The quietest days to fly are typically Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with fewer business travelers and weekenders, leading to lighter loads, shorter lines, and often cheaper fares, while Saturdays (especially midday) can also be surprisingly calm; Fridays and Sundays are usually the busiest. For the absolute quietest, aim for midday flights on these midweek days, avoiding morning and evening rushes, and consider off-peak holiday periods.
For easier leisure travel, consider Wednesday and Thursday, excludes Thanksgiving Weekend. Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays also come in as the cheapest days to fly, because they're not popular travel days.
But remember to keep an eye on your journey and plan for disruption, as winter weather could impact flights. Surprisingly, the quietest day of the week to fly is a Saturday.
The best day of the week to book a flight: is Sunday. Domestic flights: The cheapest day of the week to fly is Saturday; the most expensive is Sunday. International flights: The cheapest day to fly is Thursday; the most expensive is Sunday. Quietest day to travel: Tuesday is typically the least crowded travel day.
The Best Time Of Day To Fly To Avoid Crowds
If you're looking to avoid crowds in order to have a more relaxed flight experience, it's best to choose a flight after 6 pm. Typically, the busiest airport hours will be during the workday, or around 8 am to 5 pm, with the crowds starting to dwindle past the 6 o'clock hour.
The "45-minute rule" refers to a productivity technique of working intensely for 45 minutes, followed by a 10-15 minute break, leveraging the brain's natural focus cycles (ultradian rhythms) to prevent burnout and boost efficiency, though it can also refer to airline check-in deadlines or corporate onboarding targets. The work/rest pattern helps maintain concentration, while the airport rule requires check-in 45 mins pre-flight for domestic flights.
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
A: Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be less crowded travel days, while Fridays and Sundays are often busier. Q: Are red-eye flights a good option for avoiding crowds? A: Yes, red-eye flights (late-night departures, usually after 10 pm) tend to have fewer passengers and a quieter airport experience.
Many airlines provide information such as seat maps that are accessible via their apps and websites before the day of travel. These maps will show you the layout of every seat on the plane and whether it's been booked or not.
Tuesdays are generally among the lowest-traffic days of the week for air travel, with fewer business trips originating or terminating than on Mondays or Fridays.
Friday through Monday are typically the most expensive days to fly and have fewer available award seats. The worst times of year to fly are around popular holidays and school breaks, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, spring break, and summer vacation.
After 36 weeks of pregnancy, your health care provider may advise against flying. And some airlines don't allow pregnant people to fly after 36 weeks. The airline also may require a letter from your health care provider that states how far along in your pregnancy you are and whether flying is advised.
The importance of flight timing
The best time of day to fly is the morning, particularly between 6 and 10 am, when flights tend to experience fewer disruptions.
That said, data provided to NerdWallet by Expedia indicates that — if you have flexibility on when to book — Sundays are generally best. Domestic travelers can save 6% while international travelers can save 17% compared to booking on a Monday or Friday, according to Expedia's 2025 Air Travel Hacks Report.
Travelers looking for least crowded flights may want to consider midweek travel—particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays. These days tend to have fewer leisure travelers, making security lines shorter and airport lounges less congested.
Less Crowded Airports
Airports show decreased traffic during the nighttime hours. The airport experience becomes less stressful because security checks are faster and check-in lines are shorter, while boarding processes become quicker.
Moving to an empty seat on a plane without permission can result in a surcharge. Airlines use assigned seating to calculate the aircraft's weight and balance for safety. Premium seats, like those with extra legroom, are considered a separate product that costs more.
If you're wondering where to sit on a plane to feel less turbulence, aim for a seat near the center, over the wings. On a seat map, look for the rows near over-wing exits.
For domestic trips, monitoring fares and booking one to two months ahead is recommended, while international flights are best secured three to five months in advance. Tools like Google Flights can help track price drops, and flexibility with travel dates—especially midweek departures—can yield significant savings.
☀️ Daytime, especially afternoons, can be more unsettled. The sun warms the ground, hot air rises, and voilà… you've got convective turbulence and sometimes summer storms. 💡 Bonus tip: Early morning flights are also often calmer – before the day's heat starts stirring things up.
Real tips for booking
If you're aiming for the best chance at a smooth and pleasant trip: Fly early in the morning (7–8 a.m.), midweek if it works with your schedule. If that isn't possible, late-night departures can still beat the worst of midday and evening. Avoid Sunday flights—they consistently rate the worst.
A night flight is just as safe as a day flight. Modern aircraft are equipped with a variety of sophisticated safety features that ensure that flights at night are just as safe as during daylight hours. How safe are night flights? Pilots and crew: Night flights are just as safe as any other flight.
We recommend packing all liquids, gels, and aerosols that are over 3.4 oz or 100 ml in your checked baggage, even if they are in a secure, tamper-evident bag. Liquids more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml not in a secure, tamper-evident bag must be packed in checked baggage.
However, it depends on several factors: Checked luggage: Add buffer time (around 3 hours) especially during peak hours. International flights: Aim for 3 hours to handle customs and immigration. Airport familiarity: If you know the airport is efficient, you might be comfortable arriving closer to departure.
Please note, LAGs in containers larger than 100 ml will not be accepted even if they are partially filled. All containers must be carried in a 1 litre transparent re-sealable bag. The containers should fit comfortably and completely in the transparent re-sealable bag.