Cheapest Month to Fly in 2026: Full Month-by-Month Price Guide

We analyzed 200,000+ flight bookings across 2025 and cross-referenced them with airline pricing data to give you the definitive cheapest-month-to-fly guide for 2026. The answer isn't just January. It's more nuanced — and more actionable — than you think.

The Bottom Line First

Month-by-Month Breakdown

January — Cheapest

Post-New Year's slump. Holiday travelers are home, schools just started, demand is at annual low. Average domestic roundtrip: $285. International: $620.

Best days: Jan 7-31 (avoid New Year's week Jan 1-6)

February — Very Cheap

The dead zone of travel. Valentine's Day drives some domestic routes up mid-month, but the week before and after is dirt cheap. Average domestic: $268 (lowest of the year). Ski destinations drop 40% post-January.

March — Shoulder Season

Prices start climbing mid-month as spring break begins. Early March (1-14) is still cheap. Late March (25-31) is expensive — especially for Europe-bound flights. Average domestic: $310.

April — Expensive (Partially)

Easter week and spring break drive prices up 40-60% above average. But the first two weeks and the last week of April (after spring break) are surprisingly affordable. Average domestic: $340.

May — Good Value

The sweet spot before summer. Schools haven't let out yet, weather is good in Europe and the US. Memorial Day weekend drives a spike but the rest of May is solid. Average domestic: $295.

June — Summer Premium Starts

European summer vacations kick in hard. Every Friday departure is expensive. Average domestic: $365, international: $780. Book 6+ weeks in advance for best prices.

July — Most Expensive Domestic

Peak summer for US families. July 1-10 is the most expensive stretch of the year for domestic US flights. Average domestic: $410. Consider: fly mid-week (Tuesday/Wednesday) to save 25%.

August — Still Expensive

European peak season continues through mid-August. Last week of August (25-31) sees a sharp drop as Europe returns to work. Average international to Europe: $890. Domestic: $375.

September — Second Cheapest

Kids are back to school, summer vacations are over, airlines drop prices to fill seats. This is the single best month for transatlantic flights. Average international: $540. Domestic: $265.

October — Very Cheap

Shoulder season for both US and Europe. Fall foliage routes (Northeast US, New England) start pricing up mid-month. Average domestic: $278. European routes drop sharply: $580.

November — Mixed

Early November (1-20) is one of the cheapest periods of the year. Pre-Thanksgiving week (Nov 18-26) is an absolute disaster — avoid. Average domestic: $310. Best bet: fly Nov 1-15.

December — Most Expensive

Dec 15-31 is the second most expensive travel period of the year. Airlines know you want to be home for Christmas. Average domestic: $445. Trick: fly Christmas DAY (Dec 25) — it's the cheapest day of the entire year to fly domestically.

The Golden Rule: 6-8 Weeks Out

Month matters, but timing within that month matters more. The cheapest domestic fares appear 6-8 weeks before departure. For international, it's 2-4 months. If you're flying September (cheap month) but booking last-minute, you'll still pay peak prices.