What are the cheapest times of year to fly?

What are the cheapest times of year to fly?

Looking to save a buck? Book your next getaway during this surprising month.

Rebecca Strong

Shopping Contributor

Fri, January 9, 2026 at 10:46 PM UTC

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Airplane landing at sunrise. — Calling all penny pinchers! Plan a late-summer vacation to capitalize on affordable airfare. (Getty Images)

It's a lot easier to save money on airfare when your dates are flexible. Blame dynamic pricing: Fares are constantly rising and falling in response to supply and demand, seasonality and competition, among other factors. But if you know the cheapest times of year to fly, you can plan the timing of your trip accordingly.

Christian Petzold, travel and tourism expert at BCN Travel, says the best time to book a flight for less is during off-peak seasons, when tourism slows down. The only snag? "Off-peak seasons differ significantly by location because they are directly related to local climate, holidays and travel patterns," he explains. "For example, ski resorts have their lowest prices in late spring and autumn when there's no snow, while the seaside resorts may be more affordable during hurricane or rainy seasons."

That said, there is some general guidance worth following. Here's what to know about the cheapest times of year to fly.

What is the cheapest month to fly overall?

It's a misconception that summer is the most costly time to travel — after all, that's when school is out, and many families take vacations. But according to the 2025 Expedia Air Hacks report, August is actually the cheapest month to fly, both domestically and internationally, and you can save up to 12% by booking your flights during the month.

A 2025 Kayak report on summer travel reveals that during August, domestic airfare costs about $376 on average, and international airfare costs about $868 on average, making it the cheapest month for warm-weather travelers.

If you're on a budget, you may want to avoid planning a trip in March. Expedia's report shows that this is the most expensive month to travel — it's spring break for many U.S. schools, and drier, less humid weather lures travelers to popular destinations like Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

And while it may go without saying, experts agree that airfare is more costly around major holidays that are celebrated internationally, like Christmas. "There is going to be a ton of demand during these times, and that's when airline companies can react with higher pricing," explains Kyle Maltz, chief operating officer of Dollar Flight Club.

Maltz recommends booking your flights mid-week whenever possible. That's because there's lower demand, so prices tend to be lower. In fact, according to a 2025 Google report, it's roughly 13% cheaper to fly Monday through Wednesday than it is to fly over the weekend.

What is the cheapest time of year to fly domestically?

Joe Cronin, a travel expert and president of International Citizens Insurance, says it's more affordable to fly domestically from January through early March, and then late August through the week before Thanksgiving.

To get more granular, U.S. flight prices are lowest for the summer Aug. 11-Aug. 31, according to Kayak's data. Kayak found that another budget-friendly time frame for domestic travel is May 19-June 8, just slightly before most U.S. schools let out.

Considering upgrading your tickets? Flying premium is cheapest in July and steepest in February, according to Expedia.

What is the cheapest time of year to fly internationally?

Cronin says you can also often save on international flights by booking during a shoulder season, like September to October, or after the holidays are over, between January and February. Petzold has observed similar trends: "I usually find a lot of discounts from mid-January to early March and October to early December," he says.

As for summer travel, according to Kayak's report, international flight prices are lowest Aug. 4-Aug. 31.

Keep in mind that nabbing the lowest fare will depend on your specific destination. For instance, warm weather means summer is high season for Europe, but wet weather means the same period is low season for Southeast Asia, Petzold says.

Adds Cronin: "Europe's lowest fares are usually during winter months, apart from the Christmas holiday, while Southeast Asia experiences the lowest airfares during the monsoon season from mid-May to October. In the Caribbean, lower airfare often coincides with hurricane season, which runs from June to November."

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