Think You Know the Best Day and Time to Buy Flights? You're Wrong.

Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Repeatedly refreshing Kayak and rubbing your lucky stuffed pig isn't going to get you anywhere but borderline obsessive and weird. But there is a way to book flights cheaper, based on when you do it.

According to the second annual Global Air Travel Outlook report, which uses data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation, Friday is now the worst day to book travel. Tickets purchased on Friday can be 13% higher than on one of the best days to book, like Sunday. Meanwhile, the weekend is now the best time to book tickets, which means that whole thing about Tuesday being special is no longer entirely true. Tuesday is still a good day to buy, but now comes in second to Saturday and Sunday.

As far as timing is concerned, you'll want to plan out that trip pretty early and book domestic flights exactly 57 days before departure, which could save you as much as $300. If you want an ideal rate, International flights need to be purchased even earlier.

Here's the international break down if you're departing from the US.


To Europe: 176 days before departure, savings of 11%

To Caribbean: 77 days before departure, savings of 5%

To Asia-Pacific: 160 days before departure, savings of 13%

To the Middle East and Africa: 144 days before departure, savings of 24%

To South America: 90 days before departure, 10%


But, of course, a good deal is a good deal, and airline sales can hit on any day of the week. So, if you see a good price even on, say, a Thursday, book it. After all, Thursdays need love too.

Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

Kara King is a News Writer at Thrillist and is going on a mental vacation soon. Send news tips to news@thrillist.com and follow her at @karatillie.