Expedia and Airlines Reporting Corporation issued a report entitled 2025 Air Hacks Report. In this report they debunked myths with data-based analyzes. Travelers can use these conclusions to save money in 2025. Here are the top 8 Myths that they looked at:
- Myth #1:“Summer is the most expensive time to travel.”
Reality:Â August is the cheapest month to travel, February and March are the most expensive.- Traveling domestically in August vs. February can save travelers 12%. Flying internationally in August vs. March can save up to 7%.
- Myth #2:“There’s no best day of the week to book flights.”
Reality:Â Booking on a Sunday can save you money.- For the third year in a row, the data shows Sunday is the cheapest day to book flights. Domestic travelers can save 6% while international travelers can save 17% compared to booking on a Monday or Friday.
- Myth #3:Â “The day of the week I travel doesn’t affect the cost.”
Reality:Â Saturday and Thursday are the cheapest days to depart.- It’s not just when you book, it’s when you fly. Regardless of fare class and destination, flying on Thursday instead of Sunday can save travelers 17%.
- Domestic travelers should depart on Saturday instead of Sunday to save 17%. On the international front, Thursday is the cheapest day to fly—travelers can save 15% compared to flying on a Sunday.
- Myth #4:“The further ahead you book, the cheaper it will be.”
Reality:Â The sweet spot is closer to departure than you think.- Book domestic flights 1 to 3 months in advance to save 25% compared to last-minute bookers.
- Book international flights just 18 to 29 days before departure and save up to 17% versus booking three months out or more.4
- Waiting too long to book can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy. On one hand, you could snag an awesome deal. On the other, you could end up with longer layovers, sold-out flights or a higher ticket price. Luckily, there’s no need to wait to book or worry about overpaying.
- Myth #5:“Airfare goes up every year.”
Reality: Average ticket prices are down.- Domestic economy tickets are down 1% from last year, and international economy tickets are 4% cheaper. In 2024, the average ticket price for domestic flights was $462 ($464 in 2023) and $849 for international flights ($882 in 2023).
- Myth #6:Â “Premium tickets are always too expensive to consider.”
Reality:Â The difference between premium and economy has come down.- Thinking of upgrading? It’s more affordable than ever. The price gap between premium and economy tickets is down 10% compared to 2019.
- Myth #7:“Every flight I take is full.”
Reality:Â Evade crowds by traveling during quiet periods.- Tuesday is the quietest day of the week to travel, and February is the quietest month. July, on the other hand, sees 65% more flights than February.
- Myth #8:Â “There’s nothing I can do about delays and cancellations.”
- Reality:Â Morning flights are much less likely to be cancelled.
- Cancellations doubled in 2024, impacting 3.4% of flights. Here’s how avoid them:
- Flights that depart after 9 p.m. have a 57% higher chance of being cancelled compared to those that leave earlier in the day. Flights departing between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. face the lowest rate of cancellations.
- August and September see the lowest rate of cancellations (1.2%). August also sees the shortest average delays, making it one of the smoothest months for travel.
- Cancellations doubled in 2024, impacting 3.4% of flights. Here’s how avoid them: