These are the cheapest days to fly and book in 2026

Expedia data reveals the top air travel hacks for 2026.

Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report has just dropped. What does this mean for travellers? Legitimate insight into the best days and times to travel by air, based on new consumer research and millions of ticket pricing and booking data points pulled from the global travel booking platform.  

Now in its 10th year, the report has revealed February as the most affordable month to travel in 2026, with routes across Asia and the South Pacific experiencing some of the largest airfare drops for Australian travellers. From avoiding the morning rush to taking advantage of the cheapest days to fly and book, these are the top air travel hacks for 2026.  

Depart on a Friday, the cheapest day to fly

Discover (Credit: Getty/d3sign)

Friday has become the cheapest day of the week to travel by air in 2026, owing to reduced business travel at the end of the week. Travellers who make use of this air travel hack can save up to 12 per cent compared to flying on a Sunday, according to Expedia data. Plus, travelling on a Friday helps to stretch your weekend getaway that little bit longer. 

Travel in February, the cheapest month to fly

Expedia’s 2026 Air Hack Report has revealed February as the most affordable month to fly. Expect savings of up to 74 per cent compared to flying in the super popular holiday month of December.  

Book flights 4-6 weeks in advance to save money

Think you need to book flights six months in advance to score the biggest savings? Think again. Expedia says the most affordable booking window for economy flights is four to six weeks before departure. Compared to booking six months out, this window can save domestic flyers an average of $40 and international travellers an average of $140. Can’t deal with the uncertainty of leaving bookings this late? Not to worry – those who book three months out can still save around $75 compared to six months out.  

Book flights in July and avoid booking in November

Bora Bora is a stunning travel destination worth planning a trip to. (Credit: Unsplash/Tom Donders)

July has been named the cheapest month to book flights, offering travellers up to 20 per cent savings compared to booking in November. Booking during this month is one of the best air travel hacks for flyers keen to save a pretty penny. 

Book flights on a Thursday, the cheapest day to book air travel

There are more ways to save when planning your well-deserved holiday. The cheapest day to book flights is on a Thursday, as flyers can save up to seven per cent compared to booking on a Saturday, when airfares tend to be higher. 

Travel in February, mid-March and the end of July for quiet travel dates

Travel during quieter months to avoid crowds. (Credit: Supplied)

Along with being the cheapest flying period, February has also been recognised as the quietest month to travel, while December is – again, unsurprisingly – the busiest month to fly. If you can line up your travel to also fall in the off-season of the destination you’re visiting, you’ll benefit from even further savings on accommodation and activities while you’re there.

Travel on Tuesday, the quietest day to fly

For those who can’t stand crowded airports and dragging delays, this is one of Expedia’s best air travel hacks: travel on a Tuesday. Why? It’s the quietest and least busy day of the week to fly. In comparison, Friday is the busiest – often due to passengers jetting off for a weekend trip. 

Avoid the morning rush

The busiest time of day for air travel is the morning, with more than 56 per cent of domestic departures and 45 per cent of international departures taking place this time of day. Avoid the rush by travelling in the afternoon or evening. 

Snap up airfare drops in Asia and the South Pacific

Score cheap airfares to Bali. (Credit: Unsplash/Guillaume Marques)

Flight routes to Asia and the South Pacific are seeing some of the largest year-on-year price drops for Australian travellers. Here are the top saver routes for 2026: 

• Maroochydore to Auckland, New Zealand (-76%) 

• Newcastle to Bali, Indonesia (-44%) 

• Sydney to Port Vila, Vanuatu (-35%) 

• Darwin to Bali, Indonesia (-29%) 

• Cairns to Nadi, Fiji (-27%)