The best day to fly internationally with Qatar Airways flights can differ for you based on the travel time, seasonality, fare class, destination and route type as well. If there’s a high travel demand for your route, you are more likely to pay high prices for it and vice versa. On the other hand, less busy times can guarantee you the lowest fares throughout the week. So, it’s hard to say what day of the week would be the cheapest to travel internationally and what day would pose expensive travel fares.
Yet, some industry insights suggest that midweek travel is comparatively cheaper than travelling on weekends, based on market research and passenger buying trends. So, here’s a brief description of the best day to fly international.
Mid-Week Travel
Midweek days for travelling by air are three;
1. Tuesday.
2. Wednesday.
3. Thursday.
Tuesdays:
From the beginning, Tuesdays have been associated with lower international flight fares because it’s a business practice of airlines to update their pricing and release fare sales and/or discounts on this particular day. All in all, making it a less popular day for travel which can translate to savings.
Wednesdays:
Similar to Tuesdays, Wednesdays are also the second-best option to find cheap deals on international flights. Wednesday also does not experience a high travel demand.
Thursdays:
If you are unable to find a deal that works best for you on Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursdays are your last resort to consider. You might or might not come across competitive rates as the weekend is starting ahead.
Avoid Weekends
Travelling through the weekend days should be avoided at all costs unless it’s really necessary. This typically includes the flights that are either departing on Fridays or Saturdays. Saturdays can bring affordable fares for you to some extent, yet they are expensive to travel when compared with the midweek days. At the same time, budget-friendly when compared to weekend days.
So, because there’s a higher demand for flights, weekends often bring expensive travel fares as well.
Tips to consider for getting the best travel deal:
1. Seasonal Variations: Prices vary by season and destination as per the peak and off-peak travel season. So, if you are looking for affordable fares, avoid peak tourist seasons at all costs.
2. Flexibility: Be flexible about travelling on different dates and destinations than your preferred ones. It opens a door for a multitude of flight options to choose from that offer budget-friendly options.
3. Book in Advance: Secure better deals by booking international flights several weeks or months ahead. The ideal time frame for pre-booking an international flight is 6-8 weeks before the departure date. For domestic flights, it can be as little as 3 weeks before the flight departure.
4. Fare Comparison Websites: You can compare prices online and utilize a variety of tools to make the decision-making process easier for yourself.
5. Consider Layovers: Cheaper flight options may involve layovers, thus, consider travel duration and location and then purchase one
6. Nearby Airports: You can also save money by exploring nearby airports of your destination rather than popular/busy ones.
So, midweek days i.e., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days to fly internationally and get sufficient Qatar Airways baggage allowance along with affordable fares.