Best Days & Times Summary
| Factor |
Best |
Worst |
| Day to book |
Tuesday-Wednesday |
Friday-Sunday |
| Day to fly |
Tuesday-Wednesday |
Friday, Sunday |
| Time to fly |
Early morning, late night |
Peak hours |
| Time to search |
Clear cookies, incognito |
Repeated searches |
Best Day to Book
Weekly Booking Patterns
| Day |
Price Level |
Notes |
| Monday |
Medium |
Sales being prepared |
| Tuesday |
Lowest |
New sales released |
| Wednesday |
Low |
Prices still reduced |
| Thursday |
Medium |
Creeping up |
| Friday |
Higher |
Weekend shoppers |
| Saturday |
High |
Leisure bookers |
| Sunday |
Highest |
Last-minute leisure |
Why Tuesday Works
| Factor |
Explanation |
| Airlines release sales |
Monday night/Tuesday AM |
| Competitors match |
By Tuesday afternoon |
| Business travel planned |
Creates inventory |
| Lower demand |
Fewer people booking |
Best Time of Day
| Time |
Notes |
| Tuesday 3PM |
After sales propagate |
| Early morning |
Before demand spikes |
| Late night |
Airline systems update |
Best Days to Fly
Cheapest Flying Days
| Day |
Domestic |
International |
| Tuesday |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
| Wednesday |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
| Thursday |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★☆ |
| Saturday |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
| Monday |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
| Friday |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
| Sunday |
★☆☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
Time of Day
| Flight Time |
Price Level |
| Red-eye (late night) |
Lowest |
| Early morning (6am) |
Low |
| Mid-morning |
Medium |
| Afternoon |
Medium-High |
| Evening |
Highest |
Advance Booking Windows
Domestic Canada
| Route |
Best Window |
| Major routes (YYZ-YVR) |
3-6 weeks |
| Regional |
2-4 weeks |
| Last minute |
Sometimes deals |
| Holiday travel |
2-3 months |
International
| Destination |
Best Window |
| USA |
1-3 months |
| Europe |
2-4 months |
| Asia |
3-5 months |
| Caribbean |
2-3 months |
| Australia |
3-6 months |
General Rules
| Booking Timing |
Result |
| Too early (6+ months) |
Higher prices |
| Sweet spot (1-3 months) |
Best prices |
| Last minute (<7 days) |
Usually expensive |
| Last minute (budget airlines) |
Sometimes deals |
Seasonal Patterns
Cheapest Times to Fly
| Period |
Domestic |
International |
| January 7 - March 1 |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
| September |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★★ |
| October |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★☆ |
| November (not US Thanks.) |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★☆ |
| April-May |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
Most Expensive
| Period |
Why |
| December 15 - Jan 6 |
Holidays |
| March Break |
Family travel |
| Summer (June-Aug) |
Peak season |
| Long weekends |
Victoria Day, etc. |
Canadian Airline Tips
Where to Book
| Option |
Best For |
| Google Flights |
Price tracking |
| Skyscanner |
Flexibility search |
| Direct airline |
Best price guarantee |
| Kayak |
Comparison |
| Secret Flying |
Error fares |
Canadian Carriers
| Airline |
Booking Window |
| Air Canada |
2-3 months domestic |
| WestJet |
2-3 months |
| Flair |
Last minute deals |
| Swoop (ended 2024) |
N/A |
| Porter |
1-2 months |
| Lynx |
Watch for sales |
Flexi-Date Strategies
How to Use Flexible Dates
| Strategy |
How |
| Google Flights calendar |
Shows cheapest days |
| ±3 days |
Often saves $100+ |
| One-way searches |
Mix airlines |
| Nearby airports |
Check alternatives |
Example Savings
| Route |
Fixed Dates |
Flexible (±3 days) |
Savings |
| YYZ-YVR |
$450 |
$320 |
$130 |
| YYZ-YYC |
$380 |
$260 |
$120 |
| YUL-LAX |
$520 |
$380 |
$140 |
Price Tracking
| Tool |
Feature |
| Google Flights |
Track prices |
| Hopper |
Predictions |
| Kayak Alerts |
Email notifications |
| Air Canada app |
Watch prices |
When to Buy
| Price Trend |
Action |
| Prices dropping |
Wait (unless deadline) |
| Prices stable |
Book when reasonable |
| Prices rising |
Book immediately |
| Very low |
Book immediately |
Hidden Savings
Strategies
| Tactic |
Savings |
| Hidden city ticketing |
10-40% (risky) |
| Positioning flights |
Start from cheaper city |
| Points + cash |
Reduce out of pocket |
| Error fares |
50-80% (rare) |
| One-ways vs round trip |
Compare both |
Avoiding Price Increases
| Tactic |
How |
| Incognito mode |
Avoid cookies |
| Clear browser data |
Before searching |
| Use VPN |
Different pricing |
| Don’t search repeatedly |
Triggers dynamic pricing |
Holiday Travel
When to Book
| Holiday |
Book By |
| Christmas |
Early October |
| March Break |
Early January |
| Summer |
March-April |
| Thanksgiving |
Early September |
| Long weekends |
4-6 weeks before |
Holiday Tips
| Strategy |
Reason |
| Fly on the holiday |
Often cheaper |
| Fly Christmas Day |
Lower demand |
| Red-eye |
Saves day, cheaper |
| Alternative airports |
Check YHM, YXU, etc. |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake |
Better Approach |
| Waiting for last minute |
Book early (usually) |
| Only checking one site |
Compare 3-4 |
| Fixed dates |
Be flexible |
| Ignoring nearby airports |
Check within 2 hours |
| Not tracking prices |
Set alerts |