It's that time of year! As tradition dictates, at FareArena we like to look ahead to the new year with a comprehensive overview of airfares and trends to look for. Since we were too eager to wait until January, welcome to our most recent installment: Cheapest Days to Fly in 2024!

To find, analyze, and compile this information, we reviewed nearly 300 million airfares from FareArena's own database, which covers ticket prices through September (Pro tip: Most airlines don’t actively manage fares more than nine months ahead). You – as well as the other travelers in your life – will be able to use this information as a helpful shopping guide for deals now through the next year.

In the endless pursuit of cheap flights, too many travelers focus on the day they book their flights. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday to any old Tuesday, there is no magical best day to book flights. Analysis released by the team behind Google Flights shows that shopping for flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays instead of Saturdays or Sundays isn't saving you money.

It matters more when you actually get on the plane than when you buy your tickets. Flying when there's less demand, such as on a Tuesday or Wednesday, can mean cheaper flights.

Airfare is constantly changing, which means a good bargain or mistake fare can pop up any day of the week when you're booking flights. But there are consistent patterns that compare and show there are often cheaper days of the week to travel – and focusing on those cheapest days to fly throughout the week is a surefire, expert way to find cheap flights.

With the darkest moments of the COVID-19 health crisis (and subsequent post-pandemic travel landscape) behind us, travelers around the world face new challenges. Overbooked flights, issues with lost baggage, less availability or modified flight routes, and so much more continue to be the cause of headaches everywhere. When you're ready to plan your trip, remember to stay flexible, seek out reservations that can be changed if need be, and have a deep understanding of an airline's policies. Knowledge is power – and you're in the driver's seat.

Without much further ado, let's get into it!

How to Shop for Airfare in 2024

When you're getting ready to purchase airfare, do as you would year-round: Compare airfares. No single airline will always have the best deal. This means if you don't compare, you could potentially miss out on big savings.

Another tip: don't shop too late, either! The following months and dates refer to the cheapest days to fly in 2024; to get the best prices, book tickets at least several weeks before departure, depending on your destination. It's simple: Take your time to do the homework, and then reap the benefits!

Another way to save: Look for connecting flights rather than traveling non-stop.

Cheapest Days to Fly 2024: Spring

Flights to the U.S. and Canada

• First post-winter price hike: February 28
• Best days of the week to fly in March/April: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
• Most expensive days of the week to fly in March/April: Fridays, Sundays

Flights to Europe

• First post-winter price hike: March 26
• Second price hike: May 14
• Third (and largest) price hike: June 2

Bottom Line? Early bird gets the worm! The earlier you fly in the spring season, the better.

Cheapest Days to Fly 2024: Summer & Fall

Flights to the U.S. & Canada

• First summer price hike: June 4
• Major price hike: June 22
• Prices drop: August 25
• More price drops: Early to mid-September, particularly for flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Flights to Europe

• First summer price hike: June 2
• First price drop: July 15
• Major price drop: August 11
• Another major price drop: September 11

Bottom Line? Go big or go home. Summer is expensive, but European fares do begin to drop before U.S. prices.

Cheapest Days to Fly 2024: Winter

Flights to the U.S. and Canada

• Cheapest fares: January 7 to February 28
• Cheapest single travel day: January 21
• Best days of the week to fly: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, followed by Thursdays
• Days to avoid: Prices are higher February 14-20 due to Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekends

Flights to Europe

• Cheapest fares: January 22 to March 25
• Cheaper days to fly: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays

Bottom Line? You've got choices. There are many days throughout January and February to find cheap domestic flights and flights to Europe.

Methodology

A note on the methodology of our analysis: Data includes prices for tickets to and from every city in the world, every day of the week, based on average stays of six to eight days. The results are then processed down to "average daily cheapest fares."

Top Travel Destinations

What do you know? You're all set and ready to take to the friendly skies! Let's compare deals on airfares to some of the most popular travel destinations.