hacks

KNOWING when to fly or when to book your next holiday without breaking the bank can feel like an impossible task.

However, travel experts Expedia has looked at both the data and customer research for their best flying tips for Brits heading abroad in 2026.

Included in Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report is everything you need to know about travelling this year. Here’s what you need to know.

Fly on Fridays – and avoid Saturdays

Friday has become the cheapest day of the week to fly.

Compared to travelling on a Saturday, jetting off the day before can save up to 18 per cent.

But be warned that Friday is also the busiest  day to fly – with Tuesdays being the least busy.

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As for what day you’ll find the find the cheapest deals this is likely to be a Sunday – but Expedia adds that “flying on lower‑demand days unlocks bigger savings.”

Fly in June – and avoid December

The most affordable month to fly is June with flights 68 per cent cheaper on average than December – the most expensive month.

This saves holidaymakers roughly £250 per ticket. 

Yet this changes depending on where you are flying.

If you’re hopping on a domestic flight then the cheapest month to book is January – with the most expensive being the height of summer in August.

Risk-takers might think that the closer you get to your holiday, the better deal you’ll get on flights – and you’d be right.

Book 30 days ahead – not six months

Expedia found that international travellers can save £93 on average by booking between 15 and 30 days ahead, instead of six months out.

For those who don’t want to leave it until the last minute, booking 31 – 45 days out can still save £85  compared to booking six months out. 

Fly from Bournemouth and Belfast – and avoid Manchester and Heathrow

When it comes to actually flying, the choice of airport also makes a difference.

The most expensive UK airports to fly from are London Heathrow, Humberside and Manchester

Meanwhile, Belfast, Liverpool and Bournemouth are the most affordable UK departure airports.

Some destinations are seeing prices drop up to 67 per cent year-on-year too.

So if you head to Gdansk, Cork or Bordeaux, so you’re likely to get a good, cheap deal.

And lastly, while it might not save money – this hack may save you time.

Obviously some of the busiest times to travel are during summer, but other dates that see more travellers are October 24 and 25 and May 24, being near school holidays.

The quietest days based on bookings are March 4, 5 and 9 and December 31.

For more savings – here how one holidaymaker travelled to 41 countries and used a simple hotel trick to save her family hundreds.

And here’s 50 money-saving tips you NEED to know before booking your next holiday – from 5* hotel hacks to free tours and cheap booze.

Many money saving travel hacks are trotted out year after year, but do they really save money? Travel specialists have weighed in on some of the most common tips that are often repeated

January and February are peak times for booking holidays, and at this time of year you’ll often see lists of travel tips that claim you can save money by following certain ‘hacks’.

But do they really work? The travel insurance team at Tiger.co.uk has shed light on five travel hacks that are shared pretty much every year, but may end up being a waste of your time. Luckily, the team has also revealed some practical tips to save money that can actually help holidaymakers slash their travel costs.

1. Using incognito mode when booking

Some money saving sites will tell you to use incognito mode when you make a booking, claiming this can lead to cheaper fares. This is based on the assumption that if you make repeated searches, the airline or travel provider will take your history into account and raise the fares.

However, Tiger explained that flight pricing algorithms are much more sophisticated than that, and while fare prices do change over time, this is based on demand, availability, and pricing, rather than what’s in your search history. An article in Quartz backs up this theory, citing studies that have shown there’s very little effect on the overall cost.

Many airlines offer different fare classes even within economy, and once one type of fare sells out, it’ll automatically move to the next, higher-priced one. This is more likely to explain why a fare has jumped up in price the second time you search.

2. Booking flights during the night

In the early days of internet travel booking, airlines used to update their fares manually overnight. Savvy travellers could set an alarm for first thing in the morning to save money on their flights.

Nowadays, airline websites are much more sophisticated and update prices 24/7, meaning its unlikely to make a difference whether you book during the day or night. However, this outdated travel hack still gets repeated now and again.

3. Booking last-minute gets you the best deals

Travelling at the last minute used to be a great way to bag bargain holidays. If you’re not fussy about your destination and flexible on dates, there are still cheap package holidays to be found, though they seem to be getting harder to find.

However, Tiger says that if you’re looking for cheap flights, planning ahead is a better option. Fares often increase as the departure date approaches and seats become scarcer. Try using Skyscanner or a similar flight comparison site with a price tracker to alert you when fares to your destination drop.

4. Only looking at budget airlines

Budget airlines often appear the cheapest because they offer impressive headline fares, but once priced up, a budget carrier might not be the best option for saving cash.

Once you’ve added the basics, such as baggage and paid to select your seat, you may find the cost is comparable to standard airlines where these extras are included. Always look at the total cost for a true comparison.

5. Always book a return

In the past, travellers were always advised to book return tickets as it worked out cheaper. But nowadays, with flight comparison tools available, it’s easier than ever to compare return fares on the same airline versus buying two singles with different carriers. Mixing and matching could save you money and often makes it more convenient to book a flight time that suits you.

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