It’s that time of year! As tradition dictates, at FareCompare we like to look ahead to the new year with a comprehensive overview of airfares and trends to look for. Since we were too eager to wait until January, welcome to our latest installment: Cheapest Days to Fly in 2022!
To find and compile this information, we reviewed over 280 million airfares from FareCompare’s own airfare database, which covers ticket prices through September (Pro tip: most airlines don’t actively manage fares more than nine months ahead). You – as well as the other travelers in your life – will be able to use this overview as a helpful shopping guide for deals now through the next summer season.
Much has changed in the world of travel as we continue to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have made a return to travel possible, but we’re all well aware of the reality that new restrictions, requirements, and scenarios can pop up on the horizon at any time.
When booking your next trip, check to make sure you fulfill the destination’s entry criteria, double check the refund and cancellation policies, and always be mindful of taking all global public health advisories into account.
Without much further ado, let’s get into it!
How to Shop for Airfare in 2022
When you’re getting ready to purchase airfare, do as you would year-round: Compare airfares. No single airline always has the best deal, meaning if you don’t compare, you could potentially miss out on big savings.
Another tip: don’t shop too late, either. The following months and dates refer to the cheapest days to fly in 2022; to get the best prices, book tickets at least several weeks before departure. It’s simple: Do your homework and reap the benefits!
Cheapest Days to Fly 2022: 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 weekends
Europe Flights
- Cheapest fares: January 22 to March 25
- Cheaper days to fly: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Bottom line: You’ve got choices. There are many days throughout January and February to find cheap domestic flights and flights to Europe.
Cheapest Days to Fly 2022: Spring
U.S. and Canada Flights
- First post-winter price hike: February 28
- Best 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: Early bird gets the worm! The earlier you fly in the spring season, the better.
Cheapest Days to Fly 2022: Summer & Fall
U.S. and Canada Flights
- First summer price hike: June 4
- Major price hike: June 22
- Prices drop: August 25
- More price drops: Early to mid-September, particularly 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: Go big or go home. Summer is expensive, but European fares begin to drop before U.S. prices.
Methodology
A little note on the methodology of our analysis: Data includes prices for tickets to and from every city in the world, every day of the week, based on average stays of six to eight days. The results are then crunched down to “average daily cheapest fares.”
Top Travel Destinations
Hey, look at you! Now you know when to fly! Let’s compare deals on airfares to some of the most popular travel destinations.
