There’s always an industry adage when it comes to airfare advice. “If you book your trip on the right day and at the right time, you’ll get the lowest fares.” One of the most widespread beliefs, a tip that’s been circulating in the travel industry and media outlets including this one for years, is that Tuesdays are the best time. This bit of wisdom is a lasting holdover from the early days when airlines updated fares based on a predictable weekly schedule.
But new data from Expedia shows that advice no longer applies. In fact, Friday emerges as the best day to book flights to get the cheapest fares in the company’s 2026 Airhack report.
Melanie Fish, vice president of global communications for Expedia Group Brands, told Afar: “Flight prices are constantly changing, and this year Expedia has found Friday to be the cheapest day to book a flight.” “Travelers can save up to 3% when they book on Friday instead of Sunday, when prices are highest.”
Why the old “rules” no longer apply
The long-maintained Tuesday booking strategy was not arbitrary and reflected how the airfare pricing model used to operate. Airlines used to update their fares at a consistent weekly rate, only to be quickly matched or beat by competitors. This has created a short period of time (often late Tuesday through Wednesday) during which savvy travelers can find great deals.
However, today’s airfare pricing is much less predictable. Airlines now rely on robust algorithms that adjust fares in real time based on demand, competition, and booking patterns. That is, there are no more reliable “price drops” every week.
New patterns in the corporate sector are also having an impact.
“Recent changes in the cheapest days for bookings and tickets are closely related to changes in work habits,” Fish said. “We are now seeing reduced weekend demand as many business travelers end their trips early in the week or avoid traveling on Fridays altogether.”
This change in demand is pushing prices down on Friday, according to a report from Expedia. We’ve tracked annual patterns in Expedia’s flight ticket tool and highlighted fares that are at least 20% cheaper than usual. Fewer business travelers depart on Friday, freeing up cheaper inventory for leisure travelers heading to the weekend.
Additionally, Expedia data shows travelers can save up to 8% on airfare by traveling internationally on Friday instead of Sunday (the cheapest and most expensive day to travel abroad).
At the same time, some of the old Tuesday logic still applies in a different way. According to the report, Tuesday is the cheapest day for domestic flights, with fares on average about 14% cheaper than Sundays. Tuesday is also the least busy day of the week for flights. Fridays are the busiest.
Still, experts caution against reading too much into the findings of a single “best day.” Expedia data reflects bookings made on the platform, not the entire airfare ecosystem, and prices can change at any time based on a variety of factors.
Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going, a travel newsletter and app, pointed to an analysis by booking platform CheapOair that found the price of a single domestic flight ticket changed 135 times in the year it was available, or about once every 2.4 days.
With that in mind, Nastro explained that making a reservation for a specific day of the week is “checking last year’s tide charts and trying to catch waves. The waves you’re looking for don’t matter what day of the week it is.”
How to actually save money
If anything, it means that the question of which day to book on may not be as important as it once was, or as important as people expect it to be.
“Price tracking alerts consistently beat the ‘best day’ rule,” Fish said. “Airfares change daily. Some of the biggest savings come from timing prices, not necessarily waiting for a specific weekday. The smartest strategy is to track your route early, watch for dips, and be ready to book when a sale shows up on your radar.”
Airline industry commentator Mike Arnott agreed, pointing out that travelers obsessed with perfect booking dates can miss the big picture.
“It’s best for travelers to plan their trips far in advance, as there is a lot of competition (with airlines) for specific seats,” Arnott said. “For example, if you want to fly from New York to Europe, there are more than a dozen airlines flying that route every day, and each one is competing to get you a seat. If you’re one of the first to book, you’ll get the cheapest fare and the most likely option.”
He added that while ticket prices fluctuate, airlines tend to increase fares closer to departure and use advanced software tools in conjunction with human intervention to maximize profits.
According to Arnott, the day of the week you book your ticket is “just one small factor in determining your dream vacation.” He added that the savings may also come with drawbacks. “I don’t think it’s worth the mental or physical pain to take multiple connecting flights and hunker down in economy just to save $50 on a Tuesday flight.”