Expedia's 2025 Airfare Booking Hacks unveils strategies to save money on travel for both domestic and international flights, as revealed in the recently published Air Hacks Report. The report provides significant data-driven insights, challenging several common misconceptions about when to fly and book tickets.
The travel company, partnering with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), analyzed billions of data points to help travelers make informed decisions on airfare booking. The findings are timely, coming at the start of the year when many individuals are planning their vacations.
According to the report, booking on Sundays can save travelers up to 21% on domestic flights when compared to booking on Mondays and up to 22% on international flights compared to Fridays. This insight directly contradicts the popular belief which suggests booking on Fridays often yields the best deals. Expedia emphasized, "Booking on the right day can make a world of difference;” it confirms Saturdays are the cheapest day to fly domestically, saving passengers up to 18% against traveling on Mondays.
Notably, if travelers are flexible with their schedule, departing on Thursdays yields a potential savings of 17%. This insight helps reframe the narrative about which days are best for domestic and international travel. Travelers can achieve significant savings by adjusting their travel days slightly.
Expedia also highlights the best times to book flights. They suggest the sweet spot for domestic travel is roughly 1 to 3 months before departure, where passengers can save up to 25% compared to last-minute bookings. For international flights, the ideal booking range is 18 to 29 days before flying out, potentially saving 17% against booking three months out. “Booking too far in advance can actually cost travelers,” the report warns, indicating how fluctuated demand affects pricing.
While many believe August is the costliest month for travel, the report reveals otherwise. Travelers could save significantly by flying domestically during August, as prices can be 12% lower than those for February. Similarly, international flights booked for August showed savings of 7% compared to March. Such revelations are intended to empower travelers to make smarter choices, ensuring they are not deterred by widely held misconceptions.
According to Melanie Fish, spokesperson for Expedia Brands, the analysis shows, "It's smart to keep the 2025 Air Hacks in mind when booking flights, but the best hack is to let technology find the best value.” She recommends utilizing Expedia's Flight Price Tracker, which provides alerts about flight price changes and helps users decide when to book based on data trends.
Travelers are encouraged to not only be flexible with departure dates but also to explore various destinations. The Air Hacks Report identified the trending destinations for 2025, noting Amsterdam, Bangkok, and New York as popular international hotspots, and for domestic travel, London, Manchester, and Edinburgh lead the charts. Emerging destinations experiencing surges include Dallas, USA, and Tirana, Albania, indicating changing travel patterns.
Given the comprehensive findings from the 2025 Air Hacks Report, travelers are poised to make smarter travel decisions. With the combined insights of booking days, optimal travel months, and trending destinations for 2025, explorers can significantly improve their chances of landing cheaper fares.
To sum up, travelers should prioritize booking on Sundays and considering Fridays as prime travel days to capitalize on these savings. The focus should remain not only on when to book but also when to travel, aligning personal itineraries with these strategic recommendations.