Surprisingly, August is the cheapest month to travel, says study
By Staff Reporter
Dubai: Looking for ways to save on your next flight from the UAE? Booking on a Sunday could help you save up to 25 per cent. What’s more? Despite being the peak summer travel time, August has been revealed as the cheapest month to travel, while February and March are the priciest.
In partnership with the Airlines Reporting Corporation, Expedia has released the 2025 Air Hacks report, debunking common air travel myths and revealing key money-saving strategies.
Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations, said, “Airfares are down, the end of summer is the cheapest time to fly, and booking too far out can actually cost you money – these realities fly in the face of advice floating around the internet.”
Chuck Thackston, Managing Director of data science and research at ARC. “In 2025, affordable premium and economy fares can help passengers as they continue to prioritise international travel with their discretionary spending to explore new destinations worldwide.”
The report debunks eight air travel myths and highlights tips to save up to 25% on international flights.
The report debunks eight air travel myths and highlights tips to save up to 25% on international flights.
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Here are some of the top travel tips:
Myth 1: Summer is the most expensive time to travel
According to the report, August is actually the cheapest month to travel, while February and March are the most expensive. Flying internationally in August versus March can save travellers up to 7 per cent.
Myth 2: There’s no best day of the week to book flights
Expedia has said that Booking on a Sunday can keep more in travellers’ wallets. For the third year, the data shows Sunday is the cheapest day to book flights. International travellers can save 17 per cent compared to booking on a Monday or Friday.
Myth 3: The day of the week I travel doesn’t affect the cost.
That’s not true. Saturday and Thursday are the cheapest days to depart. It’s not just when you book, it’s when you fly. Regardless of fare class and destination, flying on Thursday instead of Sunday can save travellers 17 per cent. On the international front, Thursday is the cheapest day to fly—travellers can save 15 per cent compared to flying on a Sunday.
Myth 4: The further ahead you book, the cheaper it will be.
No. The sweet spot is closer to departure than you think. Book international flights just 18 to 29 days before departure and save up to 17 per cent versus booking three months out or more.
However, waiting too long to book can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy. On one hand, you could snag a fantastic deal. Conversely, you could have more extended layovers, sold-out flights or a higher ticket price.
Myth 5: Airfare goes up every year.
The report said average ticket prices are down. International economy tickets are 4 per cent cheaper. In 2024, the average ticket price for domestic flights was Dh1,696.9 (Dh1,704 in 2023) and Dh3,118.3 for international flights (Dh3,239.5 in 2023).
Myth 6: Premium tickets are always too expensive to consider.
The difference between premium and economy has come down. Are you thinking of upgrading? It’s more affordable than ever. The price gap between premium and economy tickets is down 10 per cent compared to 2019.
Myth 7: Every flight I take is full
Evade crowds by travelling during quiet periods. Tuesday is the quietest day of the week to travel, and February is the quietest month. July, on the other hand, sees 65 per cent more flights than February.
Myth 8: There’s nothing I can do about delays and cancellations
Morning flights are much less likely to be cancelled. Cancellations doubled in 2024, impacting 3.4 per cent of flights. To avoid them, catch flights that depart after 9 pm. They have a 57 per cent higher chance of being cancelled than those who leave earlier in the day. Flights departing between 9 am. and 3 pm face the lowest rate of cancellations. August and September see the lowest rate of cancellations (1.2 per cent).
August also sees the shortest average delays, making it one of the smoothest months for travel.
Source: Gulf News
