The Cheapest Days to Fly (and Why)

Q: What are the cheapest days of the week to fly?

Midweek departures — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — are generally the cheapest, because demand from both business and leisure travellers is lower than on Friday to Monday. The exact pattern varies by route, so a flexible date view is the reliable way to check.

Q: Are weekend flights always more expensive?

Not always, but Friday, Sunday and Monday tend to be the busiest and priciest for leisure and business trips. On some holiday routes the pattern flips, which is why comparing a whole month beats assuming.

Q: Does the time of day change the fare?

Yes. Very early morning and late-night departures are usually cheaper than convenient midday flights because fewer people want them. Trading a little convenience for an off-peak slot can lower the fare noticeably.

Q: Is it cheaper to fly on the holiday itself?

Often, yes. Departing on the actual holiday — rather than the day before — can be cheaper because demand shifts to the run-up. Flying on the day itself is a common way to save around busy periods.

Reviewed by the ScanFlyGo team · Last updated: July 2026. Prices are examples and change constantly — always confirm at checkout.

Quick answer

The cheapest days to fly are usually midweek — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — with Friday, Sunday and Monday the priciest because that is when most people travel. Off-peak times of day, like the first flight out or the last one back, cost less than convenient midday departures. There is no guaranteed rule, so the surest method is to compare a flexible-date view of the whole month and build your trip around the low fares.

See the cheapest days on ScanFlyGo →

Why midweek is cheaper

Airfare is driven by supply and demand for each specific flight. Business travellers cluster their trips around the start and end of the working week, and leisure travellers favour long weekends. That pushes demand — and price — onto Friday through Monday. Tuesday to Thursday sees the softest demand, so airlines discount the cheaper fare buckets to fill seats.

Day of week	Typical demand	Fare tendency
Tuesday–Thursday	Lower	Usually cheapest
Friday	High (weekend start)	Higher
Saturday	Mixed	Sometimes good value
Sunday–Monday	High (return + business)	Often priciest

Time of day matters too

Within a given day, the least popular slots are the cheapest. The 6 a.m. departure and the red-eye home are inconvenient, so fewer travellers bid for them and fares fall. If you can tolerate an early alarm or a late arrival, off-peak times are a quiet, reliable saving.

The holiday exception

Around big holidays the usual pattern bends. Demand concentrates on the days just before the break and just after it, so departing on the holiday itself is frequently cheaper. Flying out on the actual day — while everyone else is already at their destination — is one of the simplest ways to cut the fare on a busy weekend.

Why a single "cheapest day" is a myth

Headlines that name one perfect day to fly oversimplify. The lowest-fare day depends on the route, the season, local events and how full each flight already is. A quiet leisure route and a busy business route can have opposite patterns in the same week. That is why comparing rather than assuming wins.

How to actually find the cheap day

Use a flexible-date or whole-month view so you can see every day's fare at a glance and spot the dips.
Shift by a day or two around your ideal dates — a single day either side can move the price a lot.
Consider off-peak departure times once you have found the cheap day, to stack a second saving.
Set a price alert so you buy when the fare on your chosen day actually drops, not on a guess.

After booking, keep an eye on the day itself with a live flight tracker, which flags an inbound delay before the airport board tends to.

Frequently asked questions

What are the cheapest days of the week to fly?

Midweek — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — because demand is lower. Patterns vary by route, so check a flexible date view.

Are weekend flights always more expensive?

Not always, but Friday, Sunday and Monday are usually the busiest and priciest. Some holiday routes flip the pattern.

Does the time of day change the fare?

Yes — very early and late departures are typically cheaper than convenient midday ones.

Is it cheaper to fly on the holiday itself?

Often, because demand shifts to the run-up. Departing on the actual day is a common way to save.

The bottom line

Fly midweek, lean into off-peak times, and consider the holiday itself — but never trust a single "magic day." Compare the whole month, shift your dates a little, and let an alert catch the dip. Start a flexible search on ScanFlyGo or browse popular routes to see today's cheapest days.

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