Want cheaper flights? Google says this is the best time to book one

Booking a flight can sometimes feel like a gamble. You find a fare that looks reasonable, but instead of booking it, you start wondering whether it’ll be cheaper tomorrow. But wait too long, and you could end up paying even more.

Google already tries to make that decision easier with its travel tools, and now it’s sharing more data on when to book. If you already know your destination and travel dates, Google Flights and AI Mode in Search can show you the “cheapest time to book,” helping you understand whether current fares are on the lower side or if prices could change in the coming days.

If your plans are more flexible, Google has also analyzed five years of aggregated Google Flights data to find some useful booking patterns. Domestic flights have historically been cheapest around 39 days before departure, while international fares hit their lowest point around 89 days out. However, international prices generally remain in their lower range between 50 and 133 days before departure, so you don’t necessarily need to circle one exact date on your calendar.

Holiday travel is a little different. Thanksgiving flights have historically been cheapest around 34 days before departure, while Christmas fares bottom out around 56 days before. For spring break, booking more than 50 days ahead could get you a better price, while summer trips have historically been cheapest much closer to departure, at around 21 days out.

Where you’re flying also matters. Trips to Europe have been cheapest around 90 days before departure, while flights to Mexico or the Caribbean hit their lowest prices around 43 days out.

Interestingly, Google’s data also pours some cold water on the old advice that Tuesday is the best day to book a flight. Wednesday actually came out slightly cheaper, but the difference barely matters. Booking on the cheapest day of the week saves only about 1.4% compared with Sunday, the most expensive. So, on a $500 ticket, that’s a difference of just $7.

You’re better off focusing on the days you actually fly. Departing on Monday and returning on Tuesday or Wednesday can save around 14% compared with weekend travel. For domestic flights, those savings can reach 20% compared with leaving and returning on a Sunday. And if you’re willing to deal with a layover, you could save even more. Nonstop flights cost around 20% more on average than connecting itineraries.

Of course, none of this guarantees that your flight will magically be cheapest exactly 39 or 89 days before you leave. Airfares move constantly. But the data gives you something more useful than the old “always book on Tuesday” trick: a much better idea of when it’s worth booking, when you can wait, and where a little flexibility could save you money.