How to book a cheap flight: Experts reveal their best tips

Travelers looking for the cheapest deals should book flights on Sundays, but fly on Wednesdays, experts have revealed.

A study by online travel agency Expedia analyzed millions of flights and found that booking a trip on the last day of the week can save up to 15 percent off the cost of your airline ticket.

By comparison, a Friday booking could add about 5 percent to the total cost as prices are pushed up by households planning last-minute vacations for the weekend.

Analysts also found that travelers who planned their trip on a Wednesday compared to a Sunday or Monday saved up to 15 percent on domestic flights and 10 percent on international travel.

Experts also recommend that travelers book at least a month in advance when traveling within the US.

Analysts also found that travelers who planned their trip on a Wednesday compared to a Sunday or Monday saved up to 15 percent on domestic flights and 10 percent on international travel

The sweet spot for buying domestic flights is between 28 and 35 days out, analysts said.

They warned that domestic travel customers end up paying more if they book three and a half to six months in advance.

However, for international travel, they recommended booking flights at least six months in advance — which could save customers 10 percent over those who buy within two months of departure.

What’s more, analysts advised traveling during “off-peak” times – avoiding the height of summer.

The revelation comes after it was announced that the prices of domestic flights had increased by more than 30 percent in the past year.

International flights were as much as 200 percent more expensive, according to data from the American Automobile Association.

This is despite the fact that standards are plummeting. Dailymail.com revealed last month that delays had reached their highest point in a decade.

Data from the flight tracking platform showed that a whopping 21.4 percent of flights were delayed by an average of 50 minutes in the past year.

And the problem will only get worse this summer, as travelers have been told to prepare for a “summer of hell.”

Nine national and two regional airlines were evaluated by WalletHub based on recent data from the Department of Transportation – Southwest Airlines was rated the worst airline of all for the second year in a row

Experts have warned travelers to prepare for a ‘summer of hell’ amid reports of increased flight delays and cancellations

According to data from the American Automobile Association, the cost of international travel has increased more than 200 percent in the past year

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently warned that it expected air travel to overtake pre-pandemic numbers in the summer of 2023.

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, said: “Demand for travel this summer will be as strong as we’ve seen since before the pandemic, and possibly the strongest on record.

“That kind of demand in a system that is hopelessly underfunded and understaffed is likely to cause significant frustration for travelers.”

The airline industry came to a booming half during the pandemic, and airlines received a $60 billion bailout package.

As lockdown restrictions eased, companies found themselves unable to scale fast enough to meet the surge in demand.

Last summer, tens of thousands of flights were delayed and cancelled.

In a recent study, 11 of the largest airlines ranked for the best overall experience – with Southwest Airlines coming in worst and Delta Airlines the best.

Delta Airlines scored 66.79 points out of 100 and was also the most reliable, meaning it had the fewest flight cancellations, delays, lost baggage and denied boarding.

Southwest Airlines stood out as the worst-rated airline, both overall and in terms of safety.