Believe it or not, there really is a best day of the week to make your best deal on an airline ticket, and it’s neither Monday nor Friday. It’s Wednesday! And there’s even a best time on Wednesday to buy that ticket.
Why Wednesday? Thank the small, upstart airlines. In the airline business, fare wars are started by the weakest competitors, and the big guys tend to be the ones to raise fares. And all of that tends to happen on Fridays.
So how did Wednesday become the ideal day to strike a deal?
Let’s say Airline A decides to raise fares. It usually does so at a late hour on a Friday night. By Saturday, Airline A’s major competitors will probably match that fare increase.
Warning: Book your tickets over a weekend, and you might spend a whole lot more than you should.
But what if the major competitors don’t match the higher fares? Then the instigator of the fare increase drops its fares back down late on Sunday night or on Monday morning. If you already paid a higher fare, you still may be out of luck.
Why? Because although you might still qualify for a lower fare and a ticket exchange, that terrible $100 change fee could wipe out your savings!
Here’s another example. Let’s say upstart Airline B decides to begin a fare war. Again, it happens late on a Friday night. Usually, some (but not all) of the majors will match that fare on routes where they compete with Airline B.
Does that mean you should still book tickets over the weekend? Absolutely not.
Remember, I said some, but not all, of the majors will match that fare. By late Monday, depending on how that new fare is doing in the marketplace, Airline C might jump into the battle and offer an even lower fare, so look for all the other airlines to rush to match that one - usually by Tuesday - and the war is on. Prices might go even lower on Wednesday. And that’s when you strike.
Wait any longer than Wednesday, and you may be in trouble. The wars usually end by Thursday morning. Why? Friday is just around the corner! And the cycle starts all over again.
What’s the best time to buy your ticket on Wednesday? One hour after Tuesday midnight (1 a.m. Wednesday morning).
Why? At about midnight, the airlines usually reload their computers with the latest low-cost fares that were announced the previous day but will be canceled if they are not purchased within 24 hours.
Excerpt from Peter’s book, The Travel Detective: How to Get the Best Service and the Best Deals from Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Ships, and Car Rental Agencies.
Pick up the Travel Detective Bible from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or an independent retailer near you…
What do you think? Tell us what you’ve experienced in the brave new world of domestic airline tickets by commenting.
Regarding purchasing airline tickets after midnight on Tuesdays (early Wednesday morning), isn’t it essential to know the time zone where the airline’s headquarters is located, or specifically their computer center? If purchasing a ticket from the Pacific Time Zone, for example LA or San Francisco, and the airline’s computer center is in Chicago, then I should check the airline website after 10 PM Pacific time. Correct? Thank you for a great web site!
Hi Peter,
You really got me thinking. Yesterday I’d published some great Hawaii airfare deals on our site. Following your article (which I linked to), I’ve published a follow-on article on seasonal (and day of week) timing for getting the best deals to Hawaii.
Aloha and mahalo,
Jeff
Bob makes a good point. The computers are usually set to the time zone of the relevant airline’s headquarters.
And remember, if you’re really searching for airfares, it is generally true that the more searching you do, the better off you are. Happy hunting!
Great article. I knew there was a system to buying these tickets.
Peter, I followed this advice last fall. I think I heard you talk about just this subject on TV. My family wanted me to come for Christmas but told me the beginning of October. I wasn’t sure I could afford to do so so I began searching. I did put my dates on Farecast so I got daily information. Basically it just reminded me to check. I found the best price a few weeks later Tuesday evening ( I live on the West Coast). I checked with a number of people about the price I got and everyone said I absolutely go the best price and wanted to know what I did. So thanks Peter. Really appreciate the help.
Jeanne
You mentioned that those who traveled overseas in the mid ’90s & early ’00s are entitled to some sort of a rebate. Where could find out more on this? Thank you
Does this apply to booking only directly with the airline or on other travel sites?
I do not see the link to the information about travel to europe from ‘96-’04 that you spoke of. I travelled quite often durin this period to the e.u.
Please send me the the information about any recovery of over charges that may be due to me.
Thank you for your web site and radio program. You are of great value to so many of us.
Sincerely
Anthony Vitale
Anthony and Orville, here’s the information you’re looking for about rebates for international credit card fees:
http://www.petergreenberg.com/2008/03/11/news-analysis-the-great-international-credit-card-settlement/
Amy: Generally, only with airlines.
An agent we used to deal with(Mars Travel, Mars, PA 16046) Says he has the lowest prices including thru the internet because everyone is going to the internet.
He was rather cocky about it too. In the past he was bemoaning the internet as it was killing his business.
phone: (724) 625-3571
I have heard you comment that you never check your luggage on an airplane, how do you ship your luggage to an international destination? Thank you for your great website. Mary Jean Dellaquila
Hi, I have been trying to find the best deals for our son’s honeymoon to Maui, Hawaii. We are giving this trip to them and want it to be nice, but we want to save as much money as possible.
I have seen where both airlines and hotel have places where you can place a coupon/discount number. How do you find these coupon/discount codes?
They are wanting to stay at the Grand Wailea Resort and that is an expesive place, but again they have a place where you can enter a code to get a better price. Can you tell me where I can go to be able to find both ariline and hotel discount/coupon codes? It would be a big blessing if I can find the answer to these questions. Of course, I am open to any other hints that you may have for saving money on this honeymoon trip and any others we may take in the future!Many thanks to all!!
Hope all have happy trips and safe travel.
Take care and God Bless!
I am not sure if the advice about buying tickets on Wednesday is still relevant. I tried it and tickets did not change at all and had actually gone up by 6 a.m. I am going to wait some more and hope to find a good deal again but I think airlines must be changing their system to some extent.
Are there certain days of the week that are cheaper to fly? Ex: Mondays or Tuesdays versus Fridays or Saturdays
I love your website.
We live in Raleigh, NC.
We usually go to Mexico City once a year.
When is the best time to go (cheaper) and where can I find cheaper rates.
Thanks
I’ve been looking at fares from Tallahassee to Newark in December around the holidaysfor my two sons away at college. The planes have few occupied seats and the airfares are $400+. Normal fare is about $270. Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to lower the fares and get the plane completely booked . At these rates who can afford to fly?
Peter, Thank you for your books and website! Years back I found you on the raido here in LA before you just got too busy and you had to move on… You have helped me along my travels so much over the years and I just want to say THANK YOU!!!
Randy Reyes
Malibu, California
I just have a big problem with my daughter;’s flight back from Milan Italy from her study abroad.
Last year when she left for Italy in September cheapest way fro her to go is to get arount trip ticket from Philadelphia to Milan. Rather than one way ticket which cost twice as much. and also she didn’t know the exact returning date so we purchased around trip ticket september and return November and didn’t use the November ticket, That went well to send her to Italy. THen I try to buy ticket for her to return to philadelphia after the study . April philly to Milan and july milan to Philly. This was a big problem I found out yester day. It turned out that ticket is invalid because I didn’t use the first part of ticket and return ticket become just gone.
I wasn’t able to reconfirm the flight for her to return. on that around trip tickets. THat single way ticket would have been 1900 one way. In the desparate attempt for bringing my daughter back I booked milan to philadelphia around trip. she will come back on that flight tomorrow. If I had done the first one way to be the actual flight I would have been able to let her fly her back. and she will have return trip to Milan in January which she probably will not able to make it because her school.
Expedia says there was that in their rule I clicked off. and Us air ( I called twice) says there is nothing they could do. once I didn’t use the first half of around ticket the second half disappears.In April I did get cancelled notice. but I thought the flight was cancelled . and when I checked the website that f;ight exsisted. every time I checked my itenerary the right trip was showing up so I never thought that any problem with this $800 tickets.
Peter Can I do anything to fight this?? get some money back??
Also if possible your readers. know this fact. if using around trip ticket to go some where. use the first trip to be actual ticket or else. THey have right to wipe it away from us.