How to book a cheap flight: Experts reveal their top tips

Travelers searching for the cheapest deals should book flights on a Sunday but fly on a Wednesday, experts have revealed.

A study by online travel agent Expedia analyzed millions of flights and found that booking a journey on the last day of the week could shave up to 15 percent off the cost of your airfare. 

By comparison making the booking on a Friday could add around 5 percent to the total cost as prices are driven up by households planning last minute vacations for the weekend.

Analysts also found that travelers who scheduled their journey on a Wednesday compared to a Sunday or Monday saved them up to 15 percent on domestic flights and 10 percent on international travel.

Experts also recommended that travelers book at least one month in advance when travelling within the US. 

Analysts also found that travelers who scheduled their journey for a Wednesday compared to a Sunday or Monday saved them up to 15 percent on domestic flights and 10 percent on international travel

The ‘sweet spot’ for buying domestic flights is between 28 and 35 days out, analysts said. 

They warned that on domestic travel customers actually end up paying more if they book between three-and-a-half to six months in advance.

However on international travel they recommended booking flights at least six months in advance – which could save customers 10 percent against those who buy within two months of departure. 

On top of that analysts recommended travelling during ‘off-peak’ dates – avoiding  the height of summer. 

The revelation comes after it was revealed airline ticket prices for domestic flights had shot up more than 30 percent in the last year. 

International flights were as much as 200 percent more expensive, according to data from the American Automobile Association.

This is despite the fact that standards are plummeting. Dailymail.com revealed last month that delays had reached a ten-year high.

Data from flight tracking platform showed that a shocking 21.4 percent of flights in the last year have been held up by an average of 50 minutes.

And the problem is only set to worsen this summer as travelers have been told to prepare for a ‘summer of hell.’  

Nine national and two regional airlines were evaluated by WalletHub using recent data from the Department of Transportation – Southwest Airlines was found to be worst airline of them all for a second year in a row

Experts have warned travelers to prepare for a ‘summer of hell’ amidst reports of increased flight delays and cancellations 

The cost of international travel has shot up more than 200 percent in the last year, according to data from the American Automobile Association

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently warned it was expecting 2023 summer air travel volumes to overtake pre-pandemic figures. 

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said: ‘This summer’s travel demand will be as strong as we’ve seen since before the pandemic, and potentially the strongest ever.

‘That kind of demand in a system that is woefully underfunded and understaffed is likely to create substantial frustrations among travelers.’ 

The aviation industry ground to a speeding half during the pandemic and airlines were handed a $60billion bailout. 

As lockdown restrictions eased, firms found they could not ramp up quickly enough to accommodate the surge in demand.

Last summer, tens of thousands of flights were delayed and canceled. 

In a recent study, eleven of the largest airlines were ranked for best overall experience – with Southwest Airlines coming out worst and Delta Airlines best. 

Delta Airlines scored 66.79 points out of a total of 100 and was also the most reliable, meaning it had the fewest canceled flights, delays, baggage loses and denied boardings.

Southwest Airlines stood out as the worst airline evaluated, both overall but also in terms of safety.