According to new Expedia® data, Air Travel is the main cause of stress for 55% of Americans, who find it more difficult than filing taxes or going to the dentist. Expedia has launched its 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report, which unpacks data-backed ideas for saving money and minimizing stress as the busy holiday travel season approaches. This year’s report highlights include:

• Domestic airfare should be booked 28 days before departure; travelers saved up to 24% compared to those who booked at the last minute, surpassing the 10% savings travelers saw on average in 2022. 
• International airfare should be booked around 60 days out (and no more than 4 months out) for optimal availability and savings (around 10% on average). Last year, the sweet spot was closer to six months out. 

• Sunday remains the cheapest day of the week to book flights, while Fridays are most expensive. On average, travelers saved up to 13%.² 
• Fly before 3 p.m. to minimize the impact of delays and cancellations. Flights departing after 3 p.m. statistically have a 50% higher chance of being canceled than earlier flights.³ 
• There’s officially no bad time to book, with Expedia’s Price Drop Protection: More than a quarter (28%) of U.S. travelers continue checking ticket prices even after they’ve booked, but this new product issues a refund if the price of the ticket drops on Expedia after booking. *

The analysis also discovered that average ticket prices have remained nearly flat compared to last year, and flight cancellation rates have improved (1.7% of flights compared to 4.1% in 20223), both of which are positive trends for travellers who cite finding a good deal (61%) and worrying about disruptions (28%).

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“No way should people rather get a cavity filled than go on a trip, so thank goodness a lot of the things causing travel-related stress are getting better,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations. “Fewer flights are being canceled and technology is helping with tools in the Expedia app like Price Tracking and Price Drop Protection that make the whole booking and flying journey smoother.” 

Expedia’s annual Air Travel Hacks Report is backed by an analysis of billions of data points and the most extensive air ticketing database in the world through collaboration with Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) and OAG. 

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“Airlines are adding capacity and increasing service to meet the sustained air travel demand we’ve seen throughout 2023,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC. “Air travel has proven resilient over the past few years, with travelers increasingly taking to the skies for both business and leisure. Fortunately for those travelers, the cost of airfare has been below 2022 levels for most of the year.”

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