Holidaymakers planning their 2026 summer holidays could save money by booking flights early in the week, according to travel search engine Skyscanner. The firm advises that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the cheapest days to travel, while Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays tend to be more expensive due to higher demand.
Skyscanner's historic data shows that airlines often release deals late on Mondays, leading to lower fares early in the week. However, prices rise as the week progresses. For short-haul flights, booking one to three months in advance is recommended, while long-haul flights should be booked two to six months ahead.
Kayak, another travel search engine, echoes this advice, noting that weekend travel is consistently the most expensive. For flights within Europe, Kayak suggests flying out on Tuesday and returning on Wednesday for the best deals. For long-haul international flights, a Wednesday-to-Wednesday return is often the cheapest option.
Both companies recommend setting up price alerts to catch fare drops. Skyscanner and Kayak enable customers to monitor prices and receive notifications when deals become available.
