Yesterday, I was up early to call into Bob Sirott’s morning drive on Chicago’s popular WGN radio. As usual, we discussed a range of travel topics including what to do in weather delays and flight cancellations, how to get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry access for free, my stay at the Chicago O’Hare Hilton and whether or not searching for airfares online increases the price. The latter is just a myth as I really don’t believe airlines or third parties sites change their prices depending on your search. If you find evidence of this, please take screenshots so I can investigate. And if you’re still worried about it, then clear your computer’s cookies and/or search using an incognito browser. Go into the menu and select either New Incognito Window or New Private Window.
If you’re looking for some other myth-busting travel hacks, today Expedia released their 2025 Air Travel Hacks Report. The report debunks myths and uncovers data-based strategies that should save travelers money in 2025. FYI: “The myth-busting analysis, created in partnership with the Airlines Reporting Corporation, analyzed billions of data points to determine the best ways to save in 2025.”
Here are the myths they’ve debunked:
Myth #1: “Summer is the most expensive time to travel.”
Busted: August is the cheapest month to travel, February and March are the most expensive.
Traveling domestically in August vs February can save travelers 12%. Flying internationally in August vs March can save up to 7%.1
Myth #2: “There’s no best day of the week to book flights.”
Busted: Booking on a Sunday can keep more in your wallet.
For the third year in a row, the data shows Sunday is the cheapest day to book flights. Domestic travelers can save 6% while international travelers can save 17% compared to booking on a Monday or Friday.2
Myth #3: “The day of the week I travel doesn’t affect the cost.”
Busted: Saturday and Thursday are the cheapest days to depart.
It’s not just when you book, it’s when you fly. Regardless of fare class and destination, flying on Thursday instead of Sunday can save travelers 17%.Domestic travelers should depart on Saturday instead of Sunday to save 17%. On the international front, Thursday is the cheapest day to fly—travelers can save 15% compared to flying on a Sunday.3
Myth #4: “The further ahead you book, the cheaper it will be.”
Busted: The sweet spot is closer to departure than you think.
Book domestic flights 1 to 3 months in advance to save 25% compared to last-minute bookers.
Book international flights just 18 to 29 days before departure and save up to 17% versus booking three months out or more.4
Waiting too long to book can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy. On one hand, you could snag an awesome deal. On the other, you could end up with longer layovers, sold-out flights or a higher ticket price. Luckily, there’s no need to wait to book or worry about overpaying. Price Drop Protection on the Expedia app provides an automatic refund for the difference if a flight price drops on Expedia after booking – and it’s free for Gold and Platinum One Key members.**
Myth #5: “Airfare goes up every year.”
Busted: Average ticket prices are down.
Domestic economy tickets are down 1% from last year, and international economy tickets are 4% cheaper. In 2024, the average ticket price for domestic flights was $462 ($464 in 2023) and $849 for international flights ($882 in 2023).5
Myth #6: “Premium tickets are always too expensive to consider.”
Busted: The difference between premium and economy has come down.
Thinking of upgrading? It’s more affordable than ever. The price gap between premium and economy tickets is down 10% compared to 2019.6
Myth #7: “Every flight I take is full.”
Busted: Evade crowds by traveling during quiet periods.
Tuesday is the quietest day of the week to travel, and February is the quietest month. July, on the other hand, sees 65% more flights than February.7
Myth #8: “There’s nothing I can do about delays and cancellations.”
Busted: Morning flights are much less likely to be cancelled.
Cancellations doubled in 2024, impacting 3.4% of flights. Here’s how avoid them:
Flights that depart after 9 p.m. have a 57% higher chance of being cancelled compared to those that leave earlier in the day. Flights departing between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. face the lowest rate of cancellations.8
August and September see the lowest rate of cancellations (1.2%). August also sees the shortest average delays, making it one of the smoothest months for travel.9
Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations, also shared a good tip, which is this: “Airfares are down, the end of summer is the cheapest time to fly, and booking too far out can actually cost you money – these realities fly in the face of advice floating around the internet.”
I think most business travelers already know this information but it’s definitely a good reminder and especially valuable for occasional travelers.
KEEP READING
–Is it okay to recline your seat on a short flight?
–‘Eliminate those buttons!’ Larry David rants about reclining seats on airplanes
–Why you need to let the passenger behind you know you’re about to do this
–United Airlines passenger aggressively kicks seat in front because passenger reclined – Airline investigating the
incident
–10 air travel pet peeves and how to deal with them
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Naturally written by a travel site. The airline computers most definitely DO raise prices if you look at a specific route 3 or more times in a given session. They tend to return to the original quote after midnight, so check again the next day. Prices invariably drop on Tues and Wed, sometimes Thurs. Flights are packed – I live in Atlanta and am married to Delta. Doesn’t matter what day I fly nor the destination. It’s a zoo. I’m glad they know how to manage their revenue, but a return of some modicum of comfort to passengers would be nice. A small packet of cookies does not make it, nor do two small bags of chips if you’re flying “First” Class.