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

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 aerial — 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

airplane interior — 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.

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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

bali temples — 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%)

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.