Is it cheaper to get a one-way flight?
So, are round flight trips cheaper? Well, if you’re taking a domestic flight in the us, two one-way flights often cost roughly the same as a return fare. However, international round-trip flights are usually—but not always—cheaper than one-way fares. In short, airlines charge more for one-way flights on the routes when they can get away with doing so. If only one airline is operating a particular route, it might increase the price of one-way flights to generate more revenue from business travelers and others that are willing to pay more for the nonstop flight.If your itinerary isn’t a straightforward return from destination A to destination B and back again, a one-way fare could be the cheaper option. If you’re flying into one city and leaving from another, booking two one-way flights is sometimes cheaper than opting for an open-jaw fare.By using flight comparison websites, booking early, being flexible with your travel dates, considering budget airlines, and signing up for airline newsletters, you can find affordable one-way flights. Consider booking a one-way flight on your next trip and see how much you can save.
What is the most expensive day to book a flight?
International tickets saw greater savings of up to 17%. Before you get excited about booking on Sundays, you’ll want to take a look at some more data. A 2024 data study by Upgraded Points found that the best day to purchase airline tickets is Monday or Tuesday, with Friday and Saturday being the most expensive. Tuesday has consistently been identified as the cheapest day to fly, followed by Monday and Wednesday. Opting for flights on midweek days can save you anywhere from 13% to 20% lower airfares than weekend travel.Flight prices can vary depending on the day of travel. Use Skyscanner’s calendar view to compare fares across an entire month. According to historic trends, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays often show better value, while Fridays and Sundays tend to be pricier due to higher demand.Based on Google Flights’ aggregate data from 2021 to 2025, travelers looking for the most affordable airfare should consider flying early in the week. Tuesday has consistently been identified as the cheapest day to fly, followed by Monday and Wednesday.The cheapest day to pay for airfare can vary from week to week, but Expedia’s report reveals consumers who book airfare on Sundays instead of Mondays or Fridays tend to save approximately 6 percent on domestic flights and 17 percent on international flights.For easier leisure travel, consider Wednesday and Thursday, excludes Thanksgiving Weekend. Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays also come in as the cheapest days to fly, because they’re not popular travel days. Due to popularity, Sundays and Fridays are usually the most expensive days to fly.
Why is it so expensive to book a one-way flight?
If one-way flights cost less than half the price of a roundtrip, everyone would always buy one-way flights and never roundtrips. Instead, the airlines make one-way flights more expensive to generate extra revenue from the small subset of people who can’t book their return flight yet. Multi-city flights can be cheaper than booking separate one-way tickets, especially for long-haul flights. However, for short-haul travel, it might sometimes be cheaper to book individual one-way tickets, depending on the airlines and route.
When should I book flights?
As a general rule, book within two or three months of departure for domestic trips and more than 90 days out for international travel. Be flexible and use tools like price alerts and the everywhere or explore features to find the best flight prices. Generally speaking, airlines offer cheaper prices when flights are first released, so booking earlier could help you find a cheaper deal. Expedia says domestic flights are cheapest when you book your seat between170 and 180 days in advance of travel. For international flights, prices are lowest between 13 and 21 days.There’s no magic number, but previous pricing trends suggest that booking 1–3 months ahead for domestic flights, and 2–6 months for international routes, may offer better prices. That said, it depends heavily on the route and season.
Which days not to fly?
Heavy commuter days, such as Mondays and Fridays will increase the price of a ticket, and subsequently the amount of congestion both on land and in the air. The Huffington Post and AirHelp show the highest amount of delays occurring on Monday and Friday, Fridays being the highest, with delay probability at almost 30%. If you’re flying abroad, consider jetting off on Wednesday or Thursday. You can save up to 12% on ticket prices. If possible, avoid flying on Sunday, which is typically the most expensive day of the week.Tuesday and Friday flights can help you avoid the rush earlier in the week. Sundays and Mondays are the most expensive days to depart for domestic trips. If you can’t fly on the cheapest days, flying on Tuesdays or Fridays might also be a good option.
What is the cheapest day to book a flight?
The commonly-held belief is that Tuesday is the best day to book a flight. The reason behind this is that airlines tend to announce new deals and discounts on Monday, so by Tuesday other airlines will aim to compete by lowering their prices for the same routes. Fridays and Sundays are statistically more expensive to fly short distances on, as people travel domestically for weekend trips. There’s little significant difference between weekdays on international flights however, and the day the tickets are themselves booked on rarely has an influence.