend, when they have more free time, that isn’t the best route, as the weekend is “actually when prices peak”. 

Instead, “Tuesday afternoons offer the biggest savings” according to Mr Argyle. This is because, he said, airlines typically launch sales on Monday night and by Tuesday afternoon, competing airlines have matched the lower prices.

Analysis by Alternative Airlines showed that Tuesday bookings consistently outperform weekend bookings by significant margins. Flight prices on Tuesday can be up to 23% less than identical routes booked on Saturdays and Sundays.

Mr Argyle said: “The secret is timing. Airlines want to fill empty seats, so they start the week with fresh deals. By Tuesday afternoon, the market has adjusted, and that’s your sweet spot.”

Travel search engine Kayak also supports the airfare finder company’s findings. Research from Kayak found that Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly one-way within Europe, with average costs of just £82.

The travel expert added: “For international flights, both Tuesday and Wednesday offer the best value with average one-way ticket prices of £413.”

For European travel, a round-trip with a Tuesday departure and a Wednesday return typically yields the lowest fares. For international travel, Wednesday-to-Wednesday bookings typically offer the best value for a week-long trip.

Timing matters when it comes to planning, too. Despite beliefs that booking months ahead will guarantee you the best price, that isn’t always the case. “Last-minute deals exist because airlines prefer revenue over some empty seats,” explained Mr Argyle.

So, the next time you plan to fly out, it is worth waiting for your Tuesday lunch break to book those flights.