Travel expert shares cheapest time to fly and 'avoid delays' this summer

Looking to book a travel getaway soon? Well, you're in luck as one expert has shared all you need to know when it comes to making your money go further travelling.

We all love those 5pm flights where we have had a full day to fully pack and not rush to the airport.

However, Anton Radchenko, founder of airline compensation experts at AirAdvisor, has shared his tips for which day and time to travel from the UK.

So, if you have the flexibility to do so with work and other commitments then you might want to make note.

Radchenko advises that the best times to fly for travellers on a budget are early morning or late at night, with the best day to fly being a Wednesday.

Anton also suggests avoiding holidays and major events to steer clear of crowds and higher prices.

He said: “Have a plan of attack. You’re likely to be charged more when making a flight booking on a Thursday or a Friday so book your flights on Sundays where possible.

"Sundays are the day when the least business travel bookings are made, which is one of the reasons for Sunday bookings often being cheaper."

However, midweek can save you even more cash when booking.

Radchenko continued: “We find that booking midweek flights, typically on a Wednesday, can save travellers huge amounts of their hard-earned cash compared to more expensive days.

“Value can also be found flying on Tuesdays, as opposed to weekends, Fridays and Mondays, which are far more popular days of the week to start a journey or return from a trip."

The travel pro added that getting the cheapest flight possible you probably won't get those preferred times.

He said: "The best time of day to fly is when fewer people want to. This means leaving early morning and late at night. So, optimal flight departure times are between 4am and 6am and 10pm until midnight.

“An advantage to getting up early or arriving late at your destination is that these flight times, like ones at 6am or earlier, tend to be less crowded, resulting in a more comfortable and a less stressful trip.

"Early morning flights are statistically less likely to experience delays and cancellations, too."

Meanwhile, the expert explained that the busiest times to fly are mid-morning and mid-afternoon between "9am and 11am and 2pm and 4pm".

He added: “In terms of days, while it’s important to note that the best day of the week to fly varies based on the route, typically, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The general rule is that mid-week flights will be cheaper and quieter.

“For international flights, it is cheapest to fly out and return on a Wednesday. The exception is when you’re booking package holidays and charters, as these companies often offer deals on Saturday-to-Saturday travel.”

Radchenko shared three things to avoid when planning your next flight.

Don’t book too late

"Last-minute bookings aren’t the deals they once were, so it’s better to plan and book anywhere between three weeks to three months from your departure date."

Avoid major holidays

"Bank Holidays both at home and at your destination. These are the busiest times to fly, generally, so avoid them if you are travelling on a budget.”

Turbulence times

“If you don’t like turbulence, night-time and morning flights are usually less turbulent due to fewer winds. Avoid seats at the back of the plane as travellers in these positions feel more turbulence."