EXPEDIA 2026 AIR HACKS: FRIDAY TAKES OFF AS THE NEW CHEAPEST DAY TO DEPART AND BOOK

SEATTLE--( BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Expedia ® released its 2026 Air Hacks Report, revealing a major shift in traveler savings: Friday, has become the cheapest day of the week to fly and book, driven by reduced business travel at the end of the week. The report shows that August is the most affordable month to travel, with international destinations, Honduras, Morelia and Tokyo, seeing some of the biggest fare drops.

Now in its tenth year, the Expedia Air Hacks Report draws on millions of Expedia data points and new consumer research to highlight how changing traveler behaviors, from extreme daytrips to carry‑on‑only packing, are reshaping when Americans choose to take to the skies.

“Business travelers head home earlier in the week these days, so new opportunities are opening up for leisure travelers to save by choosing smarter travel days, like Friday for the best prices or Tuesday for fewer crowds,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations. “With a year of data from Expedia’s Flight Deals now in - which highlights routes and dates priced at least 20% lower than the norm - July and October are emerging as two of the best months to travel to secure these high-quality fares.”

Key Air Hacks for 2026 include:

Check our Expedia’s latest Air Hacks HERE.

APPENDIX

EXPEDIA 2026 AIR HACKS

Domestic:

International:

Domestic:

International:

Data disclaimers:

All average ticket pricing data and 24-hour destinations are based on bookings made on Expedia .com from December 2024 – November 2025, with any comparison metrics compared to December 2023 – November 2024

Most popular and trending destinations based on searches made on Expedia.com from December 2024 – November 2025, compared to searches made December 2023 – November 2024

*Expedia Flight Deals data is based on 2025 flight deals volumes available in the US app.

Third-party research was conducted by market research partner OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society’s Code of Conduct. The Study was conducted online between January 9 to 15, 2026 among 1,000 adult respondents across the United States, who have flown abroad on a vacation in the last 12 months.

Expedia’s Annual Vacation Sale is subject to limited availability. Blackout periods may apply.

About Expedia

Expedia ® is an all-in-one travel shop where travelers can plan and book everything they need for their trip while saving on flights, hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, and activities.

Expedia delivers personalized, easy‑to‑use travel tools that make it easy to build a complete trip without juggling multiple sites, while allowing travelers to search, compare, and book multiple trip elements side by side. Expedia also unlocks more value with Bundle & Save deals, giving travelers amazing savings when they book more than one part of their trip. With One Key, Expedia’s cross‑brand loyalty program, every eligible booking earns OneKeyCash™, while also giving travelers access to member‑only prices and perks, making trips even more rewarding.

In 2026, Expedia marks its 30th anniversary. As the first online travel agency, it continues to be the one place you go to go places.

For more information, use our mobile app or visit expedia.com. Follow Expedia on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, X and YouTube.