Expedia‘s annual Air Hacks Report—now in its 10th year and drawing on millions of booking data points—shows a meaningful shift in flight pricing patterns that travel advisors should be aware of heading into spring and summer selling season.
The Friday Factor
Business travelers are heading home earlier in the week, and that behavioral shift has reshuffled the pricing calendar. Friday is now the cheapest day to both book and depart on international routes, while Tuesday holds that title for domestic travel (averaging 14 percent less than Sunday departures). Sunday remains the most expensive day across the board. Advising clients to shift even one travel day can translate to real savings—and a stronger value proposition from you.
Timing Matters More Than Lead Time—Within Reason
The data challenges the conventional wisdom of booking far in advance. For domestic economy, the sweet spot is 15–30 days out, averaging $130 less than bookings made six months ahead. For international travel, 31–45 days out saves roughly $190 versus booking early—and the boldest clients willing to book 8–15 days ahead can save an average of $225. That said, last-minute works better as a strategy than a default.
Best Months to Send Clients
August is the most affordable month to fly overall, with fares averaging 29 percent—about $120 per ticket—less than December. January is the cheapest month for domestic travel. For clients chasing deals specifically, Expedia’s Flight Deals tool data shows July, October, and November generate the most discounted inventory (routes priced at least 20 percent below predicted norms).
International Routes Seeing the Biggest Price Drops
Several international routes are down significantly year-over-year, which could be useful for proactively pitching clients on destinations they hadn’t considered:
- Houston–Morelia, MX: –42 percent
- Dallas–Morelia, MX: –41 percent
- Houston–Tokyo: –31 percent
- Raleigh–Comayagua, Honduras: –30 percent
- Tampa–Tokyo: –29 percent
Airport Choice as a Client Savings Tool
Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Orlando are the most affordable departure airports, with average fares roughly 25 percent below the national average. Washington Dulles, SFO, and JFK are the most expensive. For clients in drive markets near a secondary airport, this is a simple, concrete saving worth flagging.
The Micro-cation Trend Is Mainstream
One in four Millennials and Gen Z travelers now plan to fly somewhere for just 24 hours—a trend worth building packages around. Top 24-hour international destinations include Toronto, Nassau, San Juan, and Montreal.
Trending Destinations Worth Watching
On the international side, Alghero, Italy (+560 percent); Ankara, Turkey (+295 percent); and Nha Trang, Vietnam (+185 percent) are seeing the biggest search surges. Domestically, Carlsbad, CA (+1,210 percent) and Vero Beach, FL (+840 percent) top the trending list.
Full report: expedia.com/see/airhacks
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