If you’re looking to save big money on flights in 2025, you may want to consult the newly released Expedia Air Travel Hacks Report . Based on extensive data points from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) and OAG, this report debunks common myths and offers insights to help consumers save money on airfare.
In addition to this report, Expedia has a new Flight Deals tool that aims to make finding cheap airfare easier. Here’s a breakdown of the report’s key findings, along with details about Expedia’s new Flight Deals tool.
Expedia travel trends
Expedia’s 2025 Air Travel Hacks Report offers interesting insight on ways consumers can save money on travel. Some of these findings contradict conventional wisdom and popular travel advice. Some of it makes sense and aligns with my own experience of finding low fares. Other findings left me scratching my head.
But regardless of your thoughts, I think they’re worth testing out the next time you’re searching for flight deals. Here are the eight findings from Expedia’s Air Travel Hacks Report
Summer is NOT the most expensive time to travel
Starting things off bold, Expedia’s data found that summer is actually not the most expensive time to travel: February and March are more expensive for both international and domestic travel. This might be because March is spring break for some school districts and the weather is nice everywhere, so why not get out of town for a little while?
Meanwhile, August is has been deemed the cheapest month to travel – likely because that’s when kids go back to school and adults have maxed out their vacation days) According to the report, traveling in August can save you up to 12% domestically and 7% internationally compared to February and March.
Sunday is the best day of the week to book flights
We’ve all heard various reports over the years that booking on a certain day of the week gets you better flight deals…followed by subsequent reports debunking this theory. Well, Expedia’s data shows that Sunday remains the best day to book flights, with savings of up to 17% for international trips and 6% on domestic flights compared to booking on Monday or Friday.
This information is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October 2024, sourced from ARC’s airline sales database. I’m a little skeptical about this since it doesn’t account for airfare sales and other factors. But it’s worth testing out if you have upcoming flights to book.
Traveling on Thursday and Saturday can be cheaper
If you want to save money on airfare, avoid Sunday flights. Expedia’s report found that consumers can save 17% on airfare by traveling on Thursday instead of Sunday – regardless of fare class and destination. Those traveling domestically can save 17% by departing on a Saturday instead of Sunday. Meanwhile, international travelers can save 15% by traveling on Thursday instead of Sunday.
It makes sense because most travelers have limited vacation dates, and flying home on Sunday allows them to get back to work on Monday. This preference can drive up the cost of Sunday travel substantially.
Booking closer to departure might be cheaper
Another travel myth bites the dust with this year’s findings: booking far in advance isn’t always the best strategy. For domestic flights, the ideal booking window is 1-3 months before departure, which can save you 25% compared to last-minute bookings.
Booking international travel 18-29 days before departure can save you up to 17% compared to booking three months out or further.
As a master procrastinator, I’m more comfortable with the idea of booking a flight 3-4 weeks out than most people. If you prefer to book in advance, Expedia offers Price Drop Protection, which automatically refunds the difference if your fare drops after booking. Price Drop Protection is free for OneKey Gold and Platinum members.
You can get free Gold status with the One Key+ Card, which has a $99 annual fee.
Average ticket prices are down
Travel costs have been on the rise since the pandemic, but we’re finally seeing a reprieve because Expedia’s Air Travel Hacks report indicates average ticket prices are down 1% from last year for domestic travel and 4% for international fares.
Granted, 1-4% isn’t massive but with rising inflation, every price drop is a win.
The price gap between economy class and premium cabins is shrinking
The price difference between economy class and business/first class is down 10% compared to 2019. That’s not an insignificant amount. For example, if the price difference between economy and business was previously $2,000, that cost has dropped by $200. While that doesn’t mean business class is suddenly super affordable, it’s always nice to see prices dropping.
Let’s hope the trend continues.
Avoid the crowds by traveling on these dates
I don’t know about you all, but I refuse to travel during peak dates. I will gladly stay home in the summer and during the holidays if it means avoiding crowded airports and planes. Instead, you’ll find me in New York in January or Ireland in late December, not minding the cold weather one bit while I enjoy the sights without swarms of tourists.
If you want a quieter travel experience, you don’t have to go to this extreme. Instead, Expedia’s report indicates that traveling on Tuesday will help you avoid the crowds. February is the quietest travel month, which is odd because it also happens to be one of the most expensive months to travel.
Fly early morning to avoid delays and cancelations
According to the Air Travel Hacks Report, you can avoid cancelations by traveling in the morning. Morning flights are less likely to be canceled compared to flights departing after 9 p.m. which have a 57% chance of being canceled. By picking a flight between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., you’re less likely to experience travel disruptions.
At 1.2%, flights departing in August and September have the lowest cancelation rates, while August also boasts the shortest average delays.
Expedia’s Flight Deals tool
Expedia has also launched a new feature on its app, designed to save you money on airfare. The Flight Deals tool simplifies the search for affordable flights, by highlighting fares that are at least 20% lower than typical prices. You can browse deals from your home airport or filter by destination and travel dates. Travelers can even set up custom alerts to get notified of deals.
It’s sort of like Google Flights, except Expedia’s tool only focuses on “the best” deals. No three-stop itineraries or flights on airlines that charge you extra for breathing on the plane.
You can use Expedia’s Flight Deals tool by downloading the app and following these steps:
- After downloading the Expedia app, log into your account.
- Navigate to the “Search” tab at the bottom of your screen.
- Click “Find deals.”
- The deals page will populate flight deals to destinations worldwide, based on your home airport.
- Filter the results by updating the destinations, your home airport, and/or number of travelers.
Key takeaways
Expedia’s 2025 Air Travel Hacks Report offers some insightful trends that can help you save money on travel. At the very least, it’s worth testing out some of the findings and seeing if you can knock down the cost of your next vacation. Here’s a summary of the findings:
- August is the cheapest month to fly, while February and March are the most expensive.
- Sunday is the best day to book but NOT the best day to travel.
- Flying on Saturday (domestic) and Thursday (international) can save up to 17%.
- Book 1-3 months ahead for domestic flights and 18-29 days before for international travel for maximum savings.
- Using Expedia’s Flight Deals tool and Price Drop Protection can help you find cheap fares and save if the price drops after booking.
