Airfares are soaring as the conflict in the Middle East pushes up the price of fuel and makes some routes less popular – but there might still be some bargains to be had.

With that in mind, Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report might be useful for anyone planning a trip overseas.

It offers insight into the best days and times to travel by air, based on consumer research and millions of ticket pricing and booking data points pulled from the global travel booking platform.

Now in its 10th year, the report has revealed February was the most affordable month to travel in 2026. Routes across Asia and the South Pacific had some of the largest airfare drops for Australian travellers.

But February is gone and the war continues. So what else can we learn? From avoiding the morning rush to taking advantage of the cheapest days to fly and book, these are the top air travel tips for 2026.

Depart on a Friday, the cheapest day to fly

Friday has become the cheapest day of the week to travel by air, owing to reduced business travel at the end of the week.

Travellers who decide to book a Friday flight can save up to 12 per cent compared to flying on a Sunday, according to Expedia. Plus, travelling on a Friday helps to stretch your weekend getaway that little bit longer.

Travel in February, the cheapest month to fly

The report found February was the most affordable month to fly. While that’s obviously now out of the question for 2026, don’t discount it as an option for next year.

Expect savings of up to 74 per cent compared to flying in the super popular holiday month of December.

Airports are quieter on a Tuesday.

Book flights four-six weeks in advance

Think you need to book six months in advance to score the biggest airfare savings? Think again.

Expedia says the most affordable booking window for economy flights is four to six weeks before departure. Compared to booking six months out, this window can save domestic flyers an average of $40 and international travellers an average of $140.

But don’t worry if you can’t deal with the uncertainty of leaving bookings this late. Those who book three months before their flight date can still save about $75 compared to booking six months ahead.

Book flights in July and avoid November

July has been named the cheapest month to book flights, offering travellers up to 20 per cent savings compared to booking in November. Booking during July is one of the best air travel tips for flyers keen to save a pretty penny.

Thursday is the cheapest day to book air travel

There are more ways to save when planning a well-deserved holiday. The cheapest day to book flights is on a Thursday, as travellers can save up to 7 per cent compared to booking on a Saturday, when airfares tend to be higher.

February, mid-March and late July are quiet times

Along with being the cheapest flying period, February is the quietest month to travel, while December is – again, unsurprisingly – the busiest month to fly.

If you can line up your travel to also fall in the off-season of the destination you’re visiting, you’ll benefit from even further savings on accommodation and activities while you’re there.

Travel on Tuesday, the quietest day to fly

For those who can’t stand crowded airports and drawn-out delays, this is one of Expedia’s best air travel tips: Travel on a Tuesday.

Why? It’s the quietest and least busy day of the week for flights. In comparison, Friday is the busiest – often due to passengers jetting off for a weekend trip.

Airfares have been dropping for Vanuatu. Photo: Aore Island Resort

Avoid the morning rush

The busiest time of day for air travel is the morning, with more than 56 per cent of domestic departures and 45 per cent of international departures at this time of day. Avoid the rush by travelling in the afternoon or evening.

Snap up airfare drops in Asia and the South Pacific

Some of the biggest year-on-year price drops for Australian travellers are on flight routes to Asia and the South Pacific. Here are the top saver routes identified early in 2026:

• Maroochydore to Auckland, New Zealand (-76 per cent)
• Newcastle to Bali, Indonesia (-44 per cent)
• Sydney to Port Vila, Vanuatu (-35 per cent)
• Darwin to Bali, Indonesia (-29 per cent)
• Cairns to Nadi, Fiji (-27 per cent)

Republished from Australian Traveller