Score Cheap Holiday Flights by Using Google Flight Data

Thanksgiving is just a week away, and Christmas is coming in a few weeks. Millions of people are planning to return home for the holidays, but affording those flights can put a strain on any budget. This is where Google comes to the rescue.

According to Google Flights trip reportthe service is essentially a booking cheat sheet cheapest flights possible. The service analyzed years of data to find the exact best time to buy tickets, taking all the guesswork out of the equation.

Whether you're a super planner or a last-minute flight junkie, Google Flights results show clear patterns you need to know so you don't get scammed when you need to travel. You should read this before you book anything.

Even more useful tips for tourists research everything you need for your trip you need for every vacation then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also check out our CNET review of best headphones for travel.

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What days are the most profitable to fly?

If you're planning to book a flight, you're probably trying to find the most economical option. The cheapest flights are available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday is the cheapest dayaccording to historical flight data.

Flying early to midweek can save travelers about 13% on airfare compared to flights on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Sunday is the most expensive day fly.

Does connecting on a flight save you money?

It's no surprise that connecting flights are cheaper than direct flights, but you may not realize just how significant these savings can be. Google Flights data shows that travelers can… save 22% by booking a connecting flight instead of a non-stop flight.

What day of the week is the cheapest to book flights?

Sure, there are cheaper days to fly, but there really aren't any cheaper days to book. “It's worth knowing that you won't save much by booking on a specific day of the week,” says the Google Flights report. Tuesday is usually the cheapest day According to the week's data, bookings on Tuesday are just 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day on Sunday.

Is it cheaper to book flights further?

To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it's still best to book your trip in advance, especially if you need to fly out on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to decide whether it's better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations and travel dates.

For domestic flightsprices are usually the lowest between 23 and 51 days before the trip, with 39 days before departure is on average the cheapest day to book. For international flightsprices are usually the lowest between 49 days or more before you travel, but it's generally best to book as far in advance as possible. According to Google, “average pre-departure prices do not drop significantly, but they typically begin to rise within 50 days of the flight itself” for international travel from the US.

Read also: Google's new AI tool for flight suggestions works, but only for 'anywhere, anytime' travelers

What time of year is best to book flights?

Here's what Google says about the best time to book flights and vacations to certain popular destinations.

Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights for the Thanksgiving holiday are typically available 24 to 59 days in advance, while the cheapest are available 35 days in advance. This means it's best to book flights for Thanksgiving in late September or early October.

Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights for the winter holidays are usually available between 32 and 73 days, with 51 days being the cheapest. The best time to book Christmas or holiday flights is any time between mid-October and mid-November.

Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available 28 to 61 days in advance, with the cheapest time to book on average being 43 days before departure.

Summer holidays: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 14 to 43 days in advance, with the average cheapest day to book being 21 days before departure.

When is the best time to book flights to Europe?

International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper. 48 days or more before departure. As with all international travel, it's usually best to book your tickets as early as possible.

When is the best time to visit Mexico or the Caribbean?

According to Google, international flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the only exception to the broader international trend. This is because flights tend to be the cheapest between 26 and 79 days in advance with 50 days turned out to be the cheapest.

What are the popular holiday destinations in 2025?

Google has also released information on the most popular destinations for each vacation in the 2025 season.

Thanksgiving: Top domestic destinations for outbound travel between November 23 and November 30 include Columbia, South Carolina; Bozeman, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska and others.

Christmas and New Year: The most popular destinations for travel departing between December 21 and January 4 include Rio de Janeiro, St. Lucia, Marrakech, Curacao and others.

For more, check out our CNET picks for the best. travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore 12 things you need for traveling you always need to pack your things and worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.