A new survey reports that four in 10 (39%) Canadian travellers find air travel to be more stressful than a flooded inbox or sleeping through an alarm. Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report of 1,000 Canadian flyers also says almost half (43%) of air travellers find the process of securing a good flight deal especially stressful, and 17% even checked back on ticket prices after booking to see if they could have saved more.
To that end, the study has provided some of the latest money- and stress-saving hacks to save time and money on flights, including when to book, how to avoid cancellations and the best day to travel.
“In terms of stress levels, booking your next flight shouldn’t be in the same ballpark as getting a cavity filled,” said Expedia Group’s Melanie Fish.
Here are some highlights from the 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report
When to book
- Book airfare on a Sunday to save up to 24%. Travellers who book on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save, on average, around 17% on domestic flights and 24% on international flights.
- Book domestic flights at least a month before to save 33%. Travellers that booked 25 days prior to departure saved 33% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute. For international airfare, avoid booking too early as prices are comparatively high 106 days out. However, prices also tend to increase 20 days prior to departure. For optimal availability, selection and savings, book 30-37 days out.
When to travel
- Depart on a Thursday to save up to 13%. Avoid departing on Sundays, which are the priciest days, on average, to start a trip.
- Depart before 3 p.m. to reduce chance of cancellations. 24% of Canadian air travellers try to avoid morning flights because getting up early on the day of travel gives them additional stress. However, year-to-date flight status data reveals flights that depart after 3 p.m. have an 18% higher chance, on average, of being cancelled than those that depart earlier in the day.
2024 Air travel trends
- The number of scheduled long-haul flights is nearly at 2019 levels.
- Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary range among the most popular domestic destinations for Canadian flyers. The most popular international destinations are Las Vegas (US), Cancun (Mexico) and New York City (USA).
- The fastest growing destination, according to Expedia flight demand data, is Beijing in China.