Does flying on a specific day of the week make a difference in keeping money in your bank account? Apparently, yes.
According to data by Skyscanner's Cheapest Destination Planner tool, airfare for a round-trip economy flight in 2026 is 7% cheaper on Wednesdays, on average, compared with the rest of the week. The travel platform looked at multiple flight routes throughout the year to determine which day had the lowest prices.
This may be surprising to the 31% of the 2,000 surveyed Americans who thought it would be Tuesday, with only 25% figuring it was Wednesday, said the travel platform.
A jet makes its final approach before landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Jan. 21, in Arlington, Va.
While having some flexibility with your travel plans is always helpful in scoring better deals, it's not as straightforward as only planning your trips around Wednesday flights for the rest of the year. Here's what travelers should know about finding cheap airfare.
Is there really a day of the week with the cheapest flights?
Generally, airfare for weekend flights is more expensive because they're in higher demand, so being flexible with your trip dates can save you money.
"Flying midweek can unlock more affordable flights as many travelers opt to travel closer to the weekend, often driving up the price to travel during those peak times," said Lourdes Losada, Skyscanner director of the Americas, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Those who can be flexible with the timing of their trip and fly during less high-demand times are more likely to find airfare savings."
Tips to book cheap airfare
That said, it's not a hard-and-fast rule to fly only on Wednesdays, any more than it's a myth that people should book flights on Tuesdays. Flight prices are based on several factors — like peak travel seasons, which can drive up costs — so the cheapest airfare can vary by route and month. Travelers can use a tool like Skyscanner's Whole Month that compares flight prices for an entire month.
An airfare tracker can also help people monitor and book flights when prices drop. According to Expedia, domestic flights booked 28 days in advance can save up to 24% on average compared with last-minute bookings.
Cheap flight deals on Wednesday
Based on the round-trip average from all originating cities, here are some affordable flight destinations with a Wednesday departure:
- February:
- Las Vegas (avg. round trip $177)
- Dallas (avg. round trip $204)
- Orlando, Florida (avg. round trip $215)
- Boston (avg. round trip $215)
- San Diego (avg. round trip $243)
- March:
- Dallas (avg. round trip $189)
- San Juan, Puerto Rico (avg. round trip $236)
- Seattle (avg. round trip $250)
- April:
- Tampa, Florida (avg. round trip $226)
- May:
- San Francisco (avg. round trip $252)
- Mexico City (avg. round trip $398)
- June:
- Atlanta (avg. round trip $208)
- Denver (avg. round trip $268)
- August:
- Atlanta (avg. round trip $179)
- September:
- Orlando, Florida (avg. round trip $171)
- Houston (avg. round trip $172)
- October:
- Houston (avg. round trip $185)
- Nashville (avg. round trip $249)
- December:
- Denver (avg. round trip $201)
- Cancun, Mexico (avg. round trip $527)
