Here’s KAYAK’s latest data on when to book flights and the cheapest days to fly, looking at one-way and round-trip tickets.While there’s no single best day to book flights, when you book and the days you fly can have quite an impact.
Although there is no specific cheapest day to book, there are some data-backed trends to help you get cheaper flights. Rather than focus on the day, focus on the timing:
Trip type
Best time to book
Within the UK
30 days before departure
Within Europe
30–36 days before departure
Long-haul international
14–30 days before departure
Overall, according to KAYAK search data, booking flights around a month in advance seems to be the sweet spot.
What about during busy travel periods?
Popular travel periods tend to mean higher fares. Book flights early, when you can, for:
Bank holiday weekends (May bank holiday weekends etc.)
What are the cheapest days to fly within the UK?
Cheapest day to fly out: Wednesday (~£70)
Cheapest day to return: Wednesday (~£58)
In general, flying midweek around the UK is the cheapest option. Unsurprisingly, the weekend (Friday – Sunday) is the most expensive time to fly. Sunday was the most expensive day for returns, with average ticket prices of around £93.
What are the cheapest days to fly within Europe?
Cheapest day to fly out: Tuesday (~£133)
Cheapest day to return: Wednesday (~£109)
For flights within Europe, KAYAK data recommends flying out on Tuesday and returning on Wednesday. If a one-night trip seems hasty, Thursday is the next cheapest option.
Much like travel in the UK, or long-haul, weekend travel is consistently the most expensive.
What are the cheapest days to fly internationally?
Cheapest day to fly out: Wednesday (~£605)
Cheapest day to return: Wednesday (~£539)
Long-haul international flights shared some similarities with domestic flights. There is a midweek dip in prices, while the weekend is the most expensive time to fly. Friday–Saturday departure specifically.
In theory, this means you are most likely to get the lowest price for a week-long international return flight if you fly Wednesday-to-Wednesday. For oneway flights, Tuesday is the chepeast – but only just.
What else should I know about the best time to fly?
Airfares fluctuate for all kinds of reasons, and KAYAK’s data is merely a reflection of overall trends. That said, no matter when you fly, KAYAK can help you fin the best deals. As an award winning metsearch engine, KAYAK does the work for you.
So even if your travel plans don’t always allow you to book on days with the lowest airfares, KAYAK can help you find an airfare that’s affordable for you, whether you’re looking to explore the UK or see the rest of the world.
Related
Best priced flight routes from your home airport in April.
KAYAK
|
4 min read
in Related category, by KAYAK
KAYAK tools to help you find the cheapest time to book and fly.
KAYAK offers a variety of Flight Filters to customise your search, including a price filter to keep your budget in line. That’s not enough to determine the cheapest time to buy flights, though, so there are plenty more free tools to help you get there.
KAYAK Price Alerts: Set alerts for specific routes and receive email notifications when prices drop. Run a flight search and try it now.
KAYAK Price Forecast: Find this tool when you run a flight search on KAYAK. Price Forecast analyses historical data to predict whether prices on your route are likely to rise or fall, helping you decide whether to book now or wait.
Flexible date search: Use KAYAK’s flight search calendar to compare prices ±3 days from your selected travel dates, full weekends, or entire months. Green indicates cheaper.
KAYAK Explore: See where you can fly for the lowest fares from your home airport using KAYAK Explore.
For best results, set any alerts 2-4 months before your intended travel dates. When you see a price that meets your budget, book it – waiting for a lower fare that may never come can backfire.
Every airline’s goal is to get the most money possible for each seat sold, which means airfare pricing is one of the purest examples of supply and demand in action. To do this, popular leisure routes and cabins (economy) are priced highly further in advance, which is when holiday travellers tend to book.
These seats tend to go down over time as the airline seeks to fill the plane before take-off. Business routes and cabins (business/first) are priced lower upfront to fill minimum quotas, then increased over time, as short-notice corporate travellers scramble to get a remaining seat.
This is more common in economy class cabins and on leisure travel routes (i.e., holiday destinations). For business-class and first-class seats, the reverse is more often true: prices increase as the departure date approaches.
These seats tend to go down over time as the airline seeks to fill the plane before take-off. Business routes and cabins (business/first) are priced lower upfront to fill minimum quotas, then increase over time as short-notice corporate travellers scramble to secure a remaining seat.
Flight prices may change frequently. As flights fill or don’t, airlines will continuously adjust prices to maximise profits, so fares can change multiple times throughout the day. Flight prices vary depending on the season, too, the seats you want to book, and the balance between supply and demand of seats.
Sometimes. Airfare prices change regularly based on supply and demand and the airline’s resulting prediction of how it can maximise income on remaining seats. Computer software is often responsible for analysing this and updating fares. This can certainly happen at night, but it is equally likely to happen any time of day, any day of the week.
Average flight prices of economy class per day of the week and for each 7 – 183 search days ahead of departure in 2026 for round-trips broken down by departures and returns aggregated for domestic and international routes, respectively. KAYAK analyzed search data conducted on kayak.co.uk between 01/01/2025 – 18/03/2026 for traveling anytime until 30/06/2026
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/canadian-money.jpg?id=55351984&width=2000&height=1500&coordinates=152%2C0%2C152%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>A new year is just around the corner, and so is a fresh wave of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/government-payments" target="_blank">government payments</a> Quebecers can receive next month. </p><p>If you're feeling the squeeze post-holidays, these payments from the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/canada-revenue-agency" target="_blank">Canada Revenue Agency</a> (CRA) and Revenu Québec in January can help you kick off 2025 on the right foot, supporting everything from child benefits to pension payments.</p><p>January's lineup includes monthly standbys like the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-child-benefit-increase-2025" target="_blank">Canada Child Benefit</a> and <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/old-age-security" target="_blank">Old Age Security</a>, as well as quarterly benefits like the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/canada-workers-benefit" target="_blank">Canada Workers Benefit</a>, <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/gst-hst-credit-increase-2025" target="_blank">GST/HST Credit</a> and more from the feds. Plus, eligible Quebecers can look forward to several provincial payments this month, including the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/solidarity-tax-credit" target="_blank">Solidarity Tax Credit</a>, the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/family-allowance" target="_blank">Family Allowance</a> and more.</p><p>Here's everything you need to know about the CRA and Revenu Québec benefit payments for January 2025, from who qualifies to how much you can expect and when the money will land in your account.</p><h3>Family Allowance</h3><br/><p>The Family Allowance is a provincial program that offers financial assistance to families with kids under 18, helping cover the costs of raising children. Payments are typically sent out quarterly in January, April, July and October, although families can choose to receive monthly payments instead. Most families with newborns are automatically signed up, but adoptive parents or newcomers to Quebec may need to apply.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> The amount you receive depends on factors like the number of children, whether you share custody, your household income and whether you're a single-parent or two-parent family. It also varies depending on whether you've chosen quarterly or monthly payments. The amounts may be increased for 2025, but for 2024:</p><ul> <li>The maximum annual payment was $2,923 per child, with an extra $1,026 for single-parent families.</li><li>The minimum annual payment was $1,163 per child, with an additional $409 for single-parent families.</li><li>Families could also receive a $121 supplement per child for school supplies.</li></ul><p>Extra assistance is also available for children with disabilities.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 3, 2025</p><p><a href="https://www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en/enfants/naissance/paiement_soutien_enfants/Pages/paiement_soutien_enfants.aspx" target="_blank">More about the Family Allowance</a></p><h3>Solidarity Tax Credit</h3><br/><p>The Solidarity Tax Credit is a refundable tax benefit for low- and middle-income individuals and families in Quebec. It helps offset expenses related to housing, the Quebec sales tax (QST) and the higher cost of living for residents in northern villages. Eligibility and the amount you qualify for are based on your family income and situation as of December 31 of the previous year. For the 2024 payment year, maximum income thresholds ranged from $61,500 for single individuals to $67,067 for couples, with an extra $2,517 added for each dependent child.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> The credit is made up of three components: housing, QST and northern villages. To estimate your total payment, you can use Revenu Québec's <a href="https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/online-services/tools/solidarity-tax-credit-payments-estimator/" target="_blank">Solidarity Tax Credit Payments Estimator</a>.</p><p>The payment schedule depends on the total amount you qualify for:</p><ul><li>$240 or less is paid as a lump sum in July.</li><li>$241 to $799 is divided into four payments (July, October, January and April).</li><li>$800 or more is paid monthly.</li></ul><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 3, 2025</p><p><a href="https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citizens/tax-credits/solidarity-tax-credit/" target="_blank">More about the Solidarity Tax Credit</a></p><h3>GST/HST Credit</h3><br/><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/gst-hst-credit" target="_blank">GST/HST Credit</a> is a tax-free quarterly payment designed to help individuals and families with low or modest incomes recover some of the federal sales tax they've paid. This payment can also include additional support from provincial and territorial programs. Eligibility is automatically assessed when you file your taxes with the CRA.</p><p>To qualify, you generally need to be at least 19 years old. However, if you're younger than 19, you could still be eligible if you have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner, or if you are (or were) a parent living with your child. You must also be a Canadian resident for income tax purposes both the month before and at the beginning of the month when the payment is made.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> The amount you get depends on your adjusted family net income and the number of children you have. For the January 2025 quarterly payment, you could receive up to</p><ul><li>$129.75 if you're single</li><li>$170 if you're married or have a common-law partner</li><li>An additional $44.75 for each child under 19</li></ul><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 3, 2025</p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/goods-services-tax-harmonized-sales-tax-gst-hst-credit.html" target="_blank">More about the GST/HST Credit</a></p><h3>Shelter Allowance</h3><br/><p>The Shelter Allowance Program offers monthly financial support to low-income individuals and families in Quebec who spend a large portion of their income on housing. This assistance is available to tenants, homeowners and boarders. The amount you receive is based on your household income, living situation and how much of your income goes toward housing costs.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> From October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, eligible participants can receive up to $170 per month. If you apply during this timeframe, your first payment will include retroactive amounts backdated to October 1, 2024, covering any support you've qualified for since then.</p><p><strong><span></span>Next payment date:</strong> Within the first five days of January 2025</p><p><a href="https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citizens/your-situation/low-income/shelter-allowance-program/" target="_blank">More about the Shelter Allowance</a></p><h3>Advanced Canada Workers Benefit</h3><br/><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/canada-workers-benefit" target="_blank">Canada Workers Benefit</a> (CWB) is a refundable tax credit designed to support low-income individuals and families, offering a basic amount and a disability supplement that can be claimed when you file your taxes.</p><p>Through the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) program, eligible individuals can receive advance payments of up to 50% of their annual CWB allotment, split into three installments. To qualify, you must have earned income below your province or territory's threshold, be a Canadian resident for the entire year, and be at least 19 years old by December 31, or live with a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> The maximum annual basic CWB is $1,518 for singles and $2,616 for families, with an additional $784 for the disability supplement — although residents of Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta may receive different amounts.</p><p>For the January 2025 payment, eligible recipients could receive:</p><ul><li>Up to $253 if you're single</li><li>Up to $436 if you have a spouse or common-law partner</li><li>An additional $130.66 if you qualify for the disability supplement</li></ul><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 10, 2025</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-workers-benefit.html" target="_blank">More about the Canada Workers Benefit</a></p><h3>Public sector pension plans (RREGOP, RRPE, etc.)</h3><br/><p>Retired public sector employees in Quebec who are part of plans like RREGOP or RRPE receive their pensions monthly for life. Payments are deposited on the 15th of each month, or the nearest business day if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday. For those receiving their pension by cheque instead of direct deposit, cheques are mailed no later than 48 hours before the scheduled payment date.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 15, 2025</p><h3>Canada Child Benefit</h3><br/><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/canada-child-benefit" target="_blank">Canada Child Benefit</a> (CCB) is a monthly tax-free payment that helps families manage the expenses of raising kids. Delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency, the benefit also includes additional financial aid for families with children who have disabilities.</p><p>To qualify for the CCB, you need to live with a child under 18 and be responsible for their care. You must also be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and either you or your spouse must meet certain residency requirements, like being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> The amount you receive depends on your family's income, how many children you have and their ages. Families with a 2023 adjusted net income below $36,502 qualify for the maximum payments. This includes up to $648.91 monthly per child under 6 and up to $547.50 per month for children aged 6 to 17. Payments decrease as income rises.</p><p>If your child has a disability that makes you eligible for the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/child-disability-benefit.html" target="_blank">Child Disability Benefit</a>, that amount will be included with your CCB payment as well.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 20, 2025</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview.html" target="_blank">More about the Canada Child Benefit</a></p><h3>Old Age Security</h3><br/><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/old-age-security" target="_blank">Old Age Security</a> (OAS) pension provides a monthly financial boost to Canadians aged 65 and over, helping with the cost of everyday living. You could be eligible for OAS even if you're still employed or have never worked.</p><p>To be eligible, you must be at least 65 years old and have spent at least 10 years living in Canada after the age of 18. If you reside outside Canada, a minimum of 20 years of Canadian residency is required. Most people are automatically enrolled, but if you don't receive an enrollment letter from Service Canada in the month after your 64th birthday, you may need to apply manually.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> From January to March 2025, the maximum monthly OAS payment is $727.67 for those aged 65 to 74 and $800.44 if you're 75 or older. These payments are reviewed quarterly to reflect inflation but did not increase this quarter. Additionally, if you turned 75 after July 2022, your OAS payment rises by 10% starting the month after your 75th birthday.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 29, 2025</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security.html" target="_blank">More about Old Age Security</a></p><h3>Quebec Pension Plan</h3><br/><p>The Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) provides taxable monthly retirement income for individuals who contributed during their working years. Much like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), the QPP offers reliable financial support for life. If you've worked in both Quebec and other provinces, contributions to the QPP and CPP are combined to determine your pension amount.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> Your payment depends on factors like the age you start collecting, how much you contributed and your lifetime earnings. In 2024, the maximum monthly payment for starting QPP at 65 was $1,365, though the average recipient received closer to $682. Starting early at 60 capped the maximum at $873, while delaying until age 72 could increase the maximum to $2,167 per month.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> January 31, 2025</p><p><a href="https://www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en/retraite/rrq/Pages/calcul_rente.aspx" target="_blank">More about the Quebec Pension Plan</a></p><h3>Veteran Disability Pension</h3><br/><p>The Veteran Disability Pension is a monthly benefit designed to support veterans living with a disability related to their military service. Eligible groups include Canadian Armed Forces veterans, those who served during the Second World War or the Korean War, and some current or former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Certain civilians who participated in the Second World War may also be eligible.</p><p>To qualify, you must have a diagnosed medical condition that is service-related. This pension provides lifetime monthly payments and includes extra support for dependents, such as a spouse or children.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> Payment amounts depend on your disability level. Veterans with the highest disability rating (Class 1) can receive a maximum of $3,357.30 per month, plus additional amounts for dependents: $839.33 for a spouse, $436.45 for the first child, $318.94 for the second child and $251.80 for each additional child.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> TBA (typically last week of the month)</p><p><a href="https://veterans.gc.ca/en/mental-and-physical-health/physical-health-and-wellness/compensation-illness-or-injury/disability-benefits" target="_blank">More about the Veteran Disability Pension</a></p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
A man has been charged following a string of robberies at the Holland and Barrett store on Fishergate. Patrick Barnes, 30, of Mount Street, Preston city centre appeared in Preston […]
Americans spend mind-blowing amounts of money on their elections. According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in the 2016 presidential election cycle the candidates spent…
