It's that time of year! As tradition dictates, at FareArena we like to look ahead to the new year with a comprehensive overview of airfares and trends to look for. Since we were too eager to wait until January, welcome to our latest installment: Cheapest Days to Fly in 2023!
To find and compile this information, we reviewed over 280 million airfares from FareArena's own airfare database, which covers ticket prices through September (Pro tip: most airlines don’t actively manage fares more than nine months ahead). You – as well as the other travelers in your life – will be able to use this overview as a helpful shopping guide for deals now through the next summer season.
As we continue to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and an ever-evolving travel landscape, there are still plenty of insights and learnings to be had. When booking your next trip, check to make sure you fulfill the destination's entry criteria, double check the refund and cancellation policies, and always be mindful of taking all global public health advisories into account.
Without much further ado, let's get into it!
How to Shop for Airfare in 2023 :
When you're getting ready to purchase airfare, do as you would year-round: Compare airfares. No single airline always has the best deal, meaning if you don't compare, you could potentially miss out on big savings.
Another tip: don't shop too late, either. The following months and dates refer to the cheapest days to fly in 2023; to get the best prices, book tickets at least several weeks before departure. It's simple: Do your homework and reap the benefits!
Another way to save: Connecting flights vs. nonstops
Cheapest Days to Fly 2023: Winter
U.S. and Canada Flights
Cheapest fares: January 7 to February 28
Cheapest single travel day: January 21
Best days of the week to fly: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, followed by Thursdays
Days to avoid: Prices are higher February 14-20 due to Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekends
Europe Flights
Cheapest fares: January 22 to March 25
Cheaper days to fly: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Bottom line: You've got choices. There are many days throughout January and February to find cheap domestic flights and flights to Europe.
Cheapest Days to Fly 2023: Spring
U.S. and Canada Flights
First post-winter price hike: February 28
Best days of the week to fly in March/April: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Most expensive days of the week to fly in March/April: Fridays, Sundays
Europe Flights
First post-winter price hike: March 26
Second price hike: May 14
Third (and largest) price hike: June 2
Bottom line: Early bird gets the worm! The earlier you fly in the spring season, the better.
Cheapest Days to Fly 2023: Summer & Fall
U.S. and Canada Flights
First summer price hike: June 4
Major price hike: June 22
Prices drop: August 25
More price drops: Early to mid-September, particularly for flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Europe Flights
First summer price hike: June 2
First price drop: July 15
Major price drop: August 11
Another major price drop: September 11
Bottom line: Go big or go home. Summer is expensive, but European fares begin to drop before U.S. prices.
Methodology
A little note on the methodology of our analysis: Data includes prices for tickets to and from every city in the world, every day of the week, based on average stays of six to eight days. The results are then crunched down to "average daily cheapest fares."
Top Travel Destinations
Hey, look at you! Now you know when to fly! Let's compare deals on airfares to some of the most popular travel destinations.