These travel hacks could save you money on your next trip

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Want to make your hard-earned travel dollars stretch a little further this year? The 2026 Air Hacks Report from Expedia was just released and offers many cost-saving tips to help you book your next trip like a pro.

Now in its 10th year, the report is an analysis of Expedia bookings, data points and latest consumer research into traveller behaviour. The result of all that number-crunching is some useful insights for Canadians looking for travel deals.

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Best month to book cheap flights

According to the report, the cheapest month to book an international trip is July, offering roughly 13 per cent in savings on average, while November is the most expensive.

September is the most affordable month to fly, with December being the priciest. However, the report recommends a January excursion for domestic travellers as there is often lower demand after the holidays and it can be 27 per cent cheaper.

Best day of the week to book and fly

International flight bookings are typically three per cent cheaper on Mondays and most expensive on Saturdays. Flying domestic? Expedia says booking on a Sunday is five per cent cheaper on average than booking on a Wednesday. For business class, Fridays typically offer the cheapest rates.

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As for travel days, flying on a Thursday can save you up to eight per cent. And, if you’re staying domestic, Friday is your best bet, offering roughly seven per cent in savings.

Book later, but not too late

There are also sweet spots to target when booking in advance. Those looking for the most affordable domestic economy flights will want to book 31 to 45 days ahead of travel, saving roughly $185 compared with those booked six months ahead. International travellers could see savings of $190 by booking 15 to 30 days in advance.

Flight routes with the biggest price drop

Curious what routes offer the biggest drop in price year over year? According to the report, Winnipeg to Raleigh, North Carolina dropped 41 per cent, Halifax to Amsterdam dropped 38 per cent, St. John’s to Dublin, Ireland dropped 36 per cent, Kelowna to Tampa, Florida dropped 34 per cent and Vancouver to Shanghai fell 30 per cent.

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Avoid the crowds

And while you can’t always avoid the crowds on vacation, the report shows Tuesdays tend to be the quietest for flying, while Fridays are often the busiest.

If you want to avoid high volume days, skip travelling on Aug. 1 and 15, June 27 or Oct. 10. The quietest travel days are Nov. 25, Dec. 10, April 8 and June 10.  

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