The holiday season is approaching, which means it’s almost time for that annual tradition of panicking over ridiculously expensive flights. But what if you could actually beat the system this year?
According to the latest data from Google Flights trip reportthe service is essentially a cheat sheet for booking the cheapest flights possible. They analyzed years of data to surface the exact best times to buy your tickets, taking all the guesswork out of the equation.
Whether you’re an over-planner or a last-minute scrambler, these findings reveal the clear patterns you need to know to avoid being fooled. Before you book anything, you’ll want to see this.
For more top travel tipsExplore these travel essentials you need for every vacation, then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also review CNET’s roundup of the best headphones for travel.
Which days are cheapest to fly?
If you’re planning to book a flight, you’re probably trying to find the cheapest option. The cheapest flights are available for flights on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with Tuesday is the cheapest dayaccording to historical flight data.
Flying early in the week can save travelers around 13% on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday the most expensive day to fly.
Do layovers on flights save money?
It may come as no surprise that connecting flights are cheaper than direct flights, but you may not realize how significant these savings can be.
Google Flights data shows that travelers can save 22% by booking a flight with a stopover instead of a nonstop flight.
Which day of the week is cheapest to book flights?
There are certainly cheaper days to to flythere are no really cheaper days for book. “It’s worth knowing that you won’t save much by booking on a certain day of the week,” according to the Google report.
Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day of the week to bookaccording to the data, but bookings on Tuesdays are just 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday.
Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance?
To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it’s best to book your trip well in advance, especially if you need to fly on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can look at to decide whether it’s better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations, and travel dates.
To domestic flightsprices are generally the lowest among 23 and 51 days before your trip – with 39 days Before departure is, on average, the cheapest day to book.
To international flightsprices are generally lower between 49 days or more before your trip, but it’s usually best to book as early as possible. According to Google, “average prices do not drop significantly before departure, but generally begin to rise 50 days after the flight” for international travel from the US.
Also read: Google’s new AI Flight Deals tool works, but only if you’re an “anywhere, anytime” traveler
When is the best time to book a flight in each season?
Here’s what Google says about the best times to book flights and vacation trips to certain popular destinations.
Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights during the Thanksgiving holiday are generally available 24 to 59 days in advance, with 35 days in advance being the cheapest — meaning it’s best to book Thanksgiving flights in late September or early October.
Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights during the winter holidays are generally available 32 to 73 days in advance, with 51 days in advance being the cheapest. It’s best to book Christmas or holiday flights from mid-October to mid-November.
Spring Break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available 28 to 61 days in advance, with 43 days before departure being the cheapest time to book, on average.
Summer holidays: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are generally available 14 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day on average to book.
When is the best time to book a flight to Europe?
International flights to Europe from the US are generally cheaper 48 or more days before departure. As with all international travel, it is generally good practice to book as early as possible.
When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean?
International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the only exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. This is because flights are generally lower between 26 and 79 days in advance with 50 days being the cheapest.
What are the top holiday travel destinations in 2025?
Google also released insights into the most searched destinations for each holiday in the 2025 season.
Thanksgiving: The most searched domestic destinations for travel departing between November 23 and 30 include Columbia, South Carolina; Bozeman, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska and more.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve: The most searched destinations for travel departing between the dates of December 21st to January 4th include Rio de Janeiro, Saint Lucia, Marrakech, Curacao and more.
For more, check out CNET’s picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 Travel Essentials You Always Need to Pack and the Worst Airlines for Flight Delays and Cancellations.
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