air travel next week

Flight tickets: buy or wait ?

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Why AirHint?

Because we can help you to save money and find the best time to book flights! If you're using a low cost carrier for your flights, you should make sure you really buy a...low-cost flight ticket. AirHint tells you exactly when it's the best moment to buy your plane tickets.

When is the best time to book flights?

For each flight and airline price patterns are different. Generally the earlier you buy plane tickets, the higher probability there is to get the cheapest deal. However we found that is not always true, especially for low-cost airlines and also depends on when you fly. AirHint flight price predictor tracks and takes into account price fluctuations per airline, region and route to recommend you the best moment to book.

What is the best day to book flights?

• The best time to buy airline tickets
• The best day of week to buy Ryanair tickets
• When to buy cheap Southwest tickets
• When to buy cheap easyJet tickets

Flight price predictor

The airfare predictor also shows the price range and the confidence level regarding the best moment to buy your flight tickets. Moreover, we will tell you if it's best to wait or book your tickets now and if not what are the chances of price drop. AirHint tells you how to fly cheap and is all about great flight predictions and deals!

Why is our tool unique?

Because our airfare predictions were designed to check the price patterns of one airline at a time and this can only mean an increased accuracy prediction. While the other price comparison websites base their predictions on a general one-size-fits-all model, we customize our tool depending on the airline's flight price patterns. The number of flights may be a bit more limited, but this is a small price to pay for the high accuracy of predictions. We're all about cheap prices!

Learn more about our flight price tracker and predictor .

Why do airlines change prices so often?

This is a great question. Airlines change ticket prices frequently depending on several factors, such as the flight's popularity, the season, school holidays, special events and above all, the balance between supply and demand of seats. Budget airlines usually start with default higher price and adjust airfares depending on current demand. AirHint wants to be one step ahead of these changes! Our team is dedicated to find ticket price patterns and predict price changes for many airlines around the world.

Where can I see the cheapest deals for each route?

Our cheapest flight deals page is regularly updated with best deals for all the popular routes.

How can I book a flight?

We partner with flight booking affiliates (OTAs) to handle ticket bookings. For and other low-cost airlines, our partners enable booking the selected flight and also show various alternatives.

To trust or not to trust

We do our best to earn your trust and respect. We provide statistical recommendations and there is a margin of error. Airlines, especially budget ones change ticket prices often, and sometimes no one can predict the exact behavior. So it is not possible to guarantee 100% accuracy. However, objective and informed hints are definitely possible and this is exactly what we offer. AirHint is your best chance to track and find deals and get the best price for your flight.

Airlines supported

AirHint enables tracking and predictions for all major airlines. The accuracy depends on each airline and flight as we train the model specifically for each airline. For the following airlines, the dedicated predictors are available which enabled higher accuracy.

• Ryanair flights
• EasyJet flights
• Wizz Air flights
• Lufthansa flights
• Turkish Airlines flights
• British Airways flights
• Norwegian flights
• Vueling flights
• Jet2 flights
• Flybe flights
• Pegasus flights
• LOT Polish Airlines flights
• airBaltic flights
• TAP Air Portugal flights

North America

• American Airlines flights
• Delta Air Lines flights
• Southwest flights
• United Airlines flights
• Alaska Airlines flights
• jetBlue flights
• Spirit Airlines flights
• Frontier Airlines flights
• Air Canada flights
• WestJet flights
• IndiGo flights
• Emirates flights
• Singapore Airlines flights
• flydubai flights
• Qantas flights
• Air New Zealand flights

Business solutions

For travel businesses we provide B2B airfare prediction solutions to integrate our recommendations into other travel and flight search websites.

We would love to hear from you and help with any questions about airfare patterns and booking the cheapest flight tickets.

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Also feel free to contact us directly .

Notification

Compare flights from 100s of sites.

Save money on airfare by searching for cheap flight tickets on KAYAK. KAYAK searches for flight deals on hundreds of airline tickets sites to help you find the cheapest flights. Whether you are looking for a last minute flight or a cheap plane ticket for a later date, you can find the best deals faster at KAYAK.

New York Flights

• Flight Miami - Newark (MIA - EWR) $51+
• Flight Chicago - New York (ORD - LGA) $53+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Newark (FLL - EWR) $63+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - New York (FLL - LGA) $76+
• Flight Miami - New York (MIA - LGA) $80+
• Flight Orlando - New York (MCO - LGA) $89+
• Flight Orlando - Newark (MCO - EWR) $90+
• Flight Dallas - New York (DFW - LGA) $93+
• Flight Chicago - New York (ORD - JFK) $127+
• Flight Dallas - Newark (DFW - EWR) $127+
• Flight Chicago - Newark (ORD - EWR) $130+
• Flight Los Angeles - New York (LAX - LGA) $155+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - New York (FLL - JFK) $166+
• Flight Miami - New York (MIA - JFK) $167+
• Flight Los Angeles - Newark (LAX - EWR) $171+
• Flight Dallas - New York (DFW - JFK) $179+
• Flight San Francisco - New York (SFO - LGA) $202+
• Flight Seattle - New York (SEA - JFK) $237+
• Flight Seattle - Newark (SEA - EWR) $237+
• Flight San Francisco - Newark (SFO - EWR) $254+
• Flight Burbank - Newark (BUR - EWR) $258+
• Flight San Francisco - New York (SFO - JFK) $267+
• Flight Ontario - New York (ONT - JFK) $276+
• Flight Los Angeles - New York (LAX - JFK) $295+

Orlando Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Orlando (ATL - MCO) $35+
• Flight Philadelphia - Orlando (PHL - MCO) $53+
• Flight Minneapolis - Orlando (MSP - MCO) $60+
• Flight Chicago - Orlando (ORD - MCO) $61+
• Flight Cleveland - Orlando (CLE - MCO) $62+
• Flight Detroit - Orlando (DTW - MCO) $64+
• Flight Baltimore - Orlando (BWI - MCO) $68+

London Flights

• Flight New York - London (JFK - LGW) $371+
• Flight New Windsor - London (SWF - STN) $374+
• Flight Boston - London (BOS - LGW) $438+
• Flight New York - London (JFK - LHR) $450+
• Flight Boston - London (BOS - LHR) $456+
• Flight Washington, D.C. - London (IAD - LHR) $460+
• Flight Washington, D.C. - London (IAD - LGW) $464+
• Flight New York - London (LGA - LHR) $479+
• Flight Newark - London (EWR - LHR) $486+

Fort Lauderdale Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Fort Lauderdale (ATL - FLL) $35+
• Flight Philadelphia - Fort Lauderdale (PHL - FLL) $47+
• Flight Raleigh - Fort Lauderdale (RDU - FLL) $47+
• Flight Baltimore - Fort Lauderdale (BWI - FLL) $61+
• Flight Detroit - Fort Lauderdale (DTW - FLL) $61+
• Flight Cleveland - Fort Lauderdale (CLE - FLL) $65+
• Flight Chicago - Fort Lauderdale (ORD - FLL) $67+

Boston Flights

• Flight Baltimore - Boston (BWI - BOS) $61+
• Flight Chicago - Boston (ORD - BOS) $74+
• Flight Charlotte - Boston (CLT - BOS) $76+
• Flight Newark - Boston (EWR - BOS) $76+
• Flight Philadelphia - Boston (PHL - BOS) $76+
• Flight Orlando - Boston (MCO - BOS) $85+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Boston (FLL - BOS) $92+

India Flights

• Flight Chicago - Hyderabad (ORD - HYD) $472+
• Flight New York - New Delhi (JFK - DEL) $506+
• Flight New York - Ahmedabad (JFK - AMD) $517+
• Flight New York - Mumbai (JFK - BOM) $532+
• Flight New York - Chennai (JFK - MAA) $585+
• Flight New York - Hyderabad (JFK - HYD) $601+
• Flight Washington, D.C. - Hyderabad (IAD - HYD) $623+

Japan Flights

• Flight Los Angeles - Tokyo (LAX - NRT) $636+
• Flight San Francisco - Tokyo (SFO - NRT) $641+
• Flight Los Angeles - Tokyo (LAX - HND) $740+
• Flight Seattle - Tokyo (SEA - NRT) $755+
• Flight San Francisco - Tokyo (SFO - HND) $756+
• Flight Seattle - Tokyo (SEA - HND) $756+
• Flight Dallas - Tokyo (DFW - NRT) $823+

Phoenix Flights

• Flight Dallas - Phoenix (DFW - PHX) $47+
• Flight Ontario - Phoenix (ONT - PHX) $51+
• Flight Los Angeles - Phoenix (LAX - PHX) $55+
• Flight San Diego - Phoenix (SAN - PHX) $64+
• Flight San Francisco - Phoenix (SFO - PHX) $66+
• Flight Portland - Phoenix (PDX - PHX) $81+
• Flight Minneapolis - Phoenix (MSP - PHX) $87+

Honolulu Flights

• Flight Los Angeles - Honolulu (LAX - HNL) $247+
• Flight San Francisco - Honolulu (SFO - HNL) $259+
• Flight Oakland - Honolulu (OAK - HNL) $277+
• Flight San Jose - Honolulu (SJC - HNL) $277+
• Flight Ontario - Honolulu (ONT - HNL) $281+
• Flight San Diego - Honolulu (SAN - HNL) $331+
• Flight Seattle - Honolulu (SEA - HNL) $335+

Los Angeles Flights

• Flight Oakland - Los Angeles (OAK - LAX) $55+
• Flight San Francisco - Los Angeles (SFO - LAX) $63+
• Flight Denver - Los Angeles (DEN - LAX) $65+
• Flight Dallas - Los Angeles (DFW - LAX) $75+
• Flight Houston - Los Angeles (HOU - LAX) $95+
• Flight Houston - Los Angeles (IAH - LAX) $95+
• Flight Portland - Los Angeles (PDX - LAX) $97+
• Flight Chicago - Los Angeles (ORD - LAX) $105+
• Flight Seattle - Los Angeles (SEA - LAX) $107+

Chicago Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Chicago (ATL - ORD) $45+
• Flight Orlando - Chicago (MCO - ORD) $54+
• Flight Atlanta - Chicago (ATL - MDW) $57+
• Flight New York - Chicago (LGA - ORD) $59+
• Flight Dallas - Chicago (DFW - ORD) $64+
• Flight Denver - Chicago (DEN - ORD) $68+
• Flight Philadelphia - Chicago (PHL - ORD) $70+

Denver Flights

• Flight Minneapolis - Denver (MSP - DEN) $38+
• Flight Chicago - Denver (ORD - DEN) $73+
• Flight Santa Ana - Denver (SNA - DEN) $74+
• Flight Ontario - Denver (ONT - DEN) $75+
• Flight Austin - Denver (AUS - DEN) $77+
• Flight Dallas - Denver (DFW - DEN) $78+
• Flight Atlanta - Denver (ATL - DEN) $79+

Washington, D.C. Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Baltimore (ATL - BWI) $50+
• Flight Boston - Baltimore (BOS - BWI) $61+
• Flight Dallas - Baltimore (DFW - BWI) $77+
• Flight Orlando - Baltimore (MCO - BWI) $78+
• Flight Houston - Baltimore (HOU - BWI) $85+
• Flight Houston - Baltimore (IAH - BWI) $85+
• Flight Chicago - Baltimore (ORD - BWI) $88+
• Flight Los Angeles - Baltimore (LAX - BWI) $90+
• Flight Boston - Washington, D.C. (BOS - DCA) $123+
• Flight Boston - Washington, D.C. (BOS - IAD) $129+
• Flight Dallas - Washington, D.C. (DFW - DCA) $147+
• Flight Minneapolis - Washington, D.C. (MSP - DCA) $150+
• Flight San Francisco - Washington, D.C. (SFO - DCA) $155+
• Flight San Francisco - Baltimore (SFO - BWI) $159+
• Flight Chicago - Washington, D.C. (ORD - DCA) $178+
• Flight Chicago - Washington, D.C. (ORD - IAD) $178+
• Flight Seattle - Washington, D.C. (SEA - DCA) $181+
• Flight Atlanta - Washington, D.C. (ATL - DCA) $189+
• Flight Atlanta - Washington, D.C. (ATL - IAD) $189+
• Flight Dallas - Washington, D.C. (DFW - IAD) $208+
• Flight Los Angeles - Washington, D.C. (LAX - IAD) $216+
• Flight Los Angeles - Washington, D.C. (LAX - DCA) $223+
• Flight Seattle - Washington, D.C. (SEA - IAD) $283+
• Flight San Francisco - Washington, D.C. (SFO - IAD) $309+

Atlanta Flights

• Flight Houston - Atlanta (HOU - ATL) $35+
• Flight Houston - Atlanta (IAH - ATL) $35+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Atlanta (FLL - ATL) $39+
• Flight Chicago - Atlanta (MDW - ATL) $42+
• Flight Chicago - Atlanta (ORD - ATL) $43+
• Flight Orlando - Atlanta (MCO - ATL) $43+
• Flight Philadelphia - Atlanta (PHL - ATL) $45+

United States Flights

• Flight Newark - Miami (EWR - MIA) $50+
• Flight Newark - Fort Lauderdale (EWR - FLL) $69+
• Flight New York - Fort Lauderdale (LGA - FLL) $75+
• Flight New York - Miami (LGA - MIA) $75+
• Flight Seattle - Las Vegas (SEA - LAS) $81+
• Flight New York - Dallas (LGA - DFW) $83+
• Flight Newark - Orlando (EWR - MCO) $91+

Hawaii Flights

• Flight Los Angeles - Hawaii (LAX - USHI) $213+
• Flight San Francisco - Hawaii (SFO - USHI) $257+
• Flight San Jose - Hawaii (SJC - USHI) $260+
• Flight Ontario - Hawaii (ONT - USHI) $303+
• Flight San Diego - Hawaii (SAN - USHI) $317+
• Flight Seattle - Hawaii (SEA - USHI) $337+
• Flight Las Vegas - Hawaii (LAS - USHI) $398+

Tampa Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Tampa (ATL - TPA) $38+
• Flight Raleigh - Tampa (RDU - TPA) $45+
• Flight Philadelphia - Tampa (PHL - TPA) $60+
• Flight Dallas - Tampa (DFW - TPA) $71+
• Flight Detroit - Tampa (DTW - TPA) $73+
• Flight Baltimore - Tampa (BWI - TPA) $75+
• Flight Chicago - Tampa (MDW - TPA) $76+

Houston Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Houston (ATL - IAH) $43+
• Flight Philadelphia - Houston (PHL - IAH) $68+
• Flight Los Angeles - Houston (LAX - IAH) $69+
• Flight Miami - Houston (MIA - IAH) $69+
• Flight Orlando - Houston (MCO - IAH) $78+
• Flight Baltimore - Houston (BWI - IAH) $80+
• Flight Chicago - Houston (ORD - IAH) $80+

Las Vegas Flights

• Flight Los Angeles - Las Vegas (LAX - LAS) $25+
• Flight Burbank - Las Vegas (BUR - LAS) $39+
• Flight Oakland - Las Vegas (OAK - LAS) $52+
• Flight Dallas - Las Vegas (DFW - LAS) $53+
• Flight Santa Ana - Las Vegas (SNA - LAS) $59+
• Flight Denver - Las Vegas (DEN - LAS) $65+
• Flight San Francisco - Las Vegas (SFO - LAS) $74+
• Flight Portland - Las Vegas (PDX - LAS) $78+
• Flight Houston - Las Vegas (HOU - LAS) $82+
• Flight Houston - Las Vegas (IAH - LAS) $82+
• Flight Baltimore - Las Vegas (BWI - LAS) $85+
• Flight Minneapolis - Las Vegas (MSP - LAS) $86+
• Flight Atlanta - Las Vegas (ATL - LAS) $92+

Miami Flights

• Flight Philadelphia - Miami (PHL - MIA) $47+
• Flight Atlanta - Miami (ATL - MIA) $48+
• Flight Newark - Miami (EWR - MIA) $55+
• Flight Baltimore - Miami (BWI - MIA) $63+
• Flight Chicago - Miami (ORD - MIA) $67+
• Flight Raleigh - Miami (RDU - MIA) $67+
• Flight Charlotte - Miami (CLT - MIA) $74+
• Flight Dallas - Miami (DFW - MIA) $75+
• Flight Houston - Miami (HOU - MIA) $75+
• Flight Houston - Miami (IAH - MIA) $75+
• Flight New York - Miami (LGA - MIA) $80+
• Flight Detroit - Miami (DTW - MIA) $90+
• Flight Cleveland - Miami (CLE - MIA) $108+
• Flight Boston - Miami (BOS - MIA) $110+
• Flight Denver - Miami (DEN - MIA) $117+
• Flight Minneapolis - Miami (MSP - MIA) $118+
• Flight Los Angeles - Miami (LAX - MIA) $153+
• Flight Washington, D.C. - Miami (DCA - MIA) $159+
• Flight New York - Miami (JFK - MIA) $167+
• Flight Washington, D.C. - Miami (IAD - MIA) $168+
• Flight Ontario - Miami (ONT - MIA) $176+
• Flight San Francisco - Miami (SFO - MIA) $198+

San Francisco Flights

• Flight Ontario - San Francisco (ONT - SFO) $48+
• Flight San Diego - San Francisco (SAN - SFO) $60+
• Flight Los Angeles - San Francisco (LAX - SFO) $65+
• Flight Phoenix - San Francisco (PHX - SFO) $76+
• Flight Denver - San Francisco (DEN - SFO) $80+
• Flight Portland - San Francisco (PDX - SFO) $83+
• Flight Chicago - San Francisco (MDW - SFO) $103+
• Flight Dallas - San Francisco (DFW - SFO) $119+
• Flight Santa Ana - San Francisco (SNA - SFO) $124+
• Flight Seattle - San Francisco (SEA - SFO) $139+
• Flight Minneapolis - San Francisco (MSP - SFO) $144+
• Flight Baltimore - San Francisco (BWI - SFO) $163+
• Flight Chicago - San Francisco (ORD - SFO) $164+
• Flight Philadelphia - San Francisco (PHL - SFO) $173+

Seattle Flights

• Flight Ontario - Seattle (ONT - SEA) $43+
• Flight Denver - Seattle (DEN - SEA) $78+
• Flight Phoenix - Seattle (PHX - SEA) $100+
• Flight San Diego - Seattle (SAN - SEA) $104+
• Flight Santa Ana - Seattle (SNA - SEA) $114+
• Flight San Francisco - Seattle (SFO - SEA) $119+
• Flight Los Angeles - Seattle (LAX - SEA) $122+

Paris Flights

• Flight New Windsor - Paris (SWF - CDG) $287+
• Flight Washington, D.C. - Paris (IAD - CDG) $294+
• Flight Boston - Paris (BOS - CDG) $296+
• Flight Baltimore - Paris (BWI - CDG) $309+
• Flight Los Angeles - Paris (LAX - ORY) $317+
• Flight Los Angeles - Paris (LAX - CDG) $389+
• Flight Newark - Paris (EWR - ORY) $403+

Europe Flights

• Flight Newark - Barcelona (EWR - BCN) $349+
• Flight New York - Paris (JFK - CDG) $390+
• Flight New York - Madrid (JFK - MAD) $391+
• Flight New York - Paris (JFK - ORY) $419+
• Flight New York - Athens (JFK - ATH) $429+
• Flight Newark - Rome (EWR - FCO) $429+

Florida Flights

• Flight Baltimore - Florida (BWI - USFL) $43+
• Flight Philadelphia - Florida (PHL - USFL) $47+
• Flight Newark - Florida (EWR - USFL) $50+
• Flight Chicago - Florida (ORD - USFL) $59+
• Flight Dallas - Florida (DFW - USFL) $73+
• Flight New York - Florida (LGA - USFL) $75+
• Flight Boston - Florida (BOS - USFL) $82+

Dallas Flights

• Flight Atlanta - Dallas (ATL - DFW) $57+
• Flight Minneapolis - Dallas (MSP - DFW) $57+
• Flight Chicago - Dallas (ORD - DFW) $66+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Dallas (FLL - DFW) $70+
• Flight Detroit - Dallas (DTW - DFW) $71+
• Flight Los Angeles - Dallas (LAX - DFW) $75+
• Flight Tampa - Dallas (TPA - DFW) $83+

San Diego Flights

• Flight Denver - San Diego (DEN - SAN) $43+
• Flight Phoenix - San Diego (PHX - SAN) $57+
• Flight San Jose - San Diego (SJC - SAN) $57+
• Flight San Francisco - San Diego (SFO - SAN) $63+
• Flight Oakland - San Diego (OAK - SAN) $67+
• Flight Sacramento - San Diego (SMF - SAN) $68+
• Flight Salt Lake City - San Diego (SLC - SAN) $72+

Frequently asked questions

What do i need to know before booking a flight.

There are various factors to consider when booking a flight including cost, fare classes, baggage policies, the complications of flying long haul, and complying with airport regulations. To make your booking journey smoother KAYAK has developed a comprehensive flight guide including insights on finding affordable flights, packing efficiently, and utilizing the best travel tools.

Which month of the year are flight prices lowest?

It’s well established that flights in the low season are generally cheaper than ticket prices during the high season. That means that knowing which month to find the lowest priced plane tickets will depend heavily on seasonality and your destination. While avoiding peak travel times can help you keep costs down, our data shows that the month with the lowest priced plane tickets for domestic flights based on all searches made on KAYAK in the last 12 months was January, while the most expensive was March. If you’re booking an international flight, then January is the cheapest month to fly and June the most expensive.

Can flying international flights with a layover save money on airfare?

For many long-haul international flights, flying non-stop is not possible and you will have to fly with a layover. Some routes will offer both and you could consider flying with a layover for a number of reasons. Firstly, breaking up what would otherwise be a long-haul flight, taking a rest and then completing the journey might make the flight more manageable. Secondly, prices can also be lower than non-stop flights, so while it might take longer for you to reach your destination, you could save money. We’ve looked at prices over the last 12 months for the 100 most popular international destinations for KAYAK users and on average, prices for non-stop flights were cheaper than flights with a layover.

How do I find the best flight deals on KAYAK?

A simple flight search at https://www.kayak.com/flights scans for prices on hundreds of travel sites in seconds. We gather flight deals from across the web and put them in one place. Then on the search results page you can use various filters to compare options for the same flight and easily choose the best flight deal from all of the deals coming straight from the travel sites to your screen, with no extra fee from KAYAK.

Does KAYAK query more flight providers than competitors?

Yes, KAYAK has access to more data and information than online travel agencies and consistently outperforms the competition in accuracy, globally.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you flights up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. That way, you can see if leaving a day or two earlier will find you a better deal. You can also select the flexible "weekend" or "month" search options to widen your search range and find the cheapest price that works for you.

What is the cheapest day of the week to book a flight?

The best day to book your flight depends on a number of factors, but there are general trends that you can follow to increase your chances of cheaper plane tickets. Based on an analysis of KAYAK data for all flights departing from inside United States over the last 12 months, the cheapest day to fly for domestic flights is Wednesday. For international flights, Tuesday had the cheapest tickets on average.

When is the best time to buy plane tickets - Last minute or in advance?

Last minute flight deals are definitely up for grabs but when exactly to purchase your plane tickets will depend on where you’re traveling to and from. Based on all data for flight searches made on KAYAK over the last 12 months, prices for domestic flights remained below the average price up to 1 weeks before departure. For international flights, deals could still be had up to 1 weeks prior to the departure date, with prices remaining below average. If you’re flexible, KAYAK brings you both advance and last minute one-way and round-trip flight deals.

How does KAYAK find such low flight prices?

KAYAK processes over 2 billion flight queries annually and displays results from hundreds of airlines and third party sites, allowing it to find a variety of flight prices and options. It also displays results from 2M+ properties along with rental cars, vacation packages, activities and millions of verified reviews so users can see as many available travel options as possible.

How can Hacker Fares save me money?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets on different airlines when it can save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Search cheap flights with KAYAK. Search for the cheapest airline tickets for all the top airlines around the world and the top international flight routes . KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find cheap airfare and book a flight that suits you best. Since KAYAK searches many plane ticket sites at once, you can find cheap tickets from cheap airlines and for trains and buses quickly.

KAYAK also helps you find the right hotels for your needs.

Giving you a clear mind, even if it's not clear skies.

Created by pilots, for passengers.

FEAR OF FLYING? LEARN MORE

WELCOME TO MYFLIGHT FORECAST™

MyFlight Forecast™ gives you, the passenger, and access to Flying Weather Forecast data that pilots will review prior to every flight. While a pilot will review much more data, data that they've spent years learning to interpret, this site breaks down the most relevant data for the passenger to determine flight conditions, potential flight and airport delays, and most importantly, flight turbulence forecast.

Reference Weather Radar to determine the location of precipitation (Snow, Rain) and where it is located relative to your flight path. Pilot Tip - Just because you see areas of precipitation, does not mean that you will necesarily be flying through it! You might be miles above it!

Reference the Satellite page to locate clouds, or areas of decreased visibility. While clouds can generally increase the likelihood of turbulence while flying through them, keep in mind, clouds are just moisture, or water. Water is generally not that scary. Not all clouds that appear on the satellite imagery can guarantee areas of turbulence, it greatly depends on the stability of the atmosphere.

Get your Flying Weather Forecast before and during your flight - receive real time turbulence reports and discover where turbulence has been reported by aircraft currently in-flight

Type in the three letter identifier (ex. JFK, LAX, ORD) of the airports that you are travelling to and from, and get real time information on any potential airport delays due to; Wind, Visibility, Weather or delays due to volume.

Check Airport Status and Flight Delays

Airlines required to refund passengers for canceled, delayed flights

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the new rules Wednesday.

Good news for airline travelers: the Department of Transportation on Wednesday announced it is rolling out new rules that will require airlines to automatically give cash refunds to passengers for canceled and significantly delayed flights.

"This is a big day for America's flying public," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at a Wednesday morning news conference. Buttigieg said the new rules -- which require prompt refunds -- are the biggest expansion of passenger rights in the department's history.

Airlines can no longer decide how long a delay must be before a refund is issued. Under the new DOT rules, the delays covered would be more than three hours for domestic flights and more than six hours for international flights, the agency said.

MORE: Amid Boeing safety probe, clock ticks on effort to disclose details of 2021 DOJ deal over 737 Max crashes

This includes tickets purchased directly from airlines, travel agents and third-party sites such as Expedia and Travelocity.

The DOT rules lay out that passengers will be "entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered."

DOT will also require airlines to give cash refunds if your bags are lost and not delivered within 12 hours.

The refunds must be issued within seven days, according to the new DOT rules, and must be in cash unless the passenger chooses another form of compensation. Airlines can no longer issue refunds in forms of vouchers or credits when consumers are entitled to receive cash.

Airlines will have six months to comply with the new rules.

"Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them -- without headaches or haggling," Buttigieg said in a statement.

The DOT said it is also working on rules related to family seating fees, enhancing rights for wheelchair-traveling passengers for safe and dignified travel and mandating compensation and amenities if flights are delayed or canceled by airlines.

Buttigieg said the DOT is also protecting airline passengers from being surprised by hidden fees -- a move he estimates will have Americans billions of dollars every year.

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The DOT rules include that passengers will receive refunds for extra services paid for and not provided, such as Wi-Fi, seat selection or inflight entertainment.

The rules come after the agency handed Southwest Airlines a record $140 million fine for its operational meltdown during the 2022 holiday travel season.

MORE: New whistleblower claims put Boeing's quality control under more scrutiny

Buttigieg said Southwest's fine sets a "new standard" for airlines and passenger rights.

"To be clear, we want the airline sector to thrive. It is why we put so much into helping them survive the pandemic and honestly it's why we're being so rigorous on passenger protection," he said.

Buttigieg reiterated that refund requirements are already the standard for airlines, but the new DOT rules hold the airlines to account and makes sure passengers get the "refunds that are owed to them."

"Airlines are not enthusiastic about us holding them to a higher standard," Buttigieg said, adding that he "knows they will be able to adapt to this."

Airlines for America, the trade association for the country's leading passenger and cargo airlines, told ABC News in a statement that its members "offer a range of options -- including fully refundable fares." Is said consumers are "given the choice of refundable ticket options with terms and conditions that best fit their needs at first search results."

The group said the 11 largest U.S. airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds from 2020 through 2023 nearly $11 billion in refunds just last year.

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Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C April 22, 2024)

The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.

U.S. ULCC Frontier Airlines will open service between Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Barbados from July 3. The route will be operated 3X-weekly with an Airbus A320-family aircraft. Barbados becomes a new destination for Frontier. The airline will also launch service between SJU and Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic from June 14, operating the route 3X-weekly. The airline will additionally commence 3X-weekly service between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Miami from July 5.

China Southern Airlines has launched flights between Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH). The route will be operated 4X-weekly with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Qatar Airways already operates the DOH-CAN route, and China Southern codeshares on those flights. The Chinese carrier is a new entrant at DOH; China’s Xiamen Airlines also serves the airport. Qatar Airways operates flights from DOH to seven Chinese cities.

British Airways (BA) has doubled frequencies on its London Heathrow Airport (LHR)-San Diego International Airport (SAN) route, operating the service 2X-weekly instead of 1X-weekly. The increase is seasonal and will be in place until Oct. 25, when service is expected to drop back to 1X-weekly for the northern hemisphere winter season. “While London is the final destination for roughly 60% of the passengers flying this route, 40% connect to other cities, including Edinburgh, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Cairo, Rome and Mumbai,” SAN says in a statement. “Adding this second daily flight … is expected to help SAN attract some of the local San Diego-area passengers who choose to fly to London from other nearby airports.” The airport says BA will use both a Boeing 777 and 787 on the LHR-SAN route.

Shanghai Airlines will start service to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) in June, operating a Shanghai Pudong-Xi’an-Budapest routing. The route will commence June 22 and be operated 1X-weekly, according to BUD. “We are confident the reconnection to Xi’an will again be well received by both business and leisure travelers,” BUD CCO Balázs Bogáts says.

Philippine Airlines will resume service on a domestic route between Clark International Airport in Pampanga and Basco Airport in Batanes. Flights will operate 4X-weekly from July 2.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) says it is now enforcing access restrictions to the airport that had previously been in place only for overnight hours. According to the airport, access “will be restricted 24/7 to ticketed passengers, [airport and airline] personnel, individuals meeting or greeting passengers, those performing facility maintenance, and others who have legitimate business to conduct at the airport.” The new rules come after the Atlanta City Council passed legislation in February extending the access restriction requirements at ATL from 11:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to 24/7. The restrictions cover the domestic and international terminals, ATL SkyTrain, the rental car center and parking areas. “The rationale for the legislation is, first and foremost, safety,” ATL says in a statement. “This legislation [passed by the council] enhances ATL’s ongoing work to maintain a secure and safe environment for passengers, workers and vendors at Hartsfield-Jackson. Violators are subject to arrest and prosecution.”

IndiGo unveiled two nonstop routes—one domestic and one international—to be opened in May from Chennai International Airport (MAA), India. The domestic route will be between MAA and Durgapur and operate 4X-weekly. The international route, which is a service resumption, will be between MAA and Bangkok, also to be flown 4X-weekly. The airline notes it will fly 28 weekly flights from Durgapur when the new route to MAA starts, including to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Spirit Airlines will start summer seasonal service between Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) from June 5. The route will be flown daily with an Airbus A320 aircraft. According to PIT, the ULCC last operated the PIT-IAH route in 2017. Southwest Airlines currently operates daily flights between PIT and Houston Hobby Airport. Spirit will directly compete against United Airlines, which operates the PIT-IAH route 3X-daily.

Fiji Airways and Canada’s Porter Airlines have signed an interline agreement. The accord will enable Fiji Airways passengers to book one ticket for travel to Los Angeles and San Francisco through Vancouver via Porter’s transborder Airbus A220 flights to the two California cities, according to Fiji Airways.

Aaron Karp is a Contributing Editor to the Aviation Week Network.

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Air travel meltdown likely to continue for weeks, analysts say

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KGO) -- Travel anywhere around the country these days, and there's a good chance your flight might be canceled.

"Another couple thousand cancellations. Hundreds of delays again today. And it's just been pretty much continuous," said Clint Henderson, who works for The Points Guy.

For nearly two weeks, the airline industry has been going into a meltdown. Resulting in thousands of flight cancellations and delays.

RELATED: What to do if your flight is canceled as omicron-related crew shortages leave thousands stranded

"They have not seen anything like this before, where it's just continuous and it's across the board, every airline," Henderson said.

Analysts say the cause of the problem is twofold. With the first being severe winter weather in various parts of the country, and the other being the rapid spread of the Omicron variant- which has led to hundreds of sick daily sick calls from everyone from flight crews to air traffic controllers.

"What they're trying to do is cancel the flights that have either the fewest people on them to reduce inconvenience or on routes that have the largest number of flights scheduled," said travel industry analyst, Henry Harteveldt.

RELATED: US should consider COVID vaccine mandate for domestic air travel, Fauci says

The issues were on the minds of several travelers at San Francisco International Airport Sunday night.

"We're still a bit worried, a bit on edge, but we're hoping that things are going to be alright," said traveler, Milo Golding.

But experts say the delays aren't likely to let up anytime soon, and they warn passengers to plan accordingly.

"We need to expect that these problems will exist at least through the next couple of weeks, possibly through January," Harteveldt said.

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'Flying feels different': Here's how air travel has changed recently

If you haven't flown in a while, fasten your seat belts. I've got good news – and bad news.

You've probably already heard the bad news because it travels faster than the speed of sound. Airfares are up. So are luggage fees. And we seem to have a problem with in-flight violence again. 

But there's more to the story, and if you're an occasional air traveler, you'll want to get the big picture. You might be surprised by what you find.

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

First, the bad news about air travel in 2024

Some of the changes have not been for the better. For example:

• Airfares are climbing. Cheap pandemic airfares are history. Average domestic round-trip fares fell to a low of $186 in May 2020 . But they were back up to $261 by the beginning of this year – and they continue to climb.
• Checked-baggage fees are soaring. All of the major airlines have recently raised their baggage fees. On domestic flights, a checked bag may cost as much as $35 (more if you wait until the last minute or your bag is overweight). 
• Air rage is back. In-flight air rage hit record highs in 2021, mostly because of masking requirements. But the number of violent in-flight incidents remains high – this time, a combination of fuller flights and a continuing decline of civility. We're on track to exceed 2020's unruly-passenger incidents.

But don't despair. The air travel experience is changing in small ways – and, potentially, in big ways.

What's it like to fly now?

Let's start with the air travel experience itself. Flights are fuller and space is tighter than ever. In fact, if you're flying somewhere this spring or summer, you should congratulate yourself. You're probably part of the busiest year in the history of air travel.

"Air travel has rebounded," said Jason Block, CEO of WorldVia Travel Group . That puts a squeeze on regular passengers. If you've booked a no-frills economy ticket, you may face a higher risk of being bumped from your flight. So if you have a little extra money, Block suggests buying a more flexible ticket. You're still not bump-proof, but at least you'll move up the list.

▶ Smile for the TSA . The passenger screening experience is different but not necessarily better. The Transportation Security Administration has new scanners that take your picture to verify your identity. New technology might allow you to keep all your belongings in your bag and speed up screening – "might" being the operative word. 

"The process is more inconsistent than ever," said Andy Abramson, a frequent traveler and a communications consultant from Las Vegas. "Procedures change from airport to airport. In some cases, all you need is your boarding pass. In others, you need your ID, and in others, nothing but your facial scan."

Air travel smells worse than ever. Here's how to fix it.

Pay less to fly: New strategies for finding cheap airfares now

Speaking of technology, many air travelers have raved about new onboard Wi-Fi capabilities. Airlines like Air New Zealand, Emirates and JetBlue include the price of Wi-Fi in their tickets, and the connections have just gotten better since the pandemic. 

▶ Your face is your boarding pass . The TSA isn't the only one using facial scans. Some U.S. airlines have started using facial scans instead of boarding passes. It's a bit of an adjustment for passengers. 

"I stood awkwardly in front of a camera, feeling like a contestant in a dystopian game show," said Chris McGuire, a real estate broker from Birmingham, Ala.

A few months ago, Frankfurt became the first airport in Europe to fully adopt facial recognition . Other airports, including Tokyo and Dubai, also have face-scanning technology. If you haven't flown in a while, you may not have to fumble for your boarding pass before you get on the plane. 

I've used face-scanning technology on many occasions, and it usually works, but it can be slow. Getting through customs in Santiago, Chile, took a while, and the agent kept apologizing for the technology. So don't forget to pack your patience.

▶ No more ticket change fees . Airline ticket change fees disappeared during the pandemic on U.S. airlines. So if you have to change your flight, you won't have to pay a $250 fee on top of any fare difference.

"That's one of the most significant changes," said frequent air traveler Bob Bacheler, managing director of Flying Angels , a medical transport service. "Airlines introduced more flexible booking and cancellation policies, allowing passengers to change or cancel flights without heavy penalties."

Bacheler believes the fees will return eventually, and he's right. If they do, airlines will call them something else – maybe a "convenience" fee?

▶ You may board your flight differently . "Some airlines are implementing new boarding procedures," said Andy Palacios, vice president of growth and strategic partnerships for App in the Air . The most significant is United Airlines, which last fall began boarding economy passengers with window seats before those with middle and aisle seats.

Palacios recommends avoiding the general boarding mayhem by getting a credit card or earning elite status. Anything that gets you into the first boarding group can save you from having to gate-check your carry-on or just getting stuck in a crowd.

▶ You have new rights, too . If something goes wrong on your flight, you may find that your airline will do more for you. That's because the Department of Transportation, which regulates airlines, has been applying steady pressure on domestic airlines to improve customer service. (After all, taxpayers bailed out the airlines during the pandemic.)

Airlines now offer guaranteed meals, accommodations and ground transportation to and from a hotel when they're at fault for a cancellation. (You can find out about all your rights on the Transportation Department's Fly Rights website.)

The federal government is working on carving out more rights for air travelers, dealing with everything from more straightforward and honest pricing to minimum seat size. But it's a work in progress.

Air travel may be about to get better. Here's what it means for your next flight.

Passengers want to get off the plane first. Here's how you can do it.

Flying 'feels different' now

Passengers say it feels as if something has shifted in air travel.

"Flying feels different," said Robert Khachatryan, a frequent flyer and founder of a freight forwarding service in La Crescenta, Calif. 

He's correct. It's not just that customers have a few new rights or that the technology is getting an upgrade – or even that boarding is a little different. 

There's a sense that something big lies just ahead. With people like Elon Musk teasing a Tesla that can fly and personal flying vehicles making headlines almost every day, there's a feeling that flying is about to evolve in a significant way.

Air travelers have become disenchanted with commercial air travel, with its high fares, fees, long lines and terrible customer service. And the relief may not come from new rules to protect the rights of air travelers but from a fundamental change in the way we fly. 

So if flying feels different to you now, just wait. You ain't seen nothing yet.

This is the first of a two-part series on the future of air travel. Next week: Flying cars. Yeah, we're going to go there.

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

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Best & Worst Days of the Week to Fly in 2024

While there is no single best day to book flights , there are cheaper days and times to fly. That includes days of the week, certain times of day, months of the year, and holidays. In certain cases, flying a day later or earlier can save you hundreds of dollars!

This article will detail the best and worst days of the week to fly. It will also go over how to find cheap flight deals as well as the best places to book.

Table of Contents

What Are the Cheapest & Most Expensive Days of the Week to Fly?

The best days to fly.

Typically, these are the best days of the week to fly.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best weekdays to fly. Thursday is a bit more expensive but still reasonable. Saturday is usually the cheapest weekend day to fly. That does not mean you cannot find great flight prices on the other days of the week. It just means your odds of finding cheap airfare on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are higher than the rest of the week.

The reason those are the best days to fly is demand, and business travel is a big factor. Most business travel takes place on Monday and Friday. That frees up a lot of seats for travel during the middle of the week.

Those going on vacation tend to fly out on Thursday or Friday and return on a Sunday. Additionally, Sunday to Sunday trips are popular since they allow you to return on a weekend day before returning to school or work. Many travelers will also fly out on Friday and return Sunday of the following week to take advantage of two weekends.

The Worst Days to Fly

Typically, these are the worst days to fly.

The worst days to fly are Sundays, Mondays, and Friday s. Those days generally have the most demand causing flight prices to be more expensive.

What Are the Cheapest & Most Expensive Days of the Week to Fly Internationally?

Predicting international ticket prices is a little more difficult than domestic fares. The middle of the week is still usually the best time to fly international routes, but the odds of finding a cheap Sunday, Monday, or Friday fare are higher. View our guidelines as more of a rule for domestic flights than international flights.

You May Not Have a Choice on the Flight Day

Screenshot: Google Flights – shows airfare tickets from New York to Montana. flights from LGA to FCA are only available once weekly.

Your airport and airline of choice may have limited routes to your destination. In some cases, there will only be one or two flights per week from your departure airport to your destination airport. If that happens, you either have to accept the days and ticket price or consider a different airline or airport.

I recently flew direct from LaGuardia Airport to Glacier Park International Airport. While it was great having a direct flight from the Northeast, the single route was only available on Saturdays. Instead of opting for a different airport with connecting flights and more days, I paid a little more and locked myself into the Saturday to Saturday flight. While Saturdays are usually a cheap day to fly, it was fairly expensive because it was the only day available.

What Are the Best & Worst Times of Day to Fly?

Certain times of the day are much cheaper than others to fly. Like with the best and worst days, demand controls flight pricing for the top times. Here are the times you want to book and the times you should avoid. You can also see our comprehensive guide on the best & worst times of day to fly .

Best Time of Day to Fly

The most expensive times of day to fly are the times that everyone wants to fly. That means the middle of the morning and late afternoon. No one wants to wake up at 3 am to catch a 6 am or 7 am flight. Everyone is searching for flights from 9 am to 11 am where you have time to sleep in a little. Unfortunately, You are better off flying during an undesirable time If you want a great deal on a flight.

The best times of day to fly are very early in the morning and very late at night such as a redeye flight. Since those times have many drawbacks, they are usually cheaper. If you are willing to give up a little sleep, you should consider booking those times if they are available.

Worst Time of Day to Fly

Everyone wants to get enough sleep before flying and no one wants to get home in the middle of the night. As previously detailed, mid-morning and late afternoons are usually the busiest times to fly. Since demand controls flight prices, the busiest times are also the most expensive times. If possible, opt for a very early morning flight or a redeye flight to get a better deal.

You May Not Have a Choice on the Flight Time

Depending on your departure and destination city, you may not even get to choose a flight time. Some airlines only fly to specific destinations once per day. Others may only fly the route once per week. In cases like that, you are at the mercy of the airline, and the time is already set for you.

In a situation like that, you should focus on finding the cheapest days to fly if the route is flown more than once per week. If a different day of the week is not cheaper, consider nearby airports where cheaper prices may be available.

What Are the Best & Worst Times of Year to Fly?

Certain times of the year are much more expensive than others. While you can pick the perfect day or time to fly, the flight price is still going to be very high. Here are times you should target and times you should avoid.

Best Times of Year to Fly

The key to finding the best time of the year to fly is not simply avoiding obvious bad times like the holidays. Here are some of the best times of the year to book affordable flights.

Shoulder Season:

The shoulder season is the time between the peak and the offseason. That is the sweet spot on when you should travel to a particular destination. For summer travel, book your trip towards the end of May to the early to middle parts of June. Many schools are in session during that timeframe, and it is still warm enough to enjoy the beach and other summer activities. You can also travel towards the end of August to the early to middle parts of September. Many schools will be back in session, and you will find the weather is warm enough to still take part in traditional summer fun.

That rule is especially true in southern states where children go back to school earlier than those in northern states. In the past, I have gotten great flight deals when visiting beaches in Alabama and North Carolina towards the end of August.

Children stay in school longer into June in northern states. I regularly visit Cape May, New Jersey at the beginning of June before prices skyrocket when children get out of school.

Further Reading: How to Find Cheap Summer Flights

Winter/Offseason for Traditional Summer Spots:

Remember, demand is the most important factor affecting flight prices. Most people want to visit traditional summer destinations when it is warm. While you will not be able to swim in the ocean, you can often find great deals on flights to popular summer spots in the United States, Canada, and Europe during the winter.

Notable exceptions include states like Florida and Hawaii that are warm for the entire year. You can expect to pay a premium for flights to those states in the winter since they are among the only warm places in the United States. States with popular ski destinations, including Colorado and Utah, are also more expensive in the winter.

Summer/Offseason for Traditional Winter Spots :

Most destinations have a popular season and an offseason. The example above focuses on the offseason for popular summer spots. Winter and fall/spring destinations also have high and low seasons. For ski destinations, consider going when it is warm out to take part in other activities such as hiking and kayaking. While many of the most popular activities may be closed in the offseason, many places in the United States offer a wide range of things to do despite the time of year.

I also recommend traveling to places like the Caribbean, Florida, and Hawaii in the summer when plane tickets are cheaper. Those destinations are more expensive in the winter when there are very few warm options in the United States.

Worst Times of Year to Fly

The worst times of the year to fly are during holidays and whenever kids are off from school. That means flights are going to be expensive from mid-December through early January. The days surrounding Thanksgiving are also very expensive.

If possible, avoid traveling during these times.

Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving is always one of the most expensive times to fly. The good news is it always falls on a Thursday. That makes it easy to predict the best and worst days to fly around Thanksgiving. The bad news is even the best days are still expensive.

Avoid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. Everyone wants to get back to work on the Monday after Thanksgiving, which makes Sunday such a popular day to fly. If you do decide to travel for Thanksgiving, Fly on the Monday or Tuesday before and the Monday or Tuesday after. While not ideal, flights on Thanksgiving Day are also fairly cheap.

See our complete guide on The Best & Worst Times to Fly Around Thanksgiving .

Christmas :

Like Thanksgiving, Christmas is also a very popular and expensive time to fly. Since it does not fall on the same day every year, it is harder to predict the best and worst days to fly. Remember, even the best days are still going to cost you. As a rule, the earlier you fly before Christmas Eve the better. Christmas Day is usually fair cheap, but the demand is not high for obvious reasons.

The days surrounding New Year’s are also a very expensive time to fly. The best and worst days depend on the year, so it is tough to provide a rule. Just know you are going to pay a premium regardless of the days you settle on.

See our complete guide on The Best & Worst Times to Fly Around Christmas

Big Sporting Events:

Major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, and NHL Finals create a lot of demand for flights. The highest demand is from the cities whose teams are competing. Expect high airfare prices a few days before an event from a city where a team has to travel. For example, airfare prices from Philadelphia to Tampa Bay skyrocketed a few days before the Eagles and Buccaneers playoff game in 2022. Airfare prices from Tampa Bay to Philadelphia dramatically increased a few days after the game.

If you want to travel to see your team play you are going to have to pay a premium on airline tickets. The bigger the stage the higher the cost. Flight ticket prices tend to increase to and from the host city as it gets closer to the championship.

Even during the regular season, flight prices go up when a team has an away game. For example, I paid a premium to fly from Philadelphia to Denver in 2021 to see the Eagles play the Broncos. The airlines did not account for the game and did not schedule any additional flights to keep up with the demand.

Spring Break:

Spring Break dates depend on the school or University, but the peak dates are generally from the middle of February through the early parts of April. Since most of the United States is still cold during those months, families and college kids tend to travel to warm places. Flights to Florida are going to be more expensive during the Spring Break months. If you do travel to Florida from February through April, consider flying into a less popular airport as opposed to Miami International Airport.

Other Holidays :

While Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two most popular travel periods, many people do fly on other holidays throughout the year. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the Fourth of July are popular times to travel. If possible, consider driving instead of taking a flight when traveling around those holidays.

Peak Summer Months:

The middle of June through the middle of August is the peak of summer. Most states are at their warmest and the majority of kids are off from school. Flight prices tend to be very high during these periods.

Consider flying to Florida, the Caribbean, or ski towns during these months. While Florida is still a popular summer destination, it is cheaper compared to the winter months when it is one of the only warm states.

Here is a quick cheatsheet to use when planning vacation days.

Best & Worst Days to Fly Summary

Best days & times to book flights.

Unfortunately, there is no best day of the week to book flights. The good news is great airfare prices are available 24/7. Do not believe myths such as the best times to book are on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. While it is possible to find cheap flight prices on a Tuesday or Wednesday, there is no reason to focus on those times.

See our complete guide on The Best Days & Times to Book Flights

Generally, the best days of the week to fly domestically are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday . Thursday is the next best day, but it tends to be a little more expensive.

Generally, the worst days of the week to fly domestically are Sunday, Monday, and Friday.

Most business travel takes place on Monday and Friday. Many vacationers tend to fly on Fridays and Sundays.

International airfare prices are harder than domestic to predict. We have consistently found great deals every day of the week for international flights.

The best times are shoulder seasons and off-seasons. Go to popular summer destinations in the winter and go to popular winter destinations in the summer.

The worst times are during holidays, over the summer, around major sporting events, and whenever kids are off from school.

Very early morning flights and redeye flights tend to be the cheapest.

There is no best day to book flights . Low prices are available 24/7.

Our How to Find Cheap Flights guide details the best way to find the lowest prices on airfare. Additionally, our Google Flights guide goes into further detail on finding the overall best deals.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Look for flights departing and returning on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday. Try to fly during the shoulder season as opposed to the peak season. Remember, high demand means high flight prices. If possible, book a flight for the early morning or late at night as opposed to the mid-morning or late afternoon.

And remember, those are just guidelines. Factors such as lack of available flights and unforeseen high demand may limit your options. See our best websites to book flights and our guide on finding cheap flights for more information. Our best airline credit cards guide features ways to earn more points on airfare as well as other benefits. Our how to get through airport security faster guide will help you prepare after booking your flight. Finally, our What to Do if Your Airline Cancels or Delays Your Flight and How to Avoid Airline Flight Delays & Cancellations guides can help you if you experience an interruption at home or at the airport.

By Phil Dengler

In addition to being a co-founder of The Vacationer, Phil Dengler is also the head of editorial and marketing. Previously, he ran a popular holiday deals website where he was a trusted source for all things Black Friday. With The Vacationer, Phil combines his knowledge of deals with his love of travel to help you plan the perfect vacation.

How to Find Cheap Flights to Anywhere in the World in 2024

Best Days & Times to Book Flights & Airline Tickets in 2024

14 of the Best Websites to Book Cheap Flights & Airfare in 2024

Simple Flying

A 'peak' at the busiest & quietest days in the week to fly.

It's nice to be able to avoid congestion if possible.

Arriving early at the airport can be fantastic if there is no one else around. There’s time to do duty-free shopping, grab a bite to eat, or even relax in the lounge . But there is nothing more frustrating than arriving in plenty of time, only to find that bag drop and security queues are so long that you end up sprinting to your gate.

Other days, you can plan to arrive just in time and find yourself sailing through an almost deserted airport with plenty of time to spare. So which days should you look to avoid if you want the airport to yourself?

Weekend vs weekdays

When it comes to which day of the week is the quietest, there isn’t a definitive answer. It is worth doing some research into the airport you are flying from. However, Tuesday and Wednesday are often less busy. This is because you have to take more days off work to fly mid-week, which people are usually reluctant to do. Upgraded Points notes that these days are also often cheaper.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.

In contrast, traveling close to or at the weekend is typically more expensive, as well as busier. Leisure travelers looking to enjoy a weekend away tend to go Friday and Monday. At the same time, passengers who commute every week for work also travel Monday and Friday to return home for the weekend. As such, Sundays can be busy as business travelers try to get a head start on the week ahead.

Similarly, people traveling for extended vacations tend to travel during the weekend to maximize holiday time. Friday nights and Saturday mornings can see some airports busier than ever, so Office Needle advises traveling before 4 PM on Fridays. Weekend flights are more in demand and subsequently more expensive.

The exception to the rule

There is one big exception to the rule: package holiday companies. For some tourist destinations, a large percentage of flights are operated by, or in partnership with, package holiday companies. In these cases, if you aren’t traveling with one of these companies, the quietest day is just whatever day isn’t changeover day.

The airline industry is always full of new developments! What aviation news will you check out next?

Generally, there is a standardized changeover day (or days), when holiday companies carry vast numbers of passengers over two days. Typically, this is the weekend, but if they want to allow passengers a whole weekend at the destination, changeover day can be mid-week. If the changeover day is a Tuesday, then this will become the busiest day, while the weekend might become very quiet.

The best time

As the old saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. If you can’t fly on one of the quieter days, then getting up early is your best option. If the flight leaves before 8 AM, meaning you have to arrive around 6 AM, you should be in for a quiet time. This is because fewer people bother (or at least prefer) to travel that early.

However, not everyone can function that early. If you’re more of a night owl, then flying late is also a good option. It may be busier than morning, as many people who fly for business will fly overnight to arrive in time for meetings the next day. So, while you will have to deal with more travelers, they are more likely to be frequent flyers who are familiar with the airport routine, reducing congestion.

In general, traveling on Tuesday or Wednesday will mean you avoid the highest fares and the busiest times. However, you will have to take more time off work if your job conforms to the normal working schedule. If you don’t have a choice, then an early morning flight will reduce the chance of having to queue for hours.

If you are less of a fan of waking up early or staying up late, and prefer to travel in the middle of the day, then you will typically be more likely to have to be prepared to face the crowds. Of course, if you’re flying over a holiday period or to a major event, busier airports and flights are to be expected at most times.

Do you have any tips or tricks for a smooth airport experience? When do you prefer to fly? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: Office Needle , Upgraded Points

A government shutdown could make air travel even worse

• The government is set to run out of funding on September 30, and a shutdown seems likely.
• Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg warns that might make air travel worse.
• It could also jeopardize the DOT's mission to make airlines pay out refunds and travel costs for delays.

There's a government shutdown looming , and it might mean your travel nightmares could get even worse.

Come September 30 , the government will run out of funding if Congress can't agree on a budget — and that looks like the most likely outcome at this point.

The impacts on air travel will be immediate, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg told Insider. Air traffic controllers and TSA officers would stop getting paid , an economic burden on the workers the country depends upon to keep airports running.

"These are folks who come to work in a stressful and important job that is demanding on the best of days and they're supposed to come into work worried about how to pay their bills now and support their families and still do a good job," Buttigieg said.

Importantly, a shutdown could also jeopardize a crucial piece of ensuring flight safety and timeliness — enough air traffic controllers .

As of June, 77% of critical air traffic control facilities in the country were understaffed . While plenty of people want to be air traffic controllers , plugging shortage holes can come down to training. The role requires intensive training and comes with its own caveats: Applicants need to be below the age of 31, and workers have to retire by 56. In a shutdown, training gets shut down too.

The DOT has been making strides in curbing travel nightmares: Throughout 2023, air travel cancellations have stayed below 2%, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report — a far cry from the 2.7% cancellation rate in 2022. But that progress would be jeopardized in a shutdown, according to Buttigieg.

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"That's happened because of the pressure we put on airlines and the work we're doing to grow our air traffic control workforce," Buttigieg said. "I cannot guarantee we can keep up those results if we are stopped from growing the workforce."

A shutdown of a few days or weeks could set back progress for "months," according to Buttigieg.

And, if and when your flight gets delayed or canceled , it might be harder to claw back compensation from airlines. Buttigieg said that a shutdown would halt rulemaking in the Department of Transportation. While halting rulemaking during a shutdown may not sound "glamorous," Buttigieg said, that function "includes the process of developing the rules that are going to get you refunds when the airlines cause a long delay."

The DOT has been working on new regulations that would make airlines issue refunds and foot the bill for things like hotels and meals in cases of delays or cancellations.

"That's something that I think Republican and Democratic and Independent air passengers mostly agree is a good idea, but the hardworking people in this department who actually are producing that tool to hold airlines accountable are going to be furloughed," Buttigieg said.

Even without a shutdown, Republicans' proposals to keep the government funded while enacting widespread cuts could jeopardize travel, according to Buttigieg.

"The shutdown is a hostage situation that some House Republicans have used in order to try to get budget cuts," he said.

The proposed cuts would set back Federal Aviation Administration modernization, and imperil rail safety inspections. The FAA saw a major essential system outage in January , leading to all flights in the country getting temporarily grounded . Further cuts could undermine the funding needed for technological improvements.

Right now, though, progress on averting any sort of shutdown seems stalled. Republicans can't agree on how to move forward , and time is running out.

"The American public deserves better. This is really basic stuff," Buttigieg said. "Keeping the government up and running, funding the government, is one of the basic functions of Congress and they can do it well, they can do it poorly, but to not do it at all is just totally avoidable and totally uncalled for."

Watch: Airports are dealing with massive lines during the government shutdown as TSA employees are working without pay

• Main content

New federal rules on airline refunds require cash instead of vouchers

Airline canceled your flight? The plane arrived hours late after a maintenance issue? The inflight Wi-Fi didn't work?

New federal rules say travelers deserve cash refunds when inconvenienced by their airline - not vouchers or travel credits.

The rules, announced by the Transportation Department on Wednesday, also require airlines to provide upfront information about fees for baggage and changing flights.

Although many airlines have done away with change fees and disclose fees on their websites, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg estimated more transparency with some airlines and websites would make it easier for travelers to shop around - ultimately saving consumers millions every year.

The rule would formalize a requirement that passengers receive refunds if a domestic flight is delayed by more than three hours or if an international flight is delayed by more than six hours.

It would also require a refund of any baggage fees for bags that arrive more than 12 hours late, and a refund of the fee for a purchased service like Wi-Fi or upgraded seating if the airline doesn't deliver.

'Without headaches or haggling'

"Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers," Buttigieg said in a statement, saying the refunds were due "without headaches or haggling."

There's also a provision for travelers frustrated with call center hold times or filling out online claim forms. The rules require the fees to be automatic and prompt: Within seven days for a credit card refund and 20 days for other forms of payment.

Airlines for America, which represents the country's largest passenger carriers, said its airline members "offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown."

"U.S. airlines are committed to providing the highest quality of service, which includes clarity regarding prices, fees and ticket terms," the group said in a statement.

Surge in complaints in 2022

The Biden Administration proposed its change to the refund rules in 2022 after a surge in complaints about refunds when the coronavirus brought air travel to a standstill.

That year, DOT received nearly 47,600 complaints, more than double the number of complaints received in 2021. More than half of the complaints involved flight disruptions or refunds.

Many travelers complained at that time that airlines pushed noncash flight credit or required extended time on customer service phone lines to request a refund. Some of those credits expired long before the effects of the virus receded and travel returned to more normal levels.

This spring, DOT and other executive branch agencies are finalizing key rule changes from Biden's term in office in case Republicans take control of Washington in November's election. A federal law allows Congress to unravel recently implemented executive branch rules.

The cutoff date depends on the House and Senate legislative calendar but is likely to fall in May, meaning rules finalized before that date are not eligible for review under the Congressional Review Act.

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Dubai flooding hobbles major airport's operations as "historic weather event" brings torrential rains to UAE

Updated on: April 17, 2024 / 5:57 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Dubai, United Arab Emirates  — The desert nation of the United Arab Emirates attempted to dry out Wednesday from the heaviest rain ever recorded there after a deluge flooded out Dubai International Airport, disrupting travel through the world's busiest airfield for international travel. The state-run WAM news agency called the rain Tuesday "a historic weather event" that surpassed "anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949." 

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Flooding impacts Dubai International Airport

By the end of Tuesday, more than 5.59 inches of rainfall had soaked Dubai over 24 hours. An average year sees just 3.73 inches of rain fall at Dubai International Airport, a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates.

At the airport, standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed. Arrivals were halted Tuesday night and passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.

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One couple, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity in a country with strict laws that criminalize critical speech, called the situation at the airport "absolute carnage."

"You cannot get a taxi. There's people sleeping in the Metro station. There's people sleeping in the airport," the man said Wednesday.

They ended up getting a taxi to near their home some 18 miles away, but floodwater on the road stopped them. A bystander helped them over a highway barrier with their carry-on luggage, the bottles of gin they picked up from a duty-free store clinking away.

Paul Griffiths, the airport's CEO, acknowledged continued issues with flooding Wednesday morning, saying every place an aircraft could be safely parked was taken. Some aircraft had been diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the city-state's second airfield.

"It remains an incredibly challenging time. In living memory, I don't think anyone has ever seen conditions like it," Griffiths told the state-owned talk radio station Dubai Eye. "We are in uncharted territory, but I can assure everyone we are working as hard as we possibly can to make sure our customers and staff are looked after."

Did "cloud-seeding" contribute?

Rain also fell in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, the rains were acute across the UAE. One reason may have been " cloud seeding ," in which small planes flown by the government go through clouds burning special salt flares. Those flares can increase precipitation.

Several reports quoted meteorologists at the National Center for Meteorology as saying they flew six or seven cloud-seeding flights before the rains. The center did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday, though flight-tracking data analyzed by the AP showed one aircraft affiliated with the UAE's cloud-seeding efforts flew around the country Sunday.

The UAE, which relies heavily on energy-hungry desalination plants to provide water, conducts cloud seeding in part to increase its dwindling, limited groundwater.

Flooding closes schools across UAE

Schools across the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, largely shut ahead of the storm and government employees were largely working remotely if they could. Many workers stayed home as well, though some ventured out, with the unfortunate ones stalling out their vehicles in deeper-than-expected water covering some roads.

Authorities sent tanker trucks out into the streets and highways to pump away the water. Water poured into some homes, forcing people to bail out their houses.

The country's hereditary rulers offered no overall damage or injury information for the nation, as some people slept in their flooded vehicles Tuesday night. In Ras al-Khaimah, the country's northernmost emirate, police said a 70-year-old man died when his vehicle was swept away by floodwater.

Fujairah, an emirate on the UAE's eastern coast, saw the heaviest rainfall Tuesday with 5.7 inches falling there.

Authorities canceled school and the government instituted remote work again for Wednesday.

Rain is unusual in the UAE, an arid, Arabian Peninsula nation, but occurs periodically during the cooler winter months. Many roads and other areas lack drainage given the lack of regular rainfall, causing flooding.

Meanwhile in neighboring Oman, a sultanate that rests on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, at least 19 people were killed in heavy rains in recent days, according to a statement Wednesday from the country's National Committee for Emergency Management. That includes some 10 schoolchildren swept away in a vehicle with an adult, prompting condolences from rulers across the region.

Climatologists have warned for years that human-driven climate change is fueling more extreme and less predictable weather events across the globe.

Parts of southern Russia and Central Asia have also been dealing for days with unusually damaging amounts of rainfall and snowmelt, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate to higher ground and killing more than 60 people in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

• United Arab Emirates
• Weather Forecast
• Severe Weather
• Persian Gulf
• Flight Delays
• Flight Cancellations
• Flash Flooding

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Dubai flooding: Everything you need to know if your Emirates flight is cancelled

H elen and Roman from Manchester should be heading home from New Zealand today after visiting family near the capital, Wellington. The couple have been told their Emirates flights via Dubai are cancelled and there is no clear timetable for getting them back to the UK ; Helen is running short of medication.

Gwen and her husband are stranded in paradise – Bali , to be precise – with no certainty about when they might leave. “We can’t seem to get any contact with Emirates to be advised of another flight to the UK,” Gwen tells The Independent . She adds: “We don’t want to be stuck in Dubai at the airport. Can you update us on the position and offer any advice?”

They are just four of the hundreds of thousands of passengers who have been stranded by the unprecedented storm and flooding in Dubai.

On a typical day, 250,000 people pass through the world’s busiest international airport; Dubai overtook London Heathrow for this title several years ago.

But over the past 48 hours the vast majority have seen their flights cancelled, diverted or heavily delayed due to flooding.

Bizarrely, the way that air passengers’ rights rules are structured means that people who have yet to leave the country are in a far stronger position than those in far-flung corners of Asia , Australasia and Africa.

These are the key issues.

What’s the problem?

A severe storm began in the early hours of Tuesday 16 April. Dubai was drenched in a year and a half’s worth of rain in a single day , killing at least one person and disrupting travel through the airport that handles more international passengers than any other.

Flooding and associated disruption is continuing to cause widespread cancellations.

All airlines using Dubai International Airport affected, with British Airways flights from London Heathrow diverting in successive days to Bahrain and Abu Dhabi .

But passengers on Emirates – which flies more people on intercontinental journeys than any other airline – are collectively facing far bigger problems.

How bad are things?

A snapshot by The Independent of all the overnight Emirates departures due to arrive in Dubai from the UK on Thursday morning shows the scale of the problem. Bear in mind that most of the aircraft used are Airbus A380 “SuperJumbo” planes carrying more than 500 passengers.

• Cancelled: London Heathrow (three), London Stansted, Birmingham and Glasgow. That represents around 3,000 people who did not arrive as expected on Thursday. Crucially, because the outbound flights were cancelled, a similar number did not fly out from Dubai to the UK.
• Delayed: The minimum delay arriving in Dubai was two hours, for a single flight from Heathrow. A second Stansted flight was three hours late, while arrivals of another flight from Heathrow and one from Newcastle were four hours late. But the standard delay was six hours, affecting passengers from Gatwick, Heathrow, Glasgow and Manchester.

Once in Dubai, though, their problems could just be beginning. Hundreds of flights are delayed, and onward connections on Emirates to destinations such as Colombo in Sri Lanka , the Seychelles and Kolkata in India are cancelled.

Many Emirates flights are resuming, but with planes, pilots and cabin crew scattered around the world it will be some time before a full schedule is running again.

When flights resume, the passengers who are booked on those departures take priority – with people who may have been waiting for days at the back of the queue.

What does Emirates say?

“Emirates extends our sincerest apologies to impacted customers who have experienced delays and disruption to their travel plans caused by bad weather and road conditions.

“We appreciate how difficult it is for everyone affected. While some customers have been able to return home or reach their destination, we are aware that many are still waiting to get on flights.

“Our teams are working hard to restore our scheduled operations, as well as secure accommodation and other amenities for affected customers at the airport. Our primary concern will always be the safety of our customers and crew, and this will never be compromised.”

The airline adds that Dubai airport “remains congested” and warns: “There may still be delays to arriving and departing flights.”

Emirates says: “Customers impacted by flight cancellations should contact their booking agent, DM us [@EmiratesSupport on X/Twitter], or visit emirat.es/support for rebooking.”

What is the position for British travellers due to be flying out to or via Dubai?

Air passengers’ rights rules mean they are in a strong position. Any airline that cancels a flight from a UK airport, for any reason, must provide passengers with:

• An onward flight as soon as possible, including on a rival airline if seats are available. For example, a passenger from London to Sydney could expect to be rebooked via Hong Kong, Singapore or Doha if Emirates has no room but Cathay Pacific, Singapore or Qatar Airways does.
• Hotels and meals as appropriate until they can reach their destination.

No cash compensation is payable because the cause of the delay is beyond Emirates’ control.

Passengers in Dubai awaiting an onward connection – what is the outlook?

Emirates says: “While some customers have been able to return home or reach their destination, we are aware that many are still waiting to get on flights. Our teams are working hard to restore our scheduled operations.”

The airline says it is trying to “secure accommodation and other amenities for affected customers at the airport”.

Anyone who arrived from the UK (or anywhere in the European Union) is entitled to a hotel, meals and an onward flight on any airline as soon as possible.

Passengers travelling in the opposite direction have no such legal protection.

Airlines generally provide stranded passengers with accommodation and meals, but such is the pressure on hotels that this may not happen. There is no legal obligation to arrange care.

What about people stranded in Asia, Africa or Australasia with connections via Dubai?

As they are flying on a non-British/non-European airline from outside the UK/EU, they have no formal rights besides the general principle that the airline will get them home when possible.

Travel insurance may cover added costs, and possible make a modest payment (typically £25 for each 12 hours) for the length of the delay.

I’m booked on a package holiday. Does that make a difference?

If you have bought flights and accommodation at the same time from the same provider, you have an extra layer of consumer protection. The Package Travel Regulations mean that the company that sold you the trip is responsible for ensuring the holiday goes ahead as planned – and must take action if it does not. For example:

• If you are booked to travel to the Maldives via Dubai, the holiday firm could look for alternative flights.
• Should your short break to Dubai be impossible because of cancelled flights or conditions on the ground, you are due a full refund.
• Stranded on the other side of the world? The holiday company must find a solution for you, and ensure your welfare while you wait.

If I pay for my own hotel or alternative flight, can I claim it back from Emirates?

That depends. If you are in the UK – or stranded in Dubai en route from the UK to a third country – and Emirates has been unable to provide you with these, then you should be able to claim. In all other circumstances, such as being stranded in Bali, it is unlikely the airline will pay up.

Travel insurance may help.

What about other airlines flying in and out of Dubai?

They are also facing big problems. Flydubai, the short-haul cousin of Emirates, made dozens of cancellations on Tuesday and Wednesday, with many flights on Thursday heavily delayed.

FlyNas, the Saudi budget airline, has cancelled more flights than any other on Thursday.

Other carriers, including British Airways and Royal Brunei, have grounded some UK flights, but operations overall are not as badly affected because Dubai represents only a tiny proportion of flying for most airlines.

I have a flight to or via Dubai next week. Should I worry?

Probably not. Emirates and other carriers should be back on track, and as mentioned anyone with a booking for a flight that goes ahead takes precedence over those who may have been waiting a week after a cancelled flight.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

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Ukrainian drones strike 6 Russian regions, destroy planes at airfield

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

AIR DEFENSES. Ukrainian servicemen stand next to an AN/TWQ-1 Avenger mobile air defense missile system during their combat shift, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, outside of Kyiv, Ukraine June 16, 2023.

Anna Voitenko/Reuters

Ukrainian drones struck targets in at least six regions deep within Russia on Wednesday, August 30, including an airfield where they destroyed military transport planes, in one of the broadest volleys yet of Kyiv’s campaign to turn the tables on Moscow.

Russian officials described attacks on targets in the Pskov, Bryansk, Kaluga, Orlov, Ryazan and Moscow regions. The Russian foreign ministry said the attacks would “not go unpunished” and the drones could not have reached so far into Russian territory without Western help.

In northern Russia, more than 600 km (400 miles) from Ukraine, a huge fire erupted at a military airfield in the city of Pskov, where elite paratroopers are garrisoned. Tass news agency reported at least four giant Il-76 transport planes were damaged, two of which had “burst into flames”.

The attacks coincided with Russia’s most severe air strikes on Ukraine’s capital for months. Authorities in Kyiv reported at least two people had been killed as debris from intercepted missiles fell in four locations.

Reuters captured footage of a fireball falling out of the night sky close to a supermarket, detonating in a huge explosion that lit up nearby apartment blocks. Moscow said it hit command and intelligence targets.

In Russia, the governor of Pskov posted video on Telegram showing a huge fire with the sounds of sirens and an explosion at the air base. Other video posted online showed anti-aircraft systems in action around the city, which is just 32 km (20 miles) east of Russia’s border with NATO-member Estonia.

Moscow said it had thwarted all the attacks on Russia. Russia typically describes all Ukrainian drone strikes as unsuccessful, regardless of the damage on the ground.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was working out where the drones were launched from to prevent further strikes. President Vladimir Putin had been informed immediately, as would be the case in any such “massive attacks”, Peskov said.

Kyiv confirmed the Russian planes had been destroyed in Pskov, without commenting on the nature of the incident. It generally withholds comment on strikes on territory inside Russia though it says it has a right to hit military targets.

“Yes, four IL-76 transport planes were destroyed in Pskov at an airfield, they are beyond repair. Also, several other of those (aircraft) are damaged, but the information is being checked,” Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s GUR military agency, told Reuters.

Ukraine’s Western allies generally forbid Kyiv from using weapons they supply to attack Russia but say Kyiv has a right to carry out such strikes with its own weapons.

Among the other attacks in Russia, Moscow said Ukrainian drones had tried to attack a TV tower over the Bryansk region. No casualties were reported.

Moscow also said its aircraft had destroyed four Ukrainian fast-attack boats carrying up to 50 paratroopers on the Black Sea and its forces had repelled attacks by enemy drones. Reuters could not independently confirm this.

Attacks on Russia in recent weeks, including repeated drone strikes on central Moscow, have brought the war home to many Russians for the first time, even as Ukrainians have spent the past year and a half in constant peril from air strikes.

“So long as Putin remains president, the war will continue. Pulling Russia deeper and deeper into the abyss of chaos,” Mykhailo Poldolyak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, wrote on X.

Moscow has relentlessly pounded Ukrainian cities with long range missiles and drone strikes throughout the war. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed.

Ukraine said its air defenses had shot down 28 Russian missiles and 15 out of 16 drones fired overnight.

“Kyiv has not experienced such a powerful attack since spring. The enemy launched a massive, combined attack using drones and missiles,” Serhiy Popko, the head of the city’s military administration, said on Telegram.

Ukrainian forces have been conducting a summer offensive for nearly three months. They have yet to achieve a breakthrough of Russia’s heavily mined and fortified defenses, although they said in the past week they had finally penetrated the first main defensive line.

Prigozhin buried

On the outskirts of St Petersburg, followers of Yevgeny Prigozhin, boss of Russia’s Wagner private army, paid tribute at a leafy cemetery where he was buried six days after being killed in a plane crash. A tribute left beside flowers read: “To be a warrior is to live forever”.

“It is a big loss for Russia,” said Sergei Abeltsev, a former lawmaker from an ultra-nationalist party, who visited the grave. “As always – the realization of the loss will only come later.”

The Kremlin said foul play was one of the causes being investigated for the crash.

“It is obvious that different versions are being considered, including the version – you know what we are talking about – let’s say, a deliberate atrocity,” Kremlin spokesman Peskov said.

Prigozhin, two top Wagner lieutenants and four bodyguards were among 10 people who died when his private jet crashed in unexplained circumstances on Aug. 23, two months after Wagner marched on Moscow in a brief mutiny.

Putin had called the mutiny treason but had promised Prigozhin he would escape punishment.

The Kremlin has rejected as an “absolute lie” Western suggestions that Putin was responsible.

“We all know that the Kremlin has a long history of killing opponents,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “It’s very clear what happened here.” – Rappler.com

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