Summary of Travel Insights
- Savings on Sunday Travel: Travelers can save up to 5% on tickets when flying on Sundays.
- Timing Matters: Traveling during the last week of summer holidays can result in significant savings.
- Flexibility is Key: Being flexible with destinations can help find great travel deals.
- International Travel Trends: International flights are seeing a rise in bookings this summer.
The cheapest day to travel is Sunday — when vacationers can score significant savings on tickets, according to recent data.
Travelers who choose to fly on Sundays can save up to 5 percent off the cost of their tickets in July and August, as indicated by data from Skyscanner. Since Sunday is less popular for travelers in general, it often translates to less crowded airports and a smoother travel experience overall.
“Our research shows that Americans are willing to make sacrifices in order to save for their summer vacations, but are less likely to shop around in the way they would for their weekly groceries or clothes,” Skyscanner’s travel trends and destination expert Laura Lindsay stated. “There’s so much money to be saved if consumers compare their travel options, so we’re building the tools for travelers to do this quickly and easily.”
The timing of vacation planning can also lead to major savings. Travelers who plan their trip during the last week of school summer holidays can save an average of 31 percent compared to those who travel during the first week of that holiday break, according to the report.
Additionally, travelers who maintain flexibility regarding their destination can uncover notable deals. For example, when utilizing Skyscanner, vacationers have the option to search “everywhere” rather than limiting their search to a specific location, thereby finding the best travel deals—including to popular destinations like Orlando and Nashville.
Of the Americans surveyed, Skyscanner discovered that 61 percent plan to take a vacation this summer, yet 30 percent have yet to finalize their travel plans.
The report arrives as international travel has surged to record levels this summer. In fact, Delta Air Lines reported last month its international flights were already 75 percent booked, with United Airlines expecting to have its busiest Memorial Day holiday period in over a decade — with international travel up 16 percent compared to last year.
Overall, international flights are costing nearly 40 percent more compared to last summer, and airfare to Europe and Asia specifically is expected to be at its highest in five years.
The Transportation Security Administration has projected that Friday, May 26, will be the busiest day of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, forecasting approximately 2.6 million passengers will be screened that day.
