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Some people book their flights months in advance. Others book spontaneously as soon as wanderlust strikes. While some hope for last-minute bargains, others secure their ticket for their dream vacation a year in advance. The price differences can be enormous. But is there really a perfect time to get the best deal? The travel platform Opodo has investigated exactly that—and reveals when you can save the most.
Opodo reveals the ideal time to book depending on the destination
The online travel platform has published a list of savings tips for booking vacations. Data from the entire year of 2024 was analyzed to determine the best time for various destinations worldwide.
Prices are cheapest in the middle of the night
Flight prices can fluctuate greatly depending on the time of booking. The Opodo study shows prices are often lowest at night. Travel to the USA is cheapest at 2 a.m., averaging around 530 euros. By comparison, those who book at 10 a.m. pay an average of up to 721 euros. Flights to Japan are best booked at midnight, with a price of 906 euros instead of 1,482 euros at 3 a.m. Flights to Thailand are cheapest at 3 a.m. (818 euros compared to 1,047 euros at 5 a.m.).
But it’s not only worth looking at the clock for long-haul destinations—you can also save a lot of money within Europe. Flights to Spain, Greece, and France are also cheapest at 2 a.m. A flight to Spain at this time costs 243 euros (instead of 280 euros at 6 a.m.); to Greece you only pay 306 euros at 2 a.m., while the price at 9 a.m. rises to 335 euros; and a flight to France at 2 a.m. is significantly cheaper at 219 euros than at 7 a.m., where it costs 269 euros. Flights to Italy are cheapest at 1 a.m. at 239 euros, while the price at 4 a.m. rises to 282 euros. For Turkey, the cheapest time to book is at 4 a.m. with a price of 259 euros, compared to 283 euros for a booking at 11 p.m.
Flights are cheapest on this day of the week
But the day of the week also has a decisive influence on the final price. Opodo’s data shows that booking on certain days can help secure the cheapest flights, although this varies by destination.
Europe
Sunday is the best day to book for many European destinations, including France, Poland, Switzerland, and Denmark.
If you want to travel to Spain, it is best to book on Thursdays.
Fridays are ideal for Greece.
For Italy, Wednesday is the best day to book.
Asia
For flights to Asia, Sundays are generally the best day to find the best deals.
Exception: However, a flight to Thailand is cheaper on Mondays, at 914 euros compared to 994 euros on Sundays (a saving of 80 euros).
Flights to Japan can be booked on Thursdays for €1,144, while on Wednesdays, they are €1,249 (a saving of €105).
North and South America
A flight to the USA should be booked on Thursdays for 632 euros instead of Mondays for 667 euros (a 65-euro savings).
For Costa Rica, the cheapest day to book is Sunday, at 846 euros, while the flight on Monday costs 952 euros.
For Colombia, Monday is the best day to book, costing 1,007 euros. However, if the flight is booked on the weekend, it costs 100 euros more.
So, if you want the best prices, you should make your flight bookings specifically at these times.
- source: oe214.at/picture:
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