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Air travel can be an incredibly stressful experience, between hectic airports, flight delays, lost luggage, and other hassles. Not to mention the skyrocketing cost of flights.
Travel experts at Expedia have compiled a list of the top travel hacks that travelers can use right now to save money on airfare, avoid delays, and make travel a smoother experience.
Here’s what travelers should know when it comes to the best air travel hacks:
1. When To Book Domestic Flights
Planning to fly within the U.S. before the end of the year? According to Expedia, the best time to book domestic flights for the lowest airfare is 28 days in advance.
Travelers who booked around this time saved a whopping 24% on airfare compared to those who booked a last-minute flight.
Flight prices have dropped for many popular destinations in the U.S., including flights to New York, Las Vegas, and Orlando, so if you had your eye on one of these destinations, remember that 28 days out is the sweet spot for scoring the lowest price.
2. When To Book International Flights
For international flights, the best time to book is further out. Travel experts at Expedia say that you should be booking international flights around 60 days in advance, and no more than four months in advance.
This window of time has the cheapest airfare, in contrast with last year when the sweet spot was around six months out. This is good news for more spontaneous travelers who are happy to book a trip just a couple of months in advance as opposed to half a year in advance.
Some of the international destinations with the cheapest flights right now include the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
3. The Cheapest Day Of The Week To Book
Does it really matter which day of the week you book your flight? According to Expedia, the answer is yes! Booking your flight on one specific day of the week can save you money.
The best day of the week to book your flight for the cheapest airfare is Sunday, while the most expensive day is Friday. Travelers who book their flights on a Sunday can save as much as 13%.
So rather than rushing to book a flight at the beginning of the weekend, wait until the end of the weekend to lock in the best price!
4. The Cheapest Day Of The Week To Fly
While Sunday is the best day to book your flight, it’s not the best day to actually fly.
According to Expedia, the cheapest flights depart on Thursdays, while the most expensive flights are on Sundays. Go ahead and start that getaway early by booking a flight that departs on a Thursday to save as much as 16% on your airfare.
So, to recap, the best time to book your flight is on a Sunday, but you want to make sure that your flight is departing on a Thursday for maximum savings!
5. The Best Time Of Day To Fly
There is little worse than a delayed or canceled flight. It can throw a major wrench in your vacation plans and make traveling a more stressful experience.
Fortunately, there’s one easy thing you can do to reduce the likelihood of a delayed or canceled flight. Data from Expedia shows that flights departing before 3 p.m. are 50% less likely to be delayed than flights departing after 3 p.m.
In fact, data from the U.S. Department of Transportation suggests that you should fly even earlier: flights departing between 7 a.m. experience the least delays of all!
To be safe, a morning flight is the best way to avoid irritating travel delays.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com