Prepare to pay less for takeoff.
Saturday, Aug. 23, is National Cheap Flight Day 2025, commemorating a historical trend of lower airfare during the shoulder season between Labor Day and the week before Thanksgiving.
Experts say this early September to mid-November period is an off-season for air travel as children go back to school and fewer people book vacations.
Travelers who have the flexibility to travel during this period can save on airfare. Here’s how to take advantage of lower off-season airfares this fall.
National Cheap Flight Day is Aug. 23, 2025.
The fall shoulder season that begins after Labor Day and continues through early November offers some of the lowest airfares of the year. January is also one of the best times to find low airfares because demand typically drops after New Year’s Day, said Ellie Breslin, spokeswoman for the airfare tracking website Hopper.
Historically, fall is cheaper than summer. Hopper said the average round-trip ticket for a flight in September 2024 was $240, down $27 from a month earlier.
People can use Google Flights, Kayak and Skyscanner to compare airfares across airlines, filter flights based on whether they’re nonstops or include layovers, and arrival and departure times.
Travel websites and apps have price monitoring tools that track airfares in real time and send alerts when prices drop and a good deal is available. Some of these tools include recommendations on whether to buy now or wait for a better price.
Breslin suggests that flying on Tuesday or Wednesday could yield lower fares. On average, a midweek flight could save flyers as much as $100 round-trip, she said.
Air travel experts generally recommend booking no later than one to two months ahead to get the best fares. Start monitoring prices for flights within the U.S. three to four months before departure, Breslin said.
“There is a sweet spot for flight prices, when airlines will be offering lower prices on average, and are more likely to offer promotional discounts and ultra-low fares,” she said.
For international flights, travelers should consider booking three to five months before their planned departure. Breslin said international travelers often pay more for their flights because they booked too far in advance or too last minute.
People who plan to fly during the holidays should book in September and early October, Breslin said. Prices for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s flights could be around $100 cheaper per ticket than current fares, she said.
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Urban legends suggest some days are cheaper to book flights than others.
For instance, it’s believed that Tuesday is a cheaper day to book flights because airlines often release sales starting from Monday night or Tuesday morning, according to Gemma Jamieson, a travel expert with the UK-based travel website Skyscanner.
“Ultimately though, finding a cheap flight is less about the day you book and more about how popular your flight is since flights are priced based on supply and demand,” Jamieson said.
There is no “golden rule” for when to book the cheapest flight, Breslin said. She said the best time to book depends on when and where you plan to fly, whether the flight is nonstop or includes a layover, and the cabin class you’re considering.
Perennial weekend getaway spots like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego are among the destinations from Phoenix with the lowest-priced nonstop airfares. Some round-trip flights to San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Denver are priced lower than the cost of driving to get there.
Here are sample round-trip airfare prices for September and October 2025 itineraries found during an Aug. 8 fare search by The Arizona Republic:
San Diego: $78-$98 with Frontier; $92-$117 with Alaska; $92-$213 with Southwest; $94-$237 with American.
Los Angeles: $85-$171 with Frontier; $110-$157 with Southwest; $110-$217 with American or Delta; $110-$265 with United.
Denver: $90-$117 with Frontier; $157-$237 with Southwest; $157-$267 with American or United.
Las Vegas: $98-$124 with Frontier; $158-$212 with Southwest; $158-$379 with American.
Salt Lake City: $118-$162 with Frontier; $198-$272 with American, Southwest or Delta.
San Francisco: $124-$229 with American or Southwest; $124-$262 with United.
Ultra-low-cost Frontier and Spirit airlines generally offer the lowest base fares, but be aware they also charge additional fees for seat assignments, carry-on and checked bags and other amenities.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.
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