Expedia’s 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report: Australian travellers should book on this day to save on airfares and minimise flight delays

As we head into the summer holidays and a brand-new year, many travellers have already expanded their travel plans and aspirations. But if we’ve learned anything from 2022, travelling isn’t always so simple, as travellers encounter unpredictable flight prices, delays and cancellations. Thankfully, Expedia has released its 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, providing six proven tips to help save travellers time and money.

The main takeaway? Plan wisely by taking advantage of price alerts, as timing is KEY when it comes to hacking air travel.

Air travel is on the runway to recovery

Compared to 2019, domestic Australian capacity (airplane seats and flights available for a given route) is sitting at 116%, exceeding 2019 levels, while international capacity is sitting at 77% as airlines work to fully restore operations to pre-pandemic levels¹.

Meanwhile, average ticket prices for domestic flights have remained stable over the last two years and are now tracking on par to 2019. As the industry continues to recover, average ticket prices for international flights are higher compared to 2019 but are expected to continue to level out driven by the rebound in demand and lowering of travel restrictions^2.

From when to book to maximising loyalty perks, here’s Expedia’s guide to hacking travel in 2023.

Tips for when to book

Book on a Sunday to save up to 20% on average³
Travellers who booked on Sundays instead of Fridays tended to save, on average, around 20% on domestic flights and international flights. The best day of the week to book has been Sunday, while the day to avoid has been Friday, for the past four years.

Book at least three months before domestic flights to save 30% on average⁴
The sweet spot for snagging the best price on domestic flights falls between 70 – 100 days before departure (so about three months in advance of travel). Travellers who booked during that period saved 30% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute (0 – 30 days before travel).

Book six months before international flights to save 25% on average⁴
Travellers who booked around six months in advance of international travel saved an average of 25% compared to those who waited until three months or less to book. The key to booking international airfares is to book as soon as possible, with prices traditionally cheapest 160 days or earlier before departure.

How to avoid flight disruptions

Depart at midday to help reduce the chance of cancellations⁵
Travellers who want the best chance for smooth travel should aim for daytime flights (9am – 3pm). Based on year-to-date flight-status data, flights that depart between 3pm – 9pm have the highest chance of being cancelled – a 30% higher chance, on average, than those that depart at midday.

Embrace shoulder season⁶
Data shows that avoiding the peak travel periods can have more benefits than just cost-savings. Based on 2022 trends, cancellations are most likely to happen in January and least likely in February. Historically, flight delays were also shorter in February compared to June as the Northern Hemisphere summer rush begins. From there, delays begin to shorten in August, making spring an appealing time for air travel.

Overall, the data shows that airlines have steadily improved their services, with total cancellations dropping from more than 9% in July to around 3% in August. The trend is expected to continue in a positive direction for travellers, meaning 2023 should see a significantly reduced risk of flight disruptions. 

When to travel

Depart at the end of the week to save up to 20% on average⁷
In general, travellers who started a trip on a Saturday, versus on a Monday, saved up to 20% on domestic flights. For international flights, travellers who departed on a Friday instead of a Sunday saved 10% on average.

How to save on every trip

When it just isn’t possible to follow every travel hack, there are still a few easy ways you can save money.

• Book airfares, hotel and car at the same time on Expedia. Otherwise known as bundling, this can help you instantly unlock savings. 

• Sign up for loyalty and frequent flyer programs or risk leaving money on the table. Expedia members earn Rewards points on eligible bookings, which they can use to save on their next trip.*

• Earn air miles on top of Expedia points by entering your Frequent Flyer details at checkout. It’s an easy way to double-dip and rack up travel rewards even faster.

Follow Expedia on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. To learn more about the Airlines Reporting Corporation and OAG, visit www.arccorp.com and www.oag.com. 

Data sources

¹Capacity-trend information is based on number of flights and seats offered by airlines domestically and internationally, originating in Australia, for January 2019 through December 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline dales database. 

² Price-development information is based is on average round-trip ticket prices for domestic Australian and international flights originating in Australia for January through August for 2022 and average round-trip ticket prices for flights originating in Australia for January through December for 2019, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.  

³Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for domestic Australian and international flights originating in Australia for January through August 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. 

⁴Ideal booking window recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for domestic Australian and international flights originating in Australia for January through August for 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. 

⁵Time of day to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2022 flight-status data for domestic Australian and international flights originating in Australia sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform. 

⁶ Month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2022 flight-status data for domestic Australian and international flights originating in Australia sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform. 

⁷Best day of the week to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for domestic Australian and international flights originating in Australia for January through August for 2022, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. 

^* Eligible bookings only. Rewards terms apply. See site for details.