There are a lot of differing opinions among Canadian travellers on when is the best time to buy an airplane ticket and many of those beliefs are based on how travel used to be, especially before the pandemic changed everything.
With the release of their 2025 Air Hacks Report, Expedia has analyzed billions of data points and the most extensive air ticketing database in the world, through collaboration with Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) and Official Airline Guide (OAG), to debunk some of those myths.
Myth #1: Summer is always the most expensive time to travel
According to the data, July is actually the cheapest month to travel, while March is the most expensive. By travelling economy in July instead of March, travellers can save up to 11 per cent and flying premium in July instead of September can save up to 13 per cent.
Myth #2: It doesn’t matter which day of the week I book my flight
What day you book your flight can help keep money in your wallet. Sunday is officially the cheapest day to book flights, with savings of up to 10 per cent compared to booking on a Friday.
Myth #3: The day that I travel doesn’t affect the cost of my flight ticket
It’s not just the day that you book your flight that matters, but also the day that you fly. Canadian domestic travellers who depart on Friday instead of Monday can save up to 23 per cent. On the international front, Thursday is the cheapest day to fly—travellers can save up to seven per cent compared to flying on a Saturday.
Myth #4: Booking far in advance will save me money
Booking too far in advance can actually cost travellers. When travelling within Canada, booking 63-72 days out can save travellers up to 16 per cent in comparison to the average ticket price. For international voyages, the sweet spot is closer to departure at 43-54 days out, with a savings of up to five per cent.
Myth #5: Premium tickets are always too expensive for ordinary people
Thinking of upgrading? The price gap between premium and economy tickets is three per cent smaller than it was pre-pandemic. While first class or business class seats may be beyond your budget, consider premium economy tickets, especially for long-haul flights. Airlines frequently offer discounted upgrade offers close to the departure date.
Myth #6: Flights are always full
If you don’t like crowds, Tuesday is the quietest day to travel with Friday being the busiest. January is the least busy month for air travel.
“The peak of summer is the cheapest month to fly, and booking too far out can actually cost you money – these realities fly in the face of advice floating around the internet,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations in a press release. “It makes sense to trust the billions of data points from across the world and every airline that go into the Expedia Air Hacks report.”
“ARC’s data provided valuable insights into debunking travel myths for Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report that will go a long way to helping travellers prepare for their 2025 vacations,” added Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC.
Travellers can put these insights to work when booking flights on Expedia.
