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Plus, when to travel to avoid those dreaded airport crowds.
Think you need to fly on a Tuesday to save a buck? Think again.
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The old travel playbook has been thrown out the window for 2026.
While we’ve spent years dragging ourselves to the airport on a Tuesday or a Wednesday to catch a deal, new data from Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report reveals that Friday – once one of the most expensive days to fly – is now the ultimate budget-friendly sweet spot.
Thanks to a massive shift in corporate travel, leisure seekers are now cashing in on a 12 per cent discount just by starting their weekend early.
And those looking for a getaway over the coming weeks are also in luck, because the report has also found February is the most affordable month to fly, with prices down 74 per cent on the December peak period.
Expedia travel expert, Sarah King, said timing can play a big part in airfare savings.
“With business travellers heading home earlier in the week, leisure travellers can unlock better value by choosing smarter travel days, like Friday, with the added bonus of starting their holiday a little earlier to stretch the weekend,” she said.
If you want to avoid the crowds, Tuesday is the quietest travel day. And though Friday is the cheapest, it’s also the busiest, the report found.
You could also avoid rush hour by travelling in the afternoon or evening. The morning is the busiest time with more than 56 per cent of domestic departures and 45 per cent of international departures.
February is not only the cheapest month, it is also the quietest. But you can also find a quiet window for travel in mid-March and at the end of July, the report found.
Choosing your booking window carefully can also help you save money. Booking four to six weeks before your departure is the sweet spot for economy flights, when you can save $40 on average.
For international flights, you can save an average of $140 if you book four to six weeks prior to departure, or around $75 if you book three months out.
Book and pay for your flights on a Thursday to save about 7 per cent compared to booking on a Saturday, according to Expedia.
And if you book in July, you could save up to 20 per cent compared to booking in November.
Plus, when to travel to avoid those dreaded airport crowds.
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