Key Points

• Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays often means cheaper fares, thanks to lower demand compared to busy travel days.

• Booking early is still smart—especially for holidays—but keep tracking prices since many airlines allow free changes if fares drop.

• Instead of watching for deals on a certain day, set price alerts and stay flexible to snag the best rates whenever they pop up.

If you’ve ever waited until Tuesday afternoon to book a flight because someone at some point swore it was the cheapest day to buy airfare, you’re not alone. For years, travelers have followed that advice like gospel. But according to today’s top travel insiders, that “rule” is more a travel myth than a money-saving tip—and it could even cost you the deal you’re hoping for.

So what’s actually true in 2025? We asked frequent fliers, booking pros, and points experts to weigh in on what matters most when you’re trying to score the lowest fares—and it turns out, it’s less about when you book, and more about when you fly.

The Truth About Tuesday Flight Deals

“The idea that Tuesdays are the best day to book flights is a leftover myth from the early days of airline pricing,” says Julian Kheel, founder and CEO of Points Path, a travel tech platform that tracks airfare trends. “That strategy may have made sense when fares were loaded into an airline’s computers once a week, but that’s not how ticketing systems work anymore.”

In today’s world of dynamic pricing, airline fares shift constantly—sometimes even several times a day—in response to demand, capacity, and even browsing history. “There’s no single day to book when prices are magically lower,” Kheel explains. “Waiting for a specific day could easily mean missing out.”

Instead, he advises travelers to focus less on trying to time the booking perfectly and more on being strategic about when they actually plan to fly.

The Best Days To Fly, Not Book

While there’s no magic window to purchase tickets anymore, travel experts agree that flying on certain days of the week is consistently cheaper—particularly if you’re willing to avoid peak days.

“Flights departing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are 6 percent to 13 percent cheaper on average than weekend departures,” Kheel says, based on Points Path’s 2025 data.

That tracks with what Rob DelliBovi, founder and CEO of RDB Hospitality Group, sees with his high-profile clients. “The cheapest days to fly are Tuesdays and Saturdays,” he says. “Business travelers typically fly out on Mondays, and leisure travelers head out on Thursdays or Fridays—so Tuesday and Saturday flights tend to fall in a cheaper sweet spot.”

For travelers who want to maximize savings, that knowledge can be powerful. “Plan accordingly,” DelliBovi advises. “It’s a simple shift that can make a real difference in your budget—especially for families or groups.”

What About Booking Tips And Tricks?

DelliBovi says the old-school rules about booking in advance still hold up—especially if you’re eyeing peak travel periods like holidays or school breaks. “The rule of thumb is to book as far in advance as possible,” he says.

And even if you’ve already booked, don’t stop monitoring prices. “If you notice your flight got cheaper after booking, call the airline,” he says. “They’ll often adjust the price—especially now that most tickets can be changed without penalties.”

That flexibility is one of the biggest advantages travelers have today. “Smart travelers book the best deal they can find, then keep tracking fares,” Kheel adds. “If the price drops, they rebook.”

Set Price Alerts To Save

Tiffany Funk, co-founder and president of the award-travel search tool point.me, agrees that travelers need to let go of the Tuesday myth and adopt a more proactive strategy. “There’s no longer a ‘best’ day of the week to book a flight,” Funk says. “Airlines now use advanced algorithms and pricing models, so fares can fluctuate even throughout the same day.”

Instead of stalking airline websites every Tuesday, Funk recommends setting price alerts and being flexible. “Your best bet is to have flexibility on the day you actually travel, and set an alert to be notified when pricing drops,” she says.

To hone your approach, here’s a summary of what our experts say is the best strategy for getting a great flight deal:

• Fly on less popular days. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and even Saturdays tend to be cheaper.

• Book early—but keep watching. Airfares change constantly. You might be able to rebook if prices drop.

• Set price alerts. Tools like Google Flights or point.me can notify you of changes in real time.

• Don’t wait for Tuesday to book. Deals can appear—and disappear—any day of the week.

Read the original article on Southern Living