Forget expensive plane tickets: Google data reveals how to find the cheapest seats

The Christmas festivities begin tomorrow, which means there’s a good chance you’ll already be home for the holiday. If you haven’t yet caught your flight home or are planning an early vacation in the new year, finding plane tickets within your budget can be difficult. Luckily, Google has you covered.

According to the Google Flights Travel Report, the service is essentially a cheat sheet for booking the cheapest flights possible. The service analyzes years of data to find the exact best times to buy your tickets, taking all the guesswork out of the equation.

Whether you’re a super-planner or a last-minute scrambler, these results from Google Flights reveal the clear patterns you need to know to avoid getting scammed when you need to travel. Before you book anything, you’ll want to read this.

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What are the cheapest days to travel?

If you’re considering booking a flight, you’re probably trying to find the most economical option. The cheapest flights are available for flights on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest dayaccording to historical flight data.

Flying early or midweek can save travelers around 13% on airfares compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday, the most expensive day fly.

Do layovers on flights save you money?

It’s perhaps no surprise that flights with stopovers are cheaper than nonstop flights, but you may not realize just how significant these savings can be. Google Flights data shows travelers can save 22% by booking a flight with a stopover instead of a non-stop flight.

What day of the week is the cheapest to book flights?

There are certainly cheaper days to fly, but there aren’t really cheaper days to book. “Be aware that you won’t save much by booking on a particular day of the week,” according to the Google Flights report. Tuesday is usually the cheapest day of the week to book, according to the data, but Tuesday reservations are only 1.3% cheaper than Sunday, the most expensive day.

Is it cheaper to book flights further in advance?

To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it’s always best to book your trip well in advance, especially if you have to travel on a specific day or time. There are certain patterns you can analyze to decide whether it’s better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations, and travel dates.

For domestic flightsprices are generally at the lowest between 23 and 51 days before your trip, with 39 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average. For international flightsprices are generally the lowest between 49 days or more before your trip, but it’s usually best to book as early as possible. According to Google, “average prices don’t drop significantly before departure, but they typically start to increase within 50 days of the flight itself” for international travel from the United States.

Read also: New Google AI Flight Deals Tool Works But Only for “Anywhere, Anytime” Travelers

When is the best time to book a flight regardless of the season?

Here’s what Google says about the best times to book vacation flights and vacation trips to some popular destinations.

Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights during the Thanksgiving holiday are typically available 24 to 59 days in advance, with 35 days being the least expensive. This means it’s best to book Thanksgiving flights in late September or early October.

Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights during the winter break are typically available 32 to 73 days in advance, with 51 days being the cheapest. It’s best to book Christmas or holiday flights anytime from mid-October to mid-November.

Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 28 and 61 days in advance, with 43 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average.

Summer vacation: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are generally available 14 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure on average being the cheapest day to book.

When is the best time to book a flight to Europe?

International flights to Europe from the United States are generally cheaper 48 days or more before departure. As with any international travel, it is generally best to book as far in advance as possible.

When is the best time for Mexico or the Caribbean?

International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the only exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. Indeed, flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 79 days in advance with 50 days being the least expensive.

What are the top destinations for 2025 holiday travel?

Google also released information on the most searched destinations for each stay for the 2025 season.

Thanksgiving: The most popular domestic destinations for travel departing between November 23 and 30 include Columbia, South Carolina; Bozeman, MT; Detroit, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska and more.

Christmas and New Year: The most popular destinations for travel departing between December 21 and January 4 include Rio de Janeiro, Saint Lucia, Marrakech, Curaçao and more.

For more, check out our CNET picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you should always pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.