Did The WSJ Publish Wrong Information About Air Travel Booking?

Have you ever heard that Tuesdays or Sundays are the best days to buy air-ticket?

After analyzing 415 million airline fares, CheapAir.com found that no single day of the week is statistically better for booking.

The investigation was inspired after The Wall Street Journal reported that Sunday is the best day to buy airline tickets according to ticket sales collected by the Airlines Reporting Corporation. The conclusion was based on the number of tickets purchased, in which it likely made Sundays appear to be the cheapest day to buy flights. However, the researchers had seemingly forgotten the fact that corporate travelers tend to book last minute, pay higher fares and purchase tickets on work days.

By giving an overview into all fares that were available on domestic flights since the beginning of 2014 – a total of 415 million airfares, CheapAir.com shows that the differences between days of the week were statistically insignificant. However, booking a flight on Wednesday or Thursday seems to save you slightly–a total of $3.

“The day you choose to fly and how far in advance you purchase can make a huge difference in your ticket price, but the day of the week you purchase that ticket really doesn’t matter,” said Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir. “If you see a great fare on Monday, don’t wait for Tuesday or Sunday. Rates can change rapidly, so take advantage of cheap airline tickets when you spot them.”

Jeff Klee also advised “the best thing to do is check for fares early and often. Become familiar with the market on your travel dates so you learn to spot good and bad deals.”

You can read the details in which the Wall Street Journal based their results here.

No specific day of the week or time of day will consistently save travelers money. But you can easily follow the airfare on your smartphone every day. Keep in touch with TechDrive as we will share with you those tips soon.