Looking ahead to the new year, we like to start with an airfare overview, so welcome to the Cheapest Days to Fly in 2021. We reviewed more than 280 million airfares from FareCompare's proprietary airfare database to find this information, which covers ticket prices into September (most airlines don’t actively manage fares more than nine months ahead). Use this overview as a shopping guide for deals now through summer.
Remember that given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, it's important to take continued precautions while planning any form of travel. Consult our overview of flight information and updates related to coronavirus, stay focused on prioritizing health and safety protocols, and you'll be on your way to an enjoyable trip, no matter your final destination.
How to Shop in 2021
Shop as you would year-round: Compare airfares. No single airline always has the best deal so if you don't compare, you could miss out on big savings. Don't shop too late, either! The following months and dates refer to the cheapest days to fly in 2021; to get the best prices, book tickets at least a few weeks before departure.
Another way to save: Connecting flights vs. nonstops
Cheapest Days to Fly: Winter
U.S. and Canada flights
- Cheapest fares: January 7 to February 28
- Cheapest single travel day: January 21
- Best days-of-the-week to fly: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, followed by Thursdays
- Days to avoid: Prices are higher February 14-17 due to Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekend
Europe flights
- Cheapest fares: January 22 to March 25
- Cheaper days to fly: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Bottom line: There are many days throughout January and February to find cheap domestic flights and flights to Europe.
Cheapest Days to Fly: Spring
U.S. and Canada flights
- First post-winter price hike: February 28
- Best days-days-of-the-week to fly in March/April: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
- Most expensive days-of-the-week to fly in March/April: Fridays, Sundays
Europe flights
- First post-winter price hike: March 26
- Second price hike: May 14
- Third (and largest) price hike: June 2
Bottom line: The earlier you fly in the spring, the better.
Cheapest Days to Fly: Summer & Fall
U.S. and Canada flights
- First summer price hike: June 4
- Major price hike: June 22
- When prices drop: August 25
- More price drops: Early to mid-September, especially for flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Europe flights
- First summer price hike: June 2
- First price drop: July 15
- Major price drop: August 11
- Another major price drop: September 11
Bottom line: Summer is expensive, but European fares begin to drop before U.S. prices.
Methodology
A note on the methodology of my analysis: The data includes prices for tickets to and from every city in the world, each and every day, based on 6-8 day-long stays. The results are then crunched down to ‘average daily cheapest fares.’
Top Travel Destinations
Now you know when to fly! Let's compare airfares to some of the most popular travel destinations.
The post Cheapest Days to Fly in 2021 appeared first on FareCompare.
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