Tag: Flight Booking

Local Flights in the USA: How to Book Cheap, Fast and Smart

Short domestic flights are some of the most useful trips you can buy in the United States. A one-hour hop can replace a full day of driving, turn a long weekend into a real getaway and get you to a meeting and home again before dinner. They are also some of the easiest flights to overpay for, because short routes are priced aggressively by demand, the cheapest fares strip out bags and seats, and the difference between a smart and a careless booking often comes down to one airport or one day of the week. This guide explains how short-haul domestic pricing works, when to book, how to pick the right airport and airline, how to compare the real cost of a fare, when driving or the train makes more sense, and how to get through the airport quickly on a short trip. It is part of our flight booking series, which starts with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

The short answer

If you only have a minute: search a range of dates rather than one day, because the day you fly moves the price more than anything else. Book roughly one to three months ahead for ordinary dates and earlier for holidays and long weekends. Check every airport within a reasonable drive at both ends of the trip, including secondary airports that big-city travelers forget. Compare the total cost, with bags and seats added, not the headline fare, because a basic fare that looks cheap can end up costing more than a standard one. Use the 24-hour cancellation window that applies to most U.S. bookings made at least seven days out to double-check everything. And make sure your ID is ready: TSA now requires a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted document such as a passport to fly within the country. You can compare fares across a whole month on our flight search.

An American Eagle Embraer 175 regional jet on approach to land — Many short domestic routes are flown by regional jets with smaller overhead bins (Photo: DOMDCF via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

What counts as a local flight, and why they are priced the way they are

There is no official definition of a “local” flight. Most travelers mean a short domestic trip, often under two hours in the air, within a region: New York to Boston, Chicago to Minneapolis, Dallas to Houston, Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Seattle to the Bay Area, Atlanta to Charlotte. Airlines call these short-haul routes, and they share a few traits that shape how you should book them.

They carry a lot of business travelers. Weekday morning and evening flights on busy corridors fill with people traveling for work, whose employers pay higher fares for flexibility. That pushes up prices at peak times and leaves cheaper seats at off-peak times.
They compete with the car and sometimes the train. On a route of a few hundred miles, the airline is competing with driving, so fares on quiet days can be surprisingly low. On the busiest days, when everyone wants to fly, the competition matters much less.
They are often served by regional jets. Many short routes are flown by smaller aircraft operated by regional partners under the big airlines’ brands. That affects cabin size, overhead bin space and whether your carry-on has to be checked at the aircraft door.
Taxes and fees are a larger share of the total. Government taxes and airport charges are added to every ticket, so on a short, cheap flight they make up a bigger slice of what you pay. That is one reason a fare that looks tiny in an advertisement grows at checkout.

Airline prices follow the same basic logic on every route. Each flight is divided into fare levels, the cheapest sell first, and revenue management systems open and close levels as the flight fills. Our pillar guide explains the mechanics in detail; for short trips, the practical point is that busy flights get more expensive as they fill, while quiet ones can stay flat for weeks.

When to book a domestic flight

There is no magic number of days, but there are sensible windows. Use them as a guide for when to start paying close attention, then book when you see a fare at or below the normal level for your route.

Trip	Sensible window	Why
Ordinary weekday or weekend trip	About 1 to 3 months ahead	Enough time for fares to settle and for you to spot a good one; waiting longer rarely helps on busy routes
Holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day)	About 2 to 4 months ahead	Friday departures and Monday returns sell out first
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year	As early as 3 to 6 months ahead	The most popular dates rarely get cheaper as they approach
Spring break and summer trips to beach and theme park cities	About 2 to 4 months ahead	Family demand concentrates on the same weeks
Short-notice trips	Only as needed	Occasionally cheap on quiet routes, but usually the most expensive time to buy

The simplest method is to start searching as soon as you know roughly when you want to go. Look at a month view to see which days are cheap, note what a normal fare looks like, and set a price alert. When a fare lands at or below that level, book. Trying to catch the absolute lowest price usually means waiting too long.

The day you fly matters more than the day you book

On most domestic routes, Tuesday, Wednesday and often Saturday departures are cheaper than Friday and Sunday, because business travelers fill Monday mornings and Thursday and Friday evenings and leisure travelers crowd the weekend edges. The first flight of the morning and late-evening departures are often cheaper than midday. Patterns differ by route, so let the fare calendar show you the cheap days instead of assuming. The old advice to buy on a particular weekday, or late at night, does not hold up: fares change when seats sell, not on a timetable.

Your 24-hour safety net

For flights within, to or from the United States, the U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to either hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or let you cancel within 24 hours of booking without penalty, as long as you book at least seven days before departure. Most large airlines offer free cancellation. Use that day to check names, dates and connections, and to confirm the fare still looks right. If your flight is later canceled or significantly changed by the airline and you choose not to travel, DOT’s refund rules explain when you are owed your money back rather than a travel credit. The wider set of passenger protections is on the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection site.

Choose the right airport, at both ends

Airport choice is the most underused way to save on short flights. Big metro areas often have two or more commercial airports, and they can differ in price, airlines, traffic and how long it takes to get through security.

Metro area	Airports to compare	What to weigh
New York	JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR); sometimes Long Island MacArthur, Westchester	LaGuardia is closest to Manhattan for many trips; Newark suits New Jersey and west-side Manhattan; compare transfer times
Chicago	O’Hare (ORD), Midway (MDW)	Midway is closer to downtown and the South Side; O’Hare has more airlines and routes
Dallas	Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL)	Love Field is close to central Dallas; DFW is the big hub with the widest choice
Houston	George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Hobby (HOU)	Hobby is closer to downtown and the south side
Los Angeles	LAX, Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario (ONT), Orange County (SNA)	The smaller airports can save a long drive across the region and are usually quicker to get through
San Francisco Bay Area	SFO, Oakland (OAK), San Jose (SJC)	Choose by where you are actually going in the Bay Area
Washington, D.C.	Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD), Baltimore/Washington (BWI)	DCA is on the Metro and close to the city; BWI often has different airline options
South Florida	Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Palm Beach (PBI)	Fort Lauderdale can be convenient for northern Miami-Dade and Broward

A cheaper fare from a more distant airport is only a saving if the total holds up. Add parking or the ride to the airport, the time it takes and the ride at the other end. For a short trip, an extra hour of driving each way can wipe out the benefit. Our airport guides, such as Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles International and New York JFK, cover terminals and ground transportation.

Smaller airports have real advantages

Secondary and regional airports are often quicker to get through, with shorter walks, simpler parking and less congestion at the curb. For a day trip or a tight schedule, those minutes matter. The trade-off is fewer flights, so a cancellation can mean a longer wait for the next departure. If you must be somewhere at a set time, an earlier flight from a smaller airport or a later one from a hub with frequent backup options are both reasonable strategies; choose knowingly.

Concourse A at Chicago Midway International Airport — Secondary airports like Chicago Midway can be closer to downtown and quicker to get through (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Choose the airline and fare, not just the price

Domestic airlines in the United States fall roughly into three groups, and the same headline price can buy very different trips.

Network airlines such as American, Delta, United and Alaska fly from large hubs to almost everywhere, with regional partners on smaller routes. They sell several fare types on every flight, from basic economy to flexible and premium fares, and their loyalty programs and credit cards are built around frequent domestic flying.
Point-to-point and value airlines such as Southwest and JetBlue connect many city pairs directly, often from secondary airports. Their fare structures and bag policies have been changing, so check what is included on each booking rather than relying on what you remember.
Ultra-low-cost carriers sell very low base fares and charge separately for nearly everything else: carry-on bags, checked bags, seat assignments and sometimes printing a boarding pass at the airport. They can be excellent value for a traveler with just a small personal item and flexible plans, and poor value for a family with luggage.

Basic economy: what you give up

Basic economy fares exist to compete with the ultra-low-cost carriers, and the restrictions vary by airline. Common trade-offs include boarding last, no seat selection until check-in or a fee to choose, no changes or no refunds of the fare, and, on some airlines, no full-size carry-on bag. Last to board also means last to find bin space, so a carry-on can end up checked at the gate on a full flight. Before you choose a basic fare, read exactly what it excludes on the airline’s own site and compare the price to the next fare up with the things you need added.

Compare the total cost

Cost	Where it hides	How to handle it
Carry-on bag	Excluded on some basic and ultra-low-cost fares	Check the fare rules and size limits; our carry-on size guide explains how to measure
Checked bag	Usually charged per bag, per direction on domestic fares	Paying online in advance is often cheaper than at the airport
Seat selection	Charged on basic fares and sometimes on standard ones	Decide whether you need to sit together; families should read the airline’s seating policy
Changes	The cheapest fares may be unchangeable	If your plans might move, a changeable fare can be cheaper overall
Airport transfer and parking	Not in the fare at all	Add them when comparing airports

A fare that includes a bag and a seat can easily beat one that looks much cheaper. Our flight details guide explains fare brands, baggage allowances and what the codes on your itinerary mean.

Nonstop, connecting and the hidden-city trap

On a short trip, a nonstop flight is almost always worth a modest premium. A connection can double the travel time on a one-hour route and adds a second chance for delays, missed connections and misrouted bags. Connections make sense when there is no nonstop at a reasonable time, or when the saving is large enough to justify the extra hours.

If you do connect, leave a realistic cushion. Airlines sell connections that meet their minimum connection time, but a tight connection at a large hub in bad weather is a gamble. On a single ticket, the airline is responsible for rebooking you if you miss a connection because of a delay; on two separate tickets, you usually are not protected, so leave much more time or avoid it.

You may also hear about “hidden-city” ticketing, where a traveler books a flight to a farther city with a connection in the city they actually want and simply leaves at the connection. Airlines generally prohibit this in their contracts of carriage. It only works with carry-on bags, the rest of the itinerary is canceled if you skip a segment, and airlines can penalize accounts. It is not a strategy we recommend.

Is flying really faster? Fly, drive or take the train

For short distances, the honest comparison is door to door. A one-hour flight involves getting to the airport, parking or a ride, security, waiting at the gate, boarding, the flight itself, deplaning and getting into the city at the other end. On routes of a couple of hundred miles, driving or taking the train can be just as fast and far less stressful.

Situation	Usually better	Why
Solo traveler, 300 miles or more	Flying	The time saved in the air outweighs the airport overhead
Family or group of three or more, under about 300 miles	Driving	One car costs the same however many people are inside, and there are no bag fees
Downtown to downtown on the Northeast Corridor	Often the train	Amtrak runs between city centers from Washington through New York to Boston, with no airport transfers
Day trip for a meeting	Flying, on an early nonstop	Protects the schedule if you pick the first flight of the day
You need a car at the destination anyway	Often driving	Saves a rental and gives you flexibility

If you do fly and need a car at the other end, our rental car booking tips explain when to reserve and how airport and city locations differ in price.

Getting through the airport quickly on a short trip

Have the right ID

TSA began enforcing the REAL ID requirement on May 7, 2025. To fly within the United States, adult travelers need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, usually marked with a star, or another accepted document such as a U.S. passport, a passport card or a trusted traveler card. TSA explains the options, and what happens if you arrive without an acceptable ID, on its REAL ID page. Check your wallet well before your trip, because getting a new license can take time.

Pack for security, not just for the trip

A carry-on-only trip is the fastest way through a domestic airport: no bag drop, no waiting at the carousel. Keep liquids within TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule, keep electronics and your liquids bag easy to reach, and wear shoes you can slip off if your lane requires it. Our guide on what not to wear on a flight covers clothes that slow screening down.

Consider TSA PreCheck

If you fly domestically more than a few times a year, TSA PreCheck lets approved travelers use dedicated lanes at participating airports, usually without removing shoes, belts, laptops or small liquids. It involves an application, a fee and an in-person appointment, and membership lasts several years. Some credit cards and loyalty programs reimburse the application fee.

Know the check-in deadline

Every airline sets a minimum check-in time and a bag-drop deadline before departure, and boarding doors close before the scheduled departure time too. For domestic flights these deadlines are commonly somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes, but they vary by airline and airport, so look them up for your flight. How early you should arrive depends on the airport, the time of day and whether you are checking a bag; a big hub at the Monday morning rush needs more time than a small regional airport midafternoon. Check in online, download the airline’s app for gate changes and boarding passes, and allow more time on holiday weekends.

The ticketing and check-in hall in Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport — Check in online and know your airline's bag-drop deadline (Photo: Silver Dovelet via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

A step-by-step booking routine for short flights

Define the trip loosely. Decide on a range of dates and all the airports you would realistically use at both ends.
Search a month view. Find the cheap days before fixing your plans. Our flight search shows prices across the month.
Check the event calendar. A big game, a convention or a festival can make both flights and hotels expensive for a specific weekend.
Shortlist two or three flights and price each with the bags and seats you actually need.
Weigh the schedule. A nonstop at a sensible hour often beats a slightly cheaper option that costs you an evening.
Book, then use the 24-hour window to double-check names and details.
Add the hotel and car. Book a refundable room on our hotel search and add a rental car only if you will use it.
Keep watching. If the airline cuts the fare on a ticket that allows changes, you may be able to rebook and keep the difference as a credit; rules vary, so check yours.

Popular short routes and what to know

A few examples of how the principles play out on real corridors. Use them as patterns, not as a list of deals.

Los Angeles to Las Vegas: one of the busiest short leisure routes in the country, with heavy Friday and Sunday demand. The drive is a real alternative for groups; our Los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip page covers it. If you fly, our guide to cheap flights to Las Vegas explains how the event calendar moves fares.
New York to Boston or Washington: flights compete directly with Amtrak and buses. Compare door-to-door time before assuming the plane is faster.
Chicago to Minneapolis or Detroit: frequent flights, and a straightforward drive for groups. Compare O’Hare and Midway.
Dallas to Houston: multiple flights a day between four airports. Love Field and Hobby are the downtown-friendly pair.
Seattle to Portland or Vancouver: short enough that driving or the train can win; flying makes sense on tight schedules.
Atlanta to regional cities: Atlanta is the hub for the Southeast, so many short routes connect there. See our Atlanta airport guide before a tight connection.

Planning a longer domestic trip? Our month-by-month guides, such as the best time to fly to Chicago and the best time to fly to New York, explain when each city is cheapest and busiest.

Loyalty points and credit cards on short flights

Short flights can be good value for points, because some programs price award seats by distance or by the cash fare, and the cash fare on a short route at a busy time can be high. Compare the points price with the cash price before you redeem, and remember that taxes and fees still apply to award tickets. On the other side, a cheap short flight earns few miles, so do not choose a worse schedule just to stay loyal to one airline. For frequent short-haul flyers, the most valuable perks are usually free checked bags, earlier boarding and better seats, which some airline credit cards include. Whether that is worth an annual fee depends on how often you fly; do the arithmetic for your own travel. Upgrades on short domestic flights are covered in our guide to business class upgrade hacks.

Common mistakes that cost money

Searching one date and one airport. The cheapest option is often a day or an airport away.
Buying basic economy without reading it. A carry-on fee at the gate can wipe out the saving.
Booking two separate tickets with a tight connection. If the first flight is late, you may lose the second.
Ignoring the drive. For groups on short routes, the car is often cheaper and just as fast.
Arriving with the wrong ID. Check REAL ID compliance before the trip, not at the checkpoint.
Forgetting the return. Sunday evening flights home are often the most expensive; a Monday morning or Saturday return can be much cheaper.
Waiting for last-minute deals. On popular domestic routes, prices usually rise close to departure.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 taking off from San Jose — Compare every airport within reach, including smaller ones like San Jose (Photo: en:user:DonFB via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book a domestic flight?

For ordinary dates, about one to three months ahead is a good window. For holiday weekends, Thanksgiving and Christmas, book earlier. Set a price alert and book when the fare drops to or below the normal level for your route.

What is the cheapest day to fly within the U.S.?

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and often Saturdays are cheaper on many routes, and early-morning and late-evening flights can be cheaper than midday. Check a fare calendar for your route, because patterns vary.

Are ultra-low-cost airlines worth it?

They can be, if you travel light and your plans are firm. Add the carry-on, checked bag and seat fees you would pay, then compare the total with a standard fare on another airline.

Do I need a REAL ID to fly domestically?

Yes, or another accepted document. TSA began enforcing REAL ID on May 7, 2025, so adults need a compliant license or state ID, or an alternative such as a passport. Check TSA’s REAL ID page for the full list.

Can I cancel a domestic flight for free?

Within 24 hours of booking, usually yes, if you booked at least seven days before departure. After that, it depends on the fare: the cheapest fares may be nonrefundable. If the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you decline the alternative, DOT rules say you are owed a refund.

Is it cheaper to book a round trip or two one-ways?

On many U.S. domestic routes, round-trip and one-way fares are priced similarly, so two one-ways, even on different airlines, can give you more flexibility at little or no extra cost. Compare both ways.

How early should I get to the airport for a domestic flight?

It depends on the airport, the time of day and whether you are checking a bag. Look up your airline’s check-in and bag-drop deadlines and allow extra time at busy hubs and on holidays.

Does searching in private mode get cheaper fares?

There is little evidence that it does. Fares change because seats sell and fare levels close. Private browsing does no harm, but it will not unlock lower prices.

Ready to book your next short trip? Search a whole month of fares on our flight search to find the cheapest days and airports, then compare rooms on our hotel search and add a rental car if you need one. For the bigger picture on timing, read our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

Keep planning with TicketScanner

August 13, 2025

Your Ultimate Guide to Booking Cheap Flight Tickets to Las Vegas: Tips, Tricks & Tools

Las Vegas is one of the easiest cities in North America to fly to. Huge numbers of flights arrive every day from across the United States and Canada, many airlines compete for the traffic, and the airport sits just a short ride from the Strip. That competition is why cheap flights to Las Vegas are genuinely possible. But Vegas also has a pricing quirk that trips up first-time visitors: the cost of a trip is driven less by the weather than by the event calendar. A fare that looks cheap can come with hotel rates that have soared because a major convention is in town. This guide explains how Las Vegas pricing works, the cheapest times to go, when to book, how to choose airlines and fares, how to think about packages, what to know about the airport and getting to your hotel, and how to keep the total cost of the trip down. It is part of our flight booking series, which starts with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

The short answer

Check the event calendar before anything else. Big conventions, fight nights, race weekends and holidays push up both fares and hotel rates. Fly and stay midweek if you can: Sunday through Thursday nights are usually far cheaper than weekends. Book about one to three months ahead for ordinary domestic trips, and earlier for holiday weekends and major events. Compare the full price, including bags and seats on the flight and resort fees at the hotel. Consider a flight and hotel package, which can be good value in Las Vegas, but compare it with booking separately. And fly into Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran, which is only a short drive from the Strip. You can compare fares across a whole month on our Las Vegas flights page.

The Las Vegas Strip lit up at night — In Las Vegas, the event calendar moves prices more than the weather (Photo: Clément Bardot via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Why Las Vegas flights can be cheap, and why they sometimes are not

Las Vegas is a leisure destination on a massive scale, with a very large number of hotel rooms and flights from almost every major city on the continent. Airlines add capacity to Vegas because they know they can fill it, and that capacity creates competition, especially on routes where several airlines fly the same city pair. Low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers are strong in Vegas, which puts pressure on fares from the larger airlines too.

The flip side is that demand is lumpy. When a trade show with tens of thousands of attendees comes to town, or a championship fight or race weekend sells out, seats and rooms fill fast and prices climb. Weekends are busy almost all year, because Vegas is a classic weekend getaway from Southern California and other Western cities. Understanding those two patterns, events and weekends, is most of the battle.

When to go: the cheapest and priciest times

Las Vegas is a desert city. Summers are very hot, winters are mild during the day and cool at night, and spring and fall are pleasant. But weather is only one factor. Here is how the year usually plays out.

Period	Weather	What drives prices
January	Cool, mild days	Quiet after New Year, except during the huge consumer electronics trade show early in the month
February	Mild	Often good value outside Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day weekends and big events
March to May	Warm and pleasant	Popular; spring break, college basketball tournament weekends, festivals and conventions add demand
June to August	Very hot	Midweek hotel rates are often lower as visitors avoid the heat; pool season on weekends
September to November	Warm to mild, often ideal	Busy convention season; a major Formula 1 race weekend in November sends prices very high
December	Cool	Early December can be quiet, but the national rodeo finals and New Year’s Eve are very busy

The cheapest windows tend to be midweek dates in January outside the trade show, parts of February, midsummer weekdays and quiet stretches in early December. But the only reliable way to know is to check the calendar for your dates. The official tourism site, Visit Las Vegas, lists major events and conventions, and our Las Vegas events page shows concerts and shows. For a month-by-month view of weather, crowds and fares, read our guide to the best time to fly to Las Vegas.

Days of the week

Vegas has one of the strongest weekday and weekend patterns in travel. Flights into Las Vegas on Thursday and Friday and home on Sunday are the busiest, and hotel rates on Friday and Saturday nights can be far higher than on a Tuesday or Wednesday at the same property. A Sunday-to-Wednesday or Monday-to-Thursday trip usually costs much less than a Thursday-to-Sunday one. If you must go on a weekend, consider arriving Saturday instead of Friday, or leaving Monday instead of Sunday, and compare the totals.

When to book

Trip	Sensible booking window	Notes
Ordinary midweek trip from the U.S.	About 1 to 3 months ahead	Plenty of flights; set an alert and book when the fare looks normal or better
Weekend trip	About 2 to 3 months ahead	Friday and Sunday flights fill first
Holiday weekends, New Year’s Eve, major fights and races	As early as 3 to 6 months ahead	Hotels and flights rise steadily as the date approaches
From Canada	About 2 to 4 months ahead	Winter is popular with Canadian travelers; book earlier for school breaks
Last minute	Occasionally works midweek	Only when nothing big is happening in town

For flights within or to the United States booked at least seven days before departure, most airlines let you cancel within 24 hours without penalty. Use that window to confirm your hotel dates line up with your flights, and remember that a late-evening departure from the East Coast lands in Vegas the same night because of the time difference, while an overnight flight home lands the next morning.

Choosing airlines and fares

Las Vegas is served by the large network airlines, by value airlines such as Southwest, which has long been one of the biggest carriers at the airport, and by several ultra-low-cost carriers. Each sells different things for the same headline price.

Option	Best for	What to check
Ultra-low-cost airlines	Travelers with only a small personal item and firm plans	Carry-on, checked bag and seat fees; bag size limits; how changes work
Basic economy on larger airlines	Price-focused travelers who do not need a full carry-on or seat choice	Whether a full-size carry-on is allowed on your airline; boarding order; change rules
Standard economy	Travelers with bags, groups who want to sit together	Whether a checked bag is included on your fare; change flexibility
Premium or extra-legroom seats	Longer flights from the East Coast or Canada	Whether the upgrade price is worth it on a flight of four or five hours

Airline bag and seat policies have changed repeatedly in recent years, so check the current rules on each airline’s own site rather than relying on reputation. Then add up the total. A group of friends checking bags for a long weekend can easily find that a standard fare on one airline beats a bare-bones fare on another. Our carry-on size guide explains how to measure your bag against airline limits, and our flight details guide decodes fare brands.

Choosing where to fly from

If you live near more than one airport, compare them. In Southern California, for example, flights to Vegas leave from LAX, Burbank, Long Beach, Ontario, Orange County and San Diego. In the Bay Area, compare SFO, Oakland and San Jose. In Canada, several cities have nonstop service to Las Vegas, especially in winter, and larger Canadian airports such as Toronto Pearson offer U.S. preclearance, so you complete U.S. border formalities before departure and land in Vegas as a domestic passenger. Our flights from Toronto and flights from Los Angeles pages are useful starting points.

Should you fly to a different city and drive?

For most travelers, no. Harry Reid International is the obvious airport for Las Vegas, and fares into it are usually competitive because of the volume of flights. Flying into Los Angeles and driving across the desert adds several hours each way plus a rental car and fuel. That said, many Southern Californians skip flying entirely, and the drive can make sense for a group or as part of a larger road trip. Our Los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip page covers that route, and combining Vegas with the national parks of the Southwest is a classic trip that needs a car anyway.

Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas — Harry Reid International is only a few miles from the Strip (Photo: Another Believer via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Flight and hotel packages

Las Vegas is one of the destinations where packages often make sense. Hotels have a lot of rooms to fill, especially midweek, and packaging a room with a flight lets them discount without publicly cutting their room rates. A package can save money, but only if you compare it properly.

Price the pieces separately. Search the same flights and hotel on their own, add taxes and resort fees, and compare with the package total.
Check the room type and fees. Make sure the package includes the room you want and that resort fees are included or clearly shown.
Read the change and cancellation rules. Packages bundle conditions too. A nonrefundable package is a risk if your dates might move.
Check the flight times. A cheap package with a 6 a.m. departure and a late-night return may not be the trip you want.

If you book separately, book the flight first and a refundable hotel right after, then recheck the hotel rate before your cancellation deadline. Our hotel booking tips guide walks through the process.

Hotels: where the real savings are

On many Vegas trips, the hotel is a bigger cost than the flight, so it deserves as much attention.

Resort fees. Most Strip hotels charge a mandatory daily resort fee on top of the room rate. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission’s rule on hotel junk fees requires the total price including mandatory fees to be shown up front. Compare totals, not nightly rates. Parking fees are separate at many resorts.
Strip or downtown. Staying on the Strip puts you in the middle of the action. Downtown, around Fremont Street, is often cheaper and has its own character. Compare on our Strip hotels and downtown Fremont Street hotels pages.
Midweek nights. The same room often costs much less on a Tuesday than on a Saturday.
Off-Strip properties. Hotels a short ride from the Strip can be good value, but factor in the cost of getting to and from the places you want to go.

Search all Las Vegas hotels on our Las Vegas hotel page.

At Harry Reid International Airport

Harry Reid International Airport (code LAS) was renamed from McCarran International in 2021. It is only a few miles from the Strip, one of the most convenient major airports in the country for a city center. It has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and different airlines use different terminals, so check yours before you arrive, especially for your flight home. The airport’s official site has terminal, parking and ground transportation information, and our Harry Reid airport guide covers the essentials.

Getting to your hotel

Taxi: taxis wait at designated ranks outside baggage claim. The ride to most Strip hotels is short.
Ride-hailing: app-based rides pick up at designated areas, usually in the parking garages; follow the signs.
Shuttles: shared shuttles serve the Strip and downtown hotels.
Public bus: the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada runs buses from the airport; check routes and fares on the RTC website.
Rental car: rental companies operate from a consolidated rental car center reached by shuttle bus from the terminals.

Do you need a car at all? For a Strip-focused trip, usually not: parking fees, traffic and walking between neighboring resorts make a car more trouble than it is worth. For day trips to Red Rock Canyon, the Hoover Dam or the national parks, it is essential. Our guide to whether you need a rental car in Las Vegas weighs it up, and you can compare prices on Las Vegas car rentals.

Flying home

Security lines at LAS can be long on Sunday afternoons and after big events, when tens of thousands of visitors head home at once. Allow extra time, check which terminal your airline uses, and make sure your ID meets the REAL ID requirement: TSA began enforcing it on May 7, 2025, and its REAL ID page lists accepted documents. Keep liquids within TSA’s 3-1-1 rule if you are carrying on.

The exterior of the Las Vegas Convention Center — A big trade show can send hotel rates soaring, so check the calendar first (Photo: Michael Gray via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Tips that save money, and myths that do not

Worth doing

Search a whole month. A fare calendar shows the cheap days at a glance.
Set price alerts. Watch your route for a few weeks to learn what a normal fare is.
Watch for airline sales. Vegas is a staple of fare sales, including the late-November sales around Black Friday and Cyber Monday; our guide to Cyber Monday flight deal destinations explains how to judge whether a sale fare is really a deal.
Travel light. A carry-on-only trip avoids checked bag fees and the wait at baggage claim.
Use points where they are worth it. Compare the points price with the cash fare; on busy weekend flights, points can be good value.
Consider early and late flights. First flights of the morning and red-eyes are often cheaper, but price in the lost sleep and any extra hotel night.
Book the show and the hotel for the same dates. Check the events calendar before you fix dates so the trip is built around what you want to see.

Not worth your time

Incognito mode. There is little evidence that airlines raise fares because you searched before. Prices change because seats sell.
Booking on a particular weekday. The day you fly matters; the day you buy mostly does not.
Waiting for last-minute deals on a weekend. Vegas weekends rarely get cheaper as they approach.

Group trips and special occasions

Las Vegas is a favorite for bachelor and bachelorette parties, milestone birthdays, reunions and weddings, and group trips have their own booking challenges. The more people involved, the more a small difference per person adds up, and the harder it is to find seats together at a good price.

Fix the dates early. Agree on dates before anyone books, and check the event calendar first so the group does not land on a convention week.
Let people book their own flights. Group members flying from different cities usually do better booking their own fares and meeting in Vegas, rather than trying to buy one block of tickets.
Agree on bag and seat expectations. One person on an ultra-low fare with no carry-on and another on a standard fare can end up paying very different totals for the same trip.
Book rooms early and flexibly. For weekend group trips, book refundable rooms as soon as the dates are set. Suites and connecting rooms go first.
Plan the airport runs. Arrivals spread across the day make a single shuttle impractical; taxis and ride-hailing are simpler for small groups.
Book shows and restaurants in advance. Popular shows and group dinners on Saturday night sell out; our Las Vegas events page shows what is on.

For weddings and other fixed-date events, book flights as soon as the date is confirmed. Fares for a specific Saturday rarely get cheaper as it approaches.

Planning the rest of the trip

A cheap flight leaves more for the things you actually went for. Our guide to things to do in Las Vegas covers the Strip, downtown, shows, food and day trips, including Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam. If you are planning a group trip, such as a bachelor or bachelorette weekend, the rules in this guide matter even more: book early for weekends, compare packages and check bag rules for everyone. And if you want to combine Vegas with other destinations, our guide to booking cheap local flights in the USA covers short-haul pricing across the country.

Common mistakes to avoid

Booking flights before checking the event calendar. A cheap fare on a convention week is not a cheap trip.
Comparing hotel rates without resort fees. Compare totals.
Defaulting to Friday to Sunday. Shifting by a day can cut the cost significantly.
Choosing an ultra-low fare for a bag-heavy trip. Add the bag fees first.
Renting a car you will not use. Parking fees and traffic make a car a poor value for a Strip-only trip.
Cutting it close on the way home. Sunday security lines can be long.

A Southwest Airlines jet climbing over Las Vegas — Heavy airline competition is why cheap Vegas fares are possible (Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest month to fly to Las Vegas?

There is no single cheapest month, because big events move prices more than the season. Midweek dates in January outside the major trade show, parts of February, midsummer weekdays and early December are often good value. Check the event calendar and a fare calendar for your dates.

How far in advance should I book a flight to Las Vegas?

About one to three months ahead for ordinary domestic trips, two to four months from Canada, and earlier for holiday weekends, New Year’s Eve and major events.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Las Vegas?

Midweek days, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, are often cheaper than Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Hotels follow the same pattern, so a midweek trip usually saves on both.

Are flight and hotel packages to Las Vegas worth it?

They can be, especially midweek. Compare the package with the flight and hotel booked separately, including resort fees, and read the change rules before you pay.

What is the airport in Las Vegas called now?

Harry Reid International Airport, code LAS. It was renamed from McCarran International in 2021, and the airport code did not change.

Do I need a car in Las Vegas?

Not for a trip focused on the Strip. For day trips to Red Rock Canyon, the Hoover Dam or the national parks, a car is the easiest option.

Are last-minute Las Vegas deals real?

Sometimes, for midweek trips when nothing big is happening in town. On weekends and during events, prices usually rise as the date approaches.

Is it cheaper to fly into Los Angeles and drive?

Rarely, once you add the rental car, fuel and the hours on the road. It can make sense as part of a longer road trip or for a group driving together from Southern California.

Ready to plan your trip? Search a whole month of fares on our Las Vegas flights page to find the cheapest days, check the events calendar for your dates, then compare total prices on our Las Vegas hotels page. For more on timing, read our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

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August 11, 2025

Best Times to Travel for Cheap Hotel and Flight Deals

Flights and hotels are the two biggest costs of almost any trip, and both are priced the same way: by demand. Airlines and hotels change their prices constantly as seats and rooms sell, as competitors move, and as the date gets closer. That can feel random from the outside, but it follows patterns you can use. The biggest savings rarely come from a trick or a secret day of the week. They come from choosing the right season, flying and staying on the right days, booking inside a sensible window for the kind of trip you are taking, and protecting yourself so you can rebook if the price drops. This guide explains how pricing works, when to travel, when to book flights and when to book hotels, how the timing differs for domestic, international and holiday trips, and which popular tips are worth ignoring. It is also the hub of our flight booking series, so each section points to the more detailed guide on that topic.

The short answer

If you only remember a handful of things, make it these. When you travel matters more than when you book: flying in the shoulder season or midweek usually saves more than any booking trick. Book domestic flights roughly one to three months out and international flights roughly two to six months out, earlier for peak holidays and school breaks. Book hotels for peak dates and events as soon as your plans are firm, on a refundable rate, and recheck the price before your cancellation deadline. Search flexible dates and nearby airports, because a one-day shift or a different airport often beats the cheapest fare you found on your first try. Compare the total price, with bags, seats, taxes and hotel fees included, not the headline number. And ignore the myths about incognito windows and booking at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday. You can compare fares across a whole month on our flight search and rooms across your dates on our hotel search.

An airport departures board listing flights, times and gates — The day you fly usually matters more than the day you book (Photo: Stinger20 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

How flight and hotel pricing actually works

Understanding the mechanics makes every other tip in this guide make sense.

Airfares: fare buckets and demand

An airline does not sell every seat in economy at one price. It divides the cabin into a series of fare levels, sometimes called fare buckets or booking classes, each with its own price and rules. The cheapest levels are released in limited numbers. As they sell out, the next level up becomes the lowest available price. Revenue management systems watch how fast a flight is selling compared with how it usually sells, and open or close fare levels accordingly. That is why a fare can jump overnight when a few seats sell, and occasionally drop when a flight is selling more slowly than expected.

Two things follow from this. First, the cheapest fares on popular flights go early, so waiting for a busy date to get cheaper is usually a losing bet. Second, on quiet routes and dates, fares can stay flat or even fall, so there is no single “right” number of days ahead that works for every trip.

Hotel rates: occupancy and events

Hotels price rooms against expected occupancy. When a city is busy, because of a convention, a festival, a big game or a holiday weekend, rates climb and cheaper room types disappear. When a hotel expects empty rooms, it lowers rates, opens discounts or releases rooms to last-minute channels. Unlike an airline seat, though, most hotel bookings can be made on a refundable rate, which changes the strategy completely: you can book early for protection and still benefit if prices fall.

When to travel: the cheapest and priciest times of year

Choosing your travel dates well saves more money than any booking trick. Every destination has a high season, a low season and the shoulder months in between, and the shoulder months are where value usually lives.

Season by season, in general terms

Period	What drives prices	Typical value
Early January to early March	Post-holiday lull; strong demand only for ski and sun destinations and school breaks	Often the cheapest time of year for city trips and Europe
Spring break weeks (March)	School holidays send families and students south	Expensive for beaches, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean
April to May	Shoulder season in much of the Northern Hemisphere; Easter and long weekends spike	Good value outside holiday weekends
Mid-June to late August	Summer holidays in North America and Europe	Peak prices almost everywhere popular
September to early November	Kids back at school, summer crowds gone, weather often still good	One of the best windows for value
Late November	U.S. Thanksgiving travel; fall sales such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday	Expensive to travel on Thanksgiving dates; good time to buy fares for later
Early December	Quiet stretch before the holidays	Often cheap, especially for city breaks
Mid-December to early January	Christmas and New Year travel	Among the most expensive dates of the year

Destination patterns that break the general rule

Europe: July and August are peak, and many Europeans take their own holidays then. April to early June and September to October combine decent weather with lower prices. Our guide to the best places to visit in Europe in fall is a good place to start.
Beach and sun destinations: Mexico, the Caribbean and Florida peak in winter and around spring break, and get cheaper in late spring and summer. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, which is part of why late summer and fall fares are lower.
Las Vegas: prices follow the convention and event calendar more than the weather. A big trade show or fight weekend can double hotel rates on the Strip; midweek outside those dates is usually far cheaper. Our guide to cheap flights to Las Vegas covers the patterns.
Canadian cities: summer and major festivals are busiest, winter is cheapest outside the holidays and ski weeks. Our Toronto flight deals guide walks through the city’s seasons.
Southern Hemisphere: seasons are reversed. December and January are summer peak in Australia, New Zealand and South America; May and June are their quieter autumn.
Asia: Lunar New Year and national holiday weeks drive huge regional travel demand, and monsoon seasons vary by country, so check the destination rather than the continent. Planning Japan? Our Japan travel guide covers the seasons.

For city-specific timing, our month-by-month guides go deeper, such as the best time to fly to New York and the best time to fly to Paris.

The best days of the week to fly and to stay

Flying

The day you fly matters far more than the day you book. On most leisure and mixed routes, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and often Saturdays are cheaper to fly, because business travelers fill Monday mornings and Thursday and Friday evenings, and leisure travelers pile onto Friday departures and Sunday returns. The first flight of the morning and late-evening departures are frequently cheaper than midday flights too. The pattern is not universal, so the best approach is to search a flexible range of dates and let the fare calendar show you the cheap days for your route.

Staying

Hotels follow the opposite logic depending on where they are. In business-heavy downtowns, Friday and Saturday nights are often the cheapest, because the weekday corporate guests have gone home. In resort towns, beach areas and weekend-getaway destinations, weekends cost more and Sunday through Thursday is cheaper. If a hotel price seems high, try moving your arrival a day in either direction and compare the total.

An airplane wing above the clouds seen from a passenger window — Cheap seats on popular flights sell first, so waiting on a busy date rarely pays (Photo: Tobias1984 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

When to book flights

There is no single perfect booking date, but there are sensible windows. Think of them as the period when fares are usually at or near their lowest for that kind of trip, not as guarantees.

Trip type	Sensible booking window	Notes
Domestic, off-peak dates	About 1 to 3 months ahead	Fares on quiet dates can stay flat for weeks; watch and book when a good fare appears
Domestic, peak dates (holidays, long weekends)	About 2 to 4 months ahead	Cheap seats on the most popular flights go first
Short-haul international and transborder	About 1 to 4 months ahead	Canada to U.S. routes behave much like domestic ones
Long-haul international	About 2 to 6 months ahead	Earlier for summer in Europe and for Christmas
Christmas, New Year, spring break, summer peak	As early as 4 to 8 months ahead	Fares on these dates rarely fall as departure approaches
Last minute (under 2 weeks)	Only if you must	Occasionally cheap on quiet routes; usually expensive

Within the window, the practical method is simple. Start searching early to learn what a normal fare looks like for your route, set a price alert, and book when a fare lands at or below that normal level. Waiting for the absolute bottom is how people end up paying more. For domestic trips inside the United States, our guide to booking cheap local flights in the USA goes deeper into short-haul pricing, and for trips abroad, our international flights booking tips cover routing, layovers, entry rules and hidden costs.

Use sales, but know what you are buying

Airlines run fare sales throughout the year, and the late-November sale season around Black Friday and Cyber Monday has become one of the most reliable. Sale fares can be excellent value for trips in the following winter and spring, but they usually come with the most restrictive conditions: travel date limits, blackout periods and no changes. Our roundup of Cyber Monday flight deal destinations explains how to judge whether a sale fare is really a deal.

The 24-hour safety net

For flights to, from or within the United States, the U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines either to hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment, or to let you cancel within 24 hours of booking without penalty, as long as you book at least seven days before departure. Most large airlines choose the free cancellation option. That gives you a day to double-check dates, names and prices. The rules for refunds and schedule changes are explained on the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection site. Canada has its own framework, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, which sets out airline obligations for delays, cancellations and denied boarding; policies on voluntary cancellations still vary by airline and fare, so read the fare rules before you pay.

When to book hotels

Hotels reward a different strategy, because most rooms can be booked on a refundable rate.

Peak dates, holidays and events: book as soon as your plans are firm, on a refundable rate. The best-located rooms and the cheaper room types sell first, and rates rarely fall when a city is full.
Normal dates in a big city: a few weeks ahead is usually comfortable. Book a refundable rate and recheck the price later.
Quiet periods and low season: waiting can work. Hotels with empty rooms often cut rates close to the date, which is the premise of our last-minute hotel booking guide.
Small towns, national parks and islands: book early regardless of season. There are only a handful of properties and they fill.
Family trips: book early for school holidays, when family rooms and suites go first. Our guide to the best time to book hotels for family vacations covers it in detail.

The strategy that works for most trips is to reserve a refundable room early and set a reminder a few days before the free cancellation deadline. If the price has dropped, book the cheaper rate first, then cancel the original. If it has risen, you are already protected. Our core hotel booking tips guide walks through the full process, from choosing the neighborhood to what to check at the front desk.

Compare total prices

Nightly rates hide a lot. Taxes, resort or destination fees, parking and breakfast can move one hotel from cheapest to most expensive. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has adopted a rule requiring hotels and booking sites to show total prices including mandatory fees. In Canada, the Competition Bureau treats advertised prices that leave out mandatory fees as drip pricing. Optional charges like parking are still yours to add, so build a real total for your finalists before choosing.

A standard hotel room with a bed and desk in downtown Ottawa — Book a refundable room early, then recheck the price before the cancellation deadline (Photo: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

Booking flights and hotels together

For most trips, the flight is the more volatile half, so book it first and fit the hotel around it. The order matters because fares on popular dates tend to rise steadily, while a refundable hotel room can be adjusted later. A sensible sequence:

Pick a date range, not fixed dates. Search flights across a week or a month to find the cheap days.
Check the event calendar for those dates. A big concert, a conference or a playoff game can make hotels expensive even when flights are cheap. Our events pages, such as Las Vegas events or Toronto events, show what is on.
Book the flight, using the 24-hour cancellation window where it applies to confirm everything is right.
Book a refundable hotel for the exact nights, remembering that an overnight flight lands a day later than it departs.
Add a car if you need one. Our rental car booking tips explain when to reserve and what to watch for.
Recheck the hotel price before the free cancellation deadline.

Flight-plus-hotel packages can be cheaper than booking separately, especially for beach resorts and Las Vegas, but they bundle the conditions too. Compare the package price against the flight and hotel booked separately, and read how changes and cancellations work before you pay.

Flexibility is the biggest lever

Every extra bit of flexibility widens the pool of cheap options.

Flexible dates: moving a trip by a day or two often changes the fare level entirely. A fare calendar shows the whole month at a glance.
Nearby airports: many cities have more than one airport. New York has JFK, LaGuardia and Newark; London has Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and others; the San Francisco Bay Area has SFO, Oakland and San Jose; Toronto has Pearson and Billy Bishop downtown. Price the ground transfer before choosing a cheaper airport. Our guide to cheap flights between New York and Toronto is a good example of how airport choice changes the fare.
Flexible destinations: if you just want a warm week or a city break, searching several destinations for the same dates can reveal a much cheaper option. Our budget travel destinations list is a good starting point, and cheap flights to Mexico City shows how a big, well-served hub can be cheaper than a smaller resort airport.
Flexible times of day: first flights of the morning and late departures are often cheaper, and early flights are less likely to be delayed by knock-on problems.
Flexible cabin: a premium cabin is sometimes cheaper than you expect on quiet routes. Our guides to business class upgrade strategies and the difference between first class and business class explain when paying up is worth it.

Know the real price before you book

The cheapest fare on a search screen is not always the cheapest trip. Basic economy fares often exclude a full-size carry-on on some airlines, seat selection, changes and sometimes even a checked bag. Ultra-low-cost airlines charge separately for almost everything. Before choosing, add up what you will actually pay.

Cost	Why it matters	What to check
Carry-on bag	Some basic fares allow only a small personal item	The fare rules and the airline’s size limits; see our carry-on size guide
Checked bags	Fees often apply per bag, per direction	Whether the fare includes a bag, and whether paying in advance is cheaper than at the airport
Seat selection	Families and groups who want to sit together may need to pay	The airline’s seating policy for your fare
Changes and cancellations	The cheapest fares are often nonrefundable and unchangeable	Change fees, fare differences and whether you get a credit or a refund
Ground transport	A cheaper distant airport can cost more once you add the transfer	Train, bus, taxi or parking costs to and from both airports
Hotel fees	Resort fees, parking and breakfast add up	The total price for the whole stay

A slightly higher fare that includes a bag and a seat can easily beat a bare-bones fare once extras are added. Our guide to understanding your flight details explains fare brands, baggage allowances and the fine print on your itinerary.

Myths worth ignoring

“Search in incognito mode or prices go up.” There is little evidence that airlines raise fares because you searched before. Prices change because seats sell and fare levels close. Private browsing does no harm, but do not expect it to unlock lower fares.
“Flights get cheaper late at night.” Fares change whenever inventory changes, not on a nightly schedule.
“Always book on a Tuesday.” The day you fly matters; the day you buy mostly does not.
“Last minute is always cheaper.” For hotels in a quiet period, sometimes. For flights, it is usually the most expensive time to buy.
“Book as early as possible.” Booking very far ahead can mean paying before airlines release their sale fares. The sensible windows above are a better guide.

Before you fly: the rest of the series

Booking is only half of a smooth trip. Once your flight is confirmed, these guides cover the rest:

Getting to the airport on time: our guide to how early to arrive for an international flight explains check-in deadlines, security and border controls, and how the answer changes by airport and season.
Understanding your booking: the flight details guide decodes booking references, codeshares, fare brands and boarding passes.
Dressing for the flight: what not to wear on a flight covers comfort, security screening and long-haul practicalities.
Packing the right bag: the carry-on size guide explains how to check limits before you pack.
Flying up front: business class upgrade strategies and first class versus business class.
Destination deals: Las Vegas, Mexico City, New York to Toronto and Toronto.

If you are flying internationally, also check your government’s advice for your destination, such as Canada’s travel advice and advisories or the U.S. State Department’s travel advisories, before you book.

Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) — Pricing a nearby airport, and the transfer, is one of the easiest ways to save (Photo: Wilfredor via Wikimedia Commons, CC0)

Common mistakes that cost money

Fixing dates before checking prices. Look at a fare calendar first, then decide.
Waiting for a busy date to get cheaper. On peak dates, fares usually only go up.
Comparing headline fares instead of totals. Bags, seats and fees change the ranking.
Booking a nonrefundable hotel for uncertain plans. The savings vanish the moment you need to change.
Ignoring the event calendar. One big event can double hotel rates for a weekend.
Forgetting entry requirements. A passport that expires too soon or a missing electronic travel authorization can cost you the whole trip.
Not rechecking refundable bookings. A quick search before the deadline can save real money.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book a flight?

As a guide, about one to three months ahead for domestic trips and two to six months ahead for long-haul international trips, earlier for peak holidays and summer. The best signal is a price alert: book when the fare drops to or below the normal level for your route.

What is the cheapest month to travel?

For many city and European trips, January, February and early December outside the holidays, followed by September and October. Beach destinations are cheaper in late spring and summer. The destination’s own seasons matter more than any general rule.

Is it cheaper to book flights on a particular day of the week?

The day you fly matters more than the day you book. Midweek and Saturday flights are often cheaper; there is little reason to wait for a particular weekday to buy.

Do flight prices go down closer to the date?

Occasionally on quiet routes, but on popular flights and dates, the cheapest seats sell first and fares usually rise as departure approaches.

When should I book a hotel?

For peak dates and events, as soon as your plans are firm, on a refundable rate. For normal dates, a few weeks ahead is usually fine. For quiet periods, waiting can pay. Either way, recheck the price before your cancellation deadline.

Are flight and hotel packages cheaper?

Sometimes, especially for resorts and Las Vegas. Compare the package against separate bookings and check the change and cancellation terms before you pay.

Does searching in incognito mode get cheaper fares?

There is little evidence that it does. Fares change because seats sell and fare levels close, not because you searched before.

Should I book the flight or the hotel first?

Usually the flight, because fares are more volatile and less often refundable. Then book a refundable hotel for the exact nights.

Ready to put this into practice? Start with a flexible date range on our flight search to find the cheapest days, then compare rooms and total prices for the same dates on our hotel search. If you need wheels at the other end, add a rental car once the flight is set.

Keep planning with TicketScanner

International flights booking tips
How early to arrive for an international flight
Flight details, decoded
Booking cheap local flights in the USA
Cyber Monday flight deal destinations
Carry-on size guide
Hotel booking tips to save money
Compare flight prices — see fares across the whole month
Compare hotel prices — search by city and dates
Best time to fly to New York

July 17, 2025

Top 10 Destinations to Book with Cyber Monday Flight Deals

Every year, the Monday after U.S. Thanksgiving turns into one of the busiest days on the travel calendar. Airlines, hotels and booking sites stretch their Black Friday promotions into Cyber Monday, and plenty of travelers use the moment to lock in trips for the winter, spring and even the following summer. Some of those sale fares are genuinely good. Others are ordinary prices with a countdown clock attached. The difference between the two is preparation: knowing where you want to go, what a normal fare looks like for your route, and what the sale fare actually includes. This guide explains how travel sales around Cyber Monday work, how to get ready before the sales start, how to judge whether a fare is really a deal, and ten destinations that make especially good use of a sale fare, with the seasons, airports and practical details for each. It is part of our flight booking series, which starts with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

The short answer

Cyber Monday is a good time to buy travel, not necessarily a good time to travel. The best sale fares are usually for trips in the quieter months that follow, so think about late winter, spring and early fall rather than the holidays. Decide on two or three destinations and a range of dates before the sales begin, and check normal fares for those routes in the weeks before, so you can recognize a real discount. Read the fare rules before paying, because sale fares are often the most restrictive. Book hotels on refundable rates so you can rebook if a better price appears. And remember that for flights to, from or within the United States booked at least seven days out, most airlines let you cancel within 24 hours without penalty. The destinations below all have strong airline competition and plenty of seats, which is what makes sale fares likely. Compare fares across a whole month on our flight search.

The Golden Gate Bridge rising above the fog, seen from Battery Spencer — The best sale fares are usually for trips in the quieter months that follow (Photo: Dongmin03 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

How Black Friday and Cyber Monday travel sales work

Airline sales are not random generosity. They are a tool for filling seats that revenue management systems expect to go empty. That tells you a lot about what a sale will and will not include.

Travel windows favor quiet periods. Sale fares typically apply to flights in the airline’s slow months: early in the new year after the holidays, parts of late winter, and sometimes spring and fall. Peak dates such as Christmas, spring break weeks and midsummer are usually excluded or have very few sale seats.
Seats at the sale price are limited. An airline might offer the sale fare on only a portion of seats on each flight. When those are gone, the price reverts to the normal fare level, even while the sale is still advertised.
Days of the week are restricted. Many sales apply only to certain departure days, often Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, when flights are least full.
Conditions are strict. Sale fares are often nonrefundable, may not allow changes, and are frequently in the basic economy family with no seat selection and limited carry-on allowance.
Sales are not only on one day. Many travel companies run promotions from before Black Friday through Cyber Monday and sometimes beyond, and airlines hold sales at other points in the year too. Missing Cyber Monday does not mean missing your chance to buy a good fare.

Hotels behave a little differently. Hotel sales around Cyber Monday often take the form of discounted prepaid rates, extra nights free, or credits for food and drink. The discount on a prepaid, nonrefundable rate can be real, but so is the risk if your plans change. A flexible rate booked now and rechecked later is often almost as good with none of the risk.

How to prepare before the sales start

The travelers who get the best value out of Cyber Monday do their homework in October and early November.

Shortlist destinations. Pick two or three places you would genuinely like to visit, using the list below as a starting point.
Set a date range, not fixed dates. Decide which months or weeks work for you, and how long a trip you want.
Build a price baseline. Search your routes a few times in the weeks before the sales. Note the typical fare for your dates, including the fare type you would actually buy. Set price alerts. Without a baseline, you cannot tell a discount from a normal price.
Check the calendar at the destination. A big convention, festival or sporting event can make hotels expensive even if flights are cheap. Our events pages, such as New York events and Las Vegas events, show what is on.
Get your details ready. Traveler names exactly as they appear on ID, loyalty numbers, passport details for international trips and the payment card you want to use. Sale seats go quickly, and a fumbled checkout can cost you the fare.
Check your documents. For international trips, make sure passports are valid well beyond your travel dates and check entry requirements. Canadians should read the Government of Canada’s travel advice and advisories; for U.S. domestic flights, adults need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted document, as explained on TSA’s REAL ID page.

How to tell whether a sale fare is really a deal

A red banner and a countdown clock are not evidence of savings. Run every sale fare through these checks.

Check	What to look for	Red flag
Compared with your baseline	A meaningful drop from the fare you saw for the same dates before the sale	The “sale” price matches what you saw a month ago
Fare type	The same fare type you would normally buy, or a clear saving after adding what the basic fare excludes	A basic fare compared against a standard one
Travel dates	Your actual dates are available at the advertised price	The advertised price only exists on dates you cannot use
Total price	Taxes, fees, bags and seats included	A low base fare that grows at checkout
Change and cancellation rules	Rules you can live with if plans move	No changes, no refunds, on a trip that is not yet certain
Schedule	Reasonable departure times and connections	A cheap fare with a very early departure, an overnight layover or two separate tickets

Price rules help with the total. In Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency’s all-inclusive air price advertising rules require advertised air prices to include all mandatory taxes, fees and charges. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission’s rule on junk fees for hotels and short-term rentals requires the total price, including mandatory fees, to be shown up front. Optional extras like bags, seats and parking are still yours to add. Our flight details guide explains how to read fare brands and baggage allowances.

Ten destinations that make the most of a sale fare

These ten cities share what makes sale fares likely: large airports with many airlines competing, lots of seats, and clear quiet seasons when airlines need to fill planes. For each, we note when a sale fare is most useful, which airports to compare and where to read more. None of this is a list of current prices; check live fares on our flight search.

1. New York City

New York rewards almost any length of trip: Broadway, the big museums, Central Park, food from every corner of the world and neighborhoods that feel like different cities. It is also one of the best-served air markets in North America, with three major airports, JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, which keeps competition high. The sale sweet spot is January through early March, when the holiday crowds have gone and hotel rates are at their lowest, with a second window in late spring before summer peak. Winter in New York is cold, but museums, shows and restaurants are indoors, and hotel savings can be substantial. Our guides to the best time to fly to New York and things to do in New York go deeper; compare flights on New York flights and rooms near the theaters on Times Square hotels.

2. Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a mild-weather escape when the rest of the continent is cold, which makes winter and early spring sale fares especially attractive. LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world, and the region also has Burbank, Long Beach, Ontario and Orange County airports, so compare by where you will actually stay. Plan for a city that is spread out: most visitors base themselves in one or two areas and use a car or rideshare for the rest. Read our best time to fly to Los Angeles and Los Angeles car rental or public transit guides, and compare fares on Los Angeles flights.

3. Miami

Miami’s high season is winter, when northern travelers head south, so sale fares for January and February can be valuable if you can find them, while late spring usually brings lower prices and warm water. Summer and early fall are the cheapest but hottest months and fall inside the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June through November; travel insurance and flexible bookings make sense then. Compare Miami International with Fort Lauderdale, depending on where you are staying. Our guides to the best time to fly to Miami and things to do in Miami help you choose, and you can compare flights on Miami flights and hotels on South Beach hotels.

4. Las Vegas

Las Vegas is built for sale fares: huge airline capacity, many carriers and dense competition from across North America. What moves the price is not the season so much as the event calendar. Big conventions, fight nights, major races and holiday weekends can push hotel rates sharply higher, while ordinary midweek dates are often very reasonable. Check the calendar before you buy a sale fare, and compare the total with resort fees included. Our dedicated guide to cheap flights to Las Vegas covers the patterns, along with our best time to fly to Las Vegas and things to do in Las Vegas guides. Compare fares on Las Vegas flights.

5. Chicago

Chicago has world-class architecture, museums, a lakefront and a food scene well beyond deep-dish pizza. Winter is cold and windy, which is exactly why January and February fares and hotel rates can be low. Late spring and early fall are the sweet spots for weather and value; summer is lively and priced accordingly. Compare O’Hare and Midway: Midway is closer to downtown for many visitors, O’Hare has more airlines. Our best time to fly to Chicago and things to do in Chicago guides help you plan, and you can compare fares on Chicago flights.

The Chicago skyline seen from the Nichols Bridgeway in Millennium Park — Chicago's cold months are often its cheapest (Photo: Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

6. San Francisco

San Francisco’s weather is famously unpredictable, with cool, foggy summers and often clear, pleasant falls, so September and October are some of its best months. Conference weeks can push hotel rates very high, so check the convention calendar before buying a sale fare. Compare SFO, Oakland and San Jose by where you will spend your time. The city is compact and well served by transit, so many visitors skip the rental car. Read our best time to fly to San Francisco and things to do in San Francisco guides and compare fares on San Francisco flights.

7. Orlando

Orlando is the family destination of choice, which means the most expensive weeks follow the school calendar: spring break, summer and the holidays. Sale fares are most valuable for the quieter periods, such as parts of January and February, late April and May outside holidays, and early fall. Orlando International is the main airport, with Orlando Sanford as an alternative on some routes. Theme park tickets and hotel stays add up quickly, so compare packages with separate bookings and read the change rules carefully. Compare fares on Orlando flights and hotels on Orlando hotels.

8. Seattle

Seattle’s summers are dry and beautiful and its winters are gray and damp, and fares follow the weather: July and August are the peak, while the rainy season is usually cheaper. Pike Place Market, the waterfront, the Space Needle, ferries across Puget Sound and day trips into the mountains all work year-round, but spring and early fall offer the best balance. Seattle-Tacoma International is the main airport; our Sea-Tac airport guide covers terminals and getting into the city. See our best time to fly to Seattle and things to do in Seattle guides, and compare fares on Seattle flights.

Bell Street Pier and the Space Needle seen from Elliott Bay in Seattle — Seattle fares follow the weather, with summer the peak (Photo: Joe Mabel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

9. Austin

Austin is known for live music, barbecue, Tex-Mex, swimming holes and a busy festival calendar. That calendar is the key to prices: major festival and conference weeks fill the city and send hotel rates soaring, while ordinary weeks are much calmer. Summers are very hot, so spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. Austin-Bergstrom International is the airport, a short drive from downtown. Search for Austin on our main flight search and compare dates across the month so you can see which weeks the festivals push up. If you are combining Austin with another Texas city, our Houston and Dallas guides can help.

10. Washington, D.C.

Washington is one of the best-value major cities in North America for sightseeing, because the Smithsonian museums and the monuments on the National Mall are free. Spring brings cherry blossom season and big crowds; late fall and winter outside the holidays are quieter and cheaper. Compare Reagan National, which is on the Metro close to the city, with Dulles and Baltimore/Washington. Read our best time to fly to Washington, D.C., things to do in Washington, D.C. and rent a car or take the Metro guides, and compare fares on Washington, D.C. flights.

The ten destinations at a glance

Destination	Airports to compare	When a sale fare helps most	Watch out for
New York City	JFK, LaGuardia, Newark	January to early March; late spring	Holiday season and big event weekends
Los Angeles	LAX, Burbank, Long Beach, Ontario, Orange County	Winter and early spring	Long drives between areas; pick your base
Miami	Miami, Fort Lauderdale	Late spring; winter if you find a real deal	Winter peak; hurricane season June to November
Las Vegas	Harry Reid International	Midweek dates without big events	Convention and event weekends; resort fees
Chicago	O’Hare, Midway	Late winter; late spring and early fall	Cold January weather; summer peak
San Francisco	SFO, Oakland, San Jose	September and October; winter weekdays	Conference weeks
Orlando	Orlando International, Sanford	Quiet weeks outside school holidays	Spring break, summer, holidays
Seattle	Seattle-Tacoma	Spring and early fall	Summer peak; rainy winters
Austin	Austin-Bergstrom	Ordinary spring and fall weeks	Festival weeks; summer heat
Washington, D.C.	Reagan National, Dulles, BWI	Late fall and winter outside holidays	Cherry blossom season crowds

Flying from Canada? What changes

Many of our readers fly from Canadian cities, and a few things differ for cross-border trips. Transborder fares from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary can be competitive during sales, but also compare driving to a nearby U.S. airport, including the cost of parking, fuel, tolls and time. Several major Canadian airports, including Toronto Pearson, offer U.S. preclearance, so you clear U.S. border formalities before you leave and arrive as a domestic passenger. Check the exchange rate when comparing fares priced in different currencies, and see the Government of Canada’s advice on travel to the United States for entry requirements. For a close look at one of the busiest cross-border routes, read our guide to cheap flights between New York and Toronto; for the reverse direction, our Toronto flight deals guide covers flying in.

The west front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. — Washington's free museums make it strong value outside cherry blossom season (Photo: Architect of the Capitol via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Book the hotel and the car too

A cheap flight is only half a cheap trip. Once your sale fare is booked, move quickly on the rest, because hotel rates on your dates can rise as other sale shoppers book.

Book a refundable room first. Reserve on a flexible rate for your exact nights on our hotel search, then keep checking for better rates before the cancellation deadline. Our hotel booking tips guide explains how to compare total prices and neighborhoods.
Only prepay if you are certain. A prepaid hotel sale rate is worth it if your trip is fixed and the discount is real.
Decide whether you need a car. In New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington you probably do not; in Los Angeles, Orlando and Austin you probably do. Compare on our car rental search.
Consider timing for the holidays. If you are planning a festive trip, our guide to the best cities for Christmas in the USA shows which cities are worth it, and why booking early matters.

Common mistakes during travel sales

Buying a trip you had not planned. A cheap fare to somewhere you did not want to go is not a saving.
Not checking the fare type. A basic fare with no carry-on and no seat selection can cost more than a standard fare once you add what you need.
Ignoring the hotel side. A cheap flight on a weekend when the city is full of conventioneers is not a cheap trip.
Forgetting the return. Check both directions of a round trip; the sale may only apply to one.
Booking nonrefundable everything. Keep at least the hotel flexible if you can.
Waiting for the last hour of the sale. Sale seats are limited. If your fare meets your target price, book it.
Assuming Cyber Monday is the only chance. Airlines run sales throughout the year; a fare that meets your baseline in any month is worth taking.

Frequently asked questions

Are Cyber Monday flight deals really cheaper?

Sometimes. Sale fares can be genuinely lower for travel in quieter months, but some “deals” are ordinary prices. Compare against the fare you saw for the same dates before the sale, with the same fare type and extras included.

What dates do Cyber Monday sale fares usually cover?

Each airline sets its own terms, but sale fares commonly apply to travel in the slower months that follow, with blackout dates around major holidays. Always check the travel window and day-of-week restrictions in the fare rules.

Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better for flights?

Neither is reliably better. Many promotions run across the whole period. Prepare in advance and book when a fare meets your target.

Can I cancel a sale fare?

For flights to, from or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure, most airlines let you cancel within 24 hours without penalty. After that, sale fares are often nonrefundable, so read the rules before you pay.

Should I book the hotel during the sale too?

Book a refundable room as soon as your flight is set, then recheck the price. Only choose a prepaid sale rate if your plans are certain and the discount is meaningful.

Which destinations usually have the best sale fares?

Big airports with lots of airline competition and clear quiet seasons, such as the ten cities above, are where sale fares appear most often. Smaller airports with one or two airlines see fewer and shallower sales.

Are sale fares refundable if the airline changes my flight?

If an airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you choose not to travel, U.S. Department of Transportation rules say you are entitled to a refund, even on a nonrefundable fare. Canadian passengers have rights under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. The details depend on the situation, so check the rules for your trip.

Ready for the next sale? Build your price baseline now on our flight search by checking your routes across a whole month, shortlist hotels for the same dates on our hotel search, and you will know a real deal the moment you see one. For more on timing, read our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

Keep planning with TicketScanner

Best time to book cheap flights and hotels
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Compare flight prices — build a price baseline before the sales
Best time to fly to New York

November 28, 2024

Hacks for Scoring a Cheap Airline Business Class Upgrade

A lie-flat seat on an overnight flight can turn a trip you survive into a trip you enjoy, and it is natural to wonder whether there is a clever way to get one without paying the full business class fare. There is, but it rarely looks like the tricks that circulate online. Nobody reliably talks their way into the front cabin at the gate, and a nice jacket is not a boarding pass. What actually works is understanding how airlines sell and give away premium seats, then putting yourself in the right place at the right moment: on the right fare, on the right flight, with the right offer in front of you or the right points in your account. This guide explains how upgrades really work, the five genuine routes to a better seat, when each one pays off, how to judge whether an upgrade is worth the money, and which popular “hacks” to stop worrying about. It is part of our flight booking series, which starts with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

The short answer

If you only remember a handful of things, make it these. Do not buy the cheapest basic fare if you want any chance of an upgrade, because many airlines exclude those fares from both paid and complimentary upgrades. Price the premium cabin outright before you book economy, because a discounted business fare sometimes costs less than economy plus an upgrade. Watch for paid upgrade offers after you book, in the airline’s app, at online check-in and at the airport, since prices often fall as departure approaches and seats remain empty. Use miles for upgrades only when the numbers make sense, and check which fares are eligible first. Concentrate your flying with one airline or alliance if you fly often enough for elite status to matter, because status is what drives complimentary upgrades. And choose flights where premium seats are likely to go unsold: off-peak days, leisure routes and less popular departure times. Start by comparing fares, cabins and dates on our flight search.

A lie-flat business class suite in a Delta One cabin — A lie-flat business class seat: most valuable on an overnight flight (Photo: Delta News Hub via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

How airline upgrades actually work

Every premium seat an airline flies empty is revenue it will never get back, so airlines work hard to fill those seats. They do it in a predictable order, and knowing that order explains almost every upgrade tip worth following.

First, they try to sell the seat

The airline’s first choice is to sell a business class seat at a business class fare. Revenue management systems release premium seats at several price levels and watch how quickly they sell. On routes with strong corporate demand, such as weekday flights between major business centers, the front cabin often sells out at high fares. On leisure routes and off-peak days, it may not, and that is where discounted premium fares and cheap upgrade offers come from.

Then they sell it to someone already booked

As departure approaches and seats remain unsold, the airline starts offering them to passengers who have already bought economy or premium economy tickets. These offers appear during booking, in the airline’s app or website after you book, at online check-in, at airport kiosks and sometimes at the gate. Some airlines run an auction instead, inviting passengers to bid for the seat. The price of these offers is set by the airline’s systems and changes with demand, so two passengers on the same flight may be offered different prices on different days.

Then they give it to their best customers

Whatever remains is typically used for complimentary upgrades for elite members of the airline’s loyalty program, and for upgrades booked with miles or upgrade certificates. Airlines rank the list by rules that usually weigh elite tier first, then the fare you paid, then when you requested the upgrade, though each airline sets its own order. Delta, for example, publishes its complimentary upgrade windows by Medallion tier on its Medallion benefits page: higher tiers become eligible earlier before departure. Because programs change, check your airline’s current rules before you count on any of this.

Finally, operational upgrades

Very occasionally, when economy is oversold and premium seats are empty, an airline moves passengers forward to make room. These are rare and usually go to elite members first, so treat one as a pleasant surprise, not a strategy.

The five real routes to a premium seat

Almost every legitimate upgrade comes through one of these five doors. The table compares them before we look at each in detail.

Route	What it costs	Best for	Watch out for
Buy a discounted premium fare	Cash, sometimes surprisingly close to economy plus extras	Anyone with flexible dates on leisure routes	Fare rules, and whether the “business” seat is actually lie-flat
Paid upgrade offer after booking	Cash, priced by demand	Travelers who want certainty before the flight	Fare eligibility and whether the offer covers every flight
Upgrade bid or auction	Cash, only if your bid is accepted	Flexible travelers on flights with empty premium seats	Bidding more than the seat is worth to you
Miles or points upgrade	Miles, sometimes plus a cash co-pay	Members with a healthy balance and an eligible fare	Limited availability and poor value per mile
Elite status or certificates	Your loyalty over a year of flying	Frequent flyers concentrated on one airline or alliance	Long upgrade lists on busy routes

1. Buy a discounted premium fare outright

The most overlooked upgrade is not an upgrade at all. Premium cabins go on sale, especially on routes where the airline has more business seats than business travelers, and during quieter seasons. Before you buy economy and hope, run the same search in business and premium economy across a range of dates. Flexibility matters here even more than in economy: the same route can carry very different premium fares on different days of the week. Our guide to the best time to book flights and hotels explains the seasons and booking windows, and the same patterns apply to the front of the plane.

When you compare, count everything. A premium fare usually includes checked bags, seat selection, priority check-in and boarding, better food and often lounge access. If you would have paid for bags, a seat and airport food anyway, the true gap between economy and business is smaller than the headline fares suggest.

2. Paid upgrade offers after booking

Once you hold a ticket, keep an eye on the airline’s app and your booking page. Many airlines show a price to move up to the next cabin, and that price is not fixed. On flights where premium seats are selling slowly, offers often become cheaper in the days before departure, and they reappear at online check-in and at the airport kiosk. Delta, for instance, explains on its upgrades page that eligible travelers can upgrade after booking through its website or app, for cash or miles, when a seat is available.

Two cautions. First, read what the offer covers: an upgrade may apply to one flight of a connecting itinerary rather than the whole journey. Second, check how it interacts with changes. If you voluntarily change your flight after upgrading, some airlines do not carry the upgrade over. Delta’s own page says exactly that, so assume the same until your airline tells you otherwise.

3. Upgrade bids and auctions

Several airlines let economy passengers bid for a premium seat, usually by invitation by email or through the booking page after purchase. You name an amount within a range the airline sets, provide payment details, and are charged only if your bid is accepted, typically a day or two before departure or at check-in. Whether you win depends on how many seats are empty, how many other passengers bid and what the airline decides to accept, none of which you can see.

The right way to bid is to decide what the upgrade is worth to you before you look at the range. Ask yourself what you would pay for a lie-flat seat on this particular flight if it were on sale at booking. Bid that, and no more. If your bid fails, you have lost nothing but a little hope. Avoid the temptation to bid near the top of the range out of fear of missing out: at that level you may be paying close to a premium fare while taking the risk of not getting the seat at all, and you could have bought the seat outright with certainty.

Bidding programs come and go, and their rules differ, so look for the offer in your booking and read the terms rather than assuming your airline runs one.

4. Miles and points

Most loyalty programs let you use miles to move up a cabin, either through the website and app or by calling the airline. Some add a cash co-pay, and many restrict upgrades to certain fare classes, which is why the cheapest economy tickets usually cannot be upgraded with miles. Delta’s upgrade page, for example, excludes its basic fares from upgrades with miles and notes that upgrading yourself online requires the whole reservation to be marketed and operated by Delta, while some partner flights can be upgraded by calling reservations.

To judge whether a miles upgrade is good value, compare it with two alternatives: the cash price of the same upgrade, and what those miles would buy as an award ticket. If the miles would otherwise cover a whole economy ticket for another trip, spending them on a short daytime upgrade is usually poor value. On an overnight long-haul flight, where a flat bed can decide whether you are functional the next day, it may be the best use of your balance.

Points from bank and credit card programs can often be transferred to airline programs. That flexibility is useful, but transfers are usually one-way, so never move points until you have confirmed that the upgrade or award seat is actually available.

5. Elite status and upgrade certificates

Complimentary upgrades are the classic perk of airline elite status. They are real, but they are earned through a lot of flying or spending with one airline, and on busy routes the upgrade list can be long. Delta’s Medallion program is a good illustration of how structured these benefits are: its benefits page lists complimentary upgrades to Delta First and Delta Comfort for Medallion members on eligible tickets, excluding its basic fares, with the upgrade window opening earlier for higher tiers, and some top-tier benefits include upgrade certificates that can be requested in advance. The details change from year to year, so read the current page rather than relying on a summary.

Status is worth pursuing only if you already fly enough for it to happen naturally. Buying extra flights just to reach a tier rarely pays off for an occasional traveler, and the money is usually better spent buying a premium fare on the one trip that matters.

Wide recliner seats in the domestic first class cabin of a Boeing 737 — On short flights in North America, the upgrade is usually a wider recliner, not a bed (Photo: LuccaV via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Timing: which flights are most likely to have cheap upgrades

Upgrade prices follow the same demand patterns as fares. You cannot see how full a cabin is in every case, but you can make sensible bets.

Off-peak days and seasons. Midweek flights outside holidays, and the shoulder and low seasons for your destination, tend to have more empty premium seats. The fare seasons in our booking timing guide apply here too.
Leisure-heavy routes. Flights to beach and holiday destinations often carry few full-fare business travelers, so airlines are more willing to sell the front cabin cheaply.
Weekends on business routes. A route packed with corporate travelers on Monday morning may have plenty of premium space on Saturday.
Less popular departure times. Very early and late flights sometimes carry fewer premium passengers than the mid-morning and early-evening banks.
Close to departure. Paid offers often get cheaper in the final days if seats remain empty, but on popular flights they can also disappear entirely. If a price is one you are happy to pay, taking it is better than gambling.

Avoid counting on upgrades at the busiest times of year. During major holidays, school breaks and big events, premium cabins often sell out at full price, and elite upgrade lists are at their longest.

Fares matter more than any trick

The single most important upgrade decision happens when you choose your fare. Basic economy products have become common, and they are designed for travelers who want the lowest price and accept strict limits. Upgrades are one of the things they usually give up. Delta’s page for Delta Main Basic, its basic economy product, lists paid or complimentary upgrades among the benefits the fare is not eligible for. Other airlines have similar rules.

If there is any chance you will want to upgrade, whether with cash, miles or status, the standard economy fare is often worth the difference. The same logic applies to premium economy: on a long flight, it can be both a worthwhile product in its own right and a stepping stone, since the price to move from premium economy to business is sometimes lower than from economy.

Understanding what you are buying helps here. Our guide to reading your flight details explains fare brands, fare classes and the codes on your booking, and our international flights booking tips cover how to compare fare brands on long-haul routes.

The popular hacks, honestly assessed

A lot of upgrade advice has been repeated so often that it sounds true. Here is how the common suggestions hold up.

Travel solo

There is a sound logic to this one. When a single premium seat is left, it can only go to one person, and a couple or family on one booking may not be moved forward unless there is room for everyone, depending on the airline’s rules. Traveling alone does not make you more deserving; it simply means you need one seat rather than several. If you are traveling with others and only one of you is offered an upgrade, decide in advance whether you would split up.

Dress the part

Looking neat is a good idea, but modern upgrades are mostly decided by software using status, fare and timing, not by an agent scanning the line for good tailoring. Dressing well will not create an upgrade that the system has not assigned. It may help at the margins if an agent is choosing between otherwise equal passengers, but there is no reliable evidence that it moves the odds much. Wear what is comfortable and practical, and if you want ideas, our guide to what not to wear on a flight covers the balance between comfort and looking put together.

Be polite

Always, but not as a tactic. Courtesy makes seat changes and rebooking go more smoothly; it will not override the upgrade list.

Check in early and ask at the gate

Checking in as soon as your window opens has real benefits: you see any paid upgrade offer early, you get a better choice of seats, and on some airlines the time you requested or checked in can play a role in tie-breaking. Asking at the gate costs nothing, and some airlines do sell remaining premium seats there. Keep your request short: ask whether there are any paid upgrades available, accept the answer gracefully, and step aside. If an offer is made, confirm the price before you hand over a card.

Book a premium economy or flexible fare

The original version of this guide suggested that premium or flexible fares can come with upgrade options. That is broadly right: higher fares tend to rank ahead of cheaper ones on upgrade lists, are more often eligible for miles upgrades, and sometimes come with cheaper paid upgrade offers. The exact benefits depend on the airline, so check the fare rules at booking.

Passengers seated at a departure gate waiting to board a flight — Asking once at the gate about paid upgrades costs nothing (Photo: Wolfmann via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Is an upgrade actually worth it?

A premium seat is a luxury on some flights and nearly a necessity on others. A simple framework helps you decide how much to pay.

Price it by the hour of useful sleep

On an overnight transatlantic or transpacific flight, business class buys you a flat bed and the chance to arrive rested. Divide the upgrade price by the hours of sleep it gives you and compare it with what a hotel night costs at your destination. If you would otherwise lose most of your first day to exhaustion, the value can be high. On a two-hour daytime hop, the same money buys a wider seat, a snack and priority boarding, which is pleasant but rarely life-changing.

Count what comes included

Premium tickets often include checked bags, lounge access, priority security at some airports and better meals. If you were going to pay for two checked bags and eat at the airport, subtract those costs from the upgrade price. Delta’s page for Delta First lists up to two free checked bags among its benefits, for example, and its Delta One page describes lie-flat seats on international and select long-haul domestic routes. Check the current inclusions for your fare, because airlines increasingly sell stripped-back versions of premium cabins too.

Know what seat you are buying

“Business class” covers a huge range of products. On a long-haul widebody, it usually means a lie-flat seat; on a short-haul flight in North America, the premium cabin is usually a wider recliner branded as first class; on many European short-haul flights, business class can mean an economy seat with the middle seat kept empty. Before you pay for an upgrade, look at the seat map and the aircraft type. Our guide to the difference between first class and business class explains how to tell what you are really getting.

Consider the alternatives

Sometimes a smaller spend solves the real problem. An extra-legroom economy seat, a premium economy seat or even a well-chosen standard seat can make a long flight far more bearable for a fraction of the price. Delta’s Delta Comfort, for instance, adds extra legroom, earlier boarding and dedicated overhead bin space without the cost of a premium cabin.

Lounges: the upgrade you can sometimes buy separately

For many travelers, the best part of business class happens before the flight. A quiet lounge with food, showers and reliable Wi-Fi can transform a long connection. Premium tickets usually include lounge access on international flights, but you do not always need the ticket to get the lounge. Depending on the airline, you may be able to buy a day pass, access lounges through an airline membership, or get entry through certain credit cards or elite status. Rules differ widely and change often, including exclusions for basic versions of premium fares; Delta’s Delta One page, for example, notes that some lounge access excludes its basic business fare. If lounge access is the main thing you want, price it on its own before paying for a full upgrade.

Seating and windows in an airline lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — Lounge access is sometimes available without buying a premium ticket (Photo: Zheng Zhou via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

A step-by-step plan for your next long flight

Search economy, premium economy and business together. Compare the full prices across flexible dates on our flight search, and note how much the premium cabins cost on different days.
Look at the aircraft and seat map. Confirm that the business seat on your flight is actually lie-flat if that is what you are paying for.
Choose an upgrade-friendly fare. If you are buying economy, avoid the basic fare so that paid, miles and status upgrades remain possible.
Credit the flight to one program. Put your frequent flyer number on the booking so you earn miles, receive offers and appear on any upgrade list you qualify for.
Watch for offers. Check the airline’s app and your booking page periodically, especially in the week before departure and when online check-in opens.
Bid sensibly if invited. Decide what the seat is worth to you and bid that, not the maximum.
Check in as soon as the window opens. Review any offer, choose the best available seat and confirm your upgrade status.
Enjoy whatever seat you end up in. Pack for comfort either way: layers, a good pillow and headphones make economy much better. Our guide to airplane pillows and our pick of noise-cancelling headphones for flying are good places to start.

Upgrades on connecting and partner flights

Each flight on a connecting journey is usually handled separately, so you might be upgraded on the long-haul flight but not the short connection. The operating airline controls the seat, which means upgrades on partner-operated flights are often more limited; Delta’s upgrade page draws exactly this distinction. Keep connections on one ticket so delays are protected and your requests stay attached to the whole journey, and leave extra time if you hope to sort out an upgrade at check-in. Our guide to how early to arrive for an international flight gives realistic timings.

Common upgrade mistakes

Buying basic economy and hoping. Most basic fares are excluded from upgrades entirely.
Paying for an upgrade on a short flight that you would not buy at booking. Decide your price first so the moment does not decide for you.
Bidding the maximum. At that level, buying the premium fare outright may have been cheaper and certain.
Spending miles at poor value. Compare the miles cost with the cash price and with what the miles would buy as an award.
Transferring points before confirming availability. Transfers are usually irreversible.
Not checking the seat. Paying for “business” and getting an economy seat with an empty middle is a common disappointment on short routes.
Changing your flight after upgrading. Some airlines do not carry an upgrade over to a new flight.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to fly business class?

Usually a discounted business fare on a leisure route or an off-peak date, found by searching flexible dates in the premium cabin from the start. Paid upgrade offers and bids can also be good value on flights with empty premium seats, and miles upgrades can work well on overnight flights if your fare is eligible.

Can you still get a free upgrade just by asking?

Rarely. Complimentary upgrades mostly go to elite members according to published rules. Asking at check-in or the gate about paid upgrades is reasonable and costs nothing, but a free upgrade for a polite request is not something to plan around.

Does dressing well get you upgraded?

There is no reliable evidence that it does. Upgrades are mainly decided by status, fare and timing. Dress neatly and comfortably because it makes travel pleasant, not because it will move you forward.

Can I upgrade a basic economy ticket?

Often not. Many airlines exclude basic economy from paid, miles and complimentary upgrades. Delta, for example, lists upgrades among the benefits its basic fare does not include. Check your airline’s fare rules before you buy.

When do upgrade offers appear?

At booking, in your booking page or the airline’s app afterward, at online check-in and sometimes at airport kiosks or the gate. Prices can drop as departure approaches if seats remain unsold, but on busy flights they can also disappear.

Are upgrade bids worth it?

They can be, if you bid what the seat is genuinely worth to you and treat a rejection as no loss. Bidding near the maximum rarely makes sense, because you might have bought the seat outright for a similar price.

Is it better to use miles for an upgrade or a free flight?

It depends on the value. Compare the miles price of the upgrade with the cash price of the same upgrade and with what an award ticket would cost in miles. Upgrades tend to be the better use on long overnight flights, where a flat bed makes the most difference.

Do elite members always get upgraded?

No. Even elite members depend on seat availability, their tier relative to others on the list and their fare. On busy routes and at peak times, many elites do not clear.

Ready to see what a premium seat really costs on your route? Compare economy, premium economy and business fares across flexible dates on our flight search, then find somewhere to recover in comfort with our hotel search. For the timing that makes every fare cheaper, start with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

Keep planning with TicketScanner

November 24, 2023

How Early Should You Arrive at the Airport Before Your International Flight

“Get there three hours early” is the standard advice for international flights, and for many trips it is about right. But it is a rule of thumb, not a law. The time you actually need depends on the airport, the season, the time of day, whether you are checking bags, which border controls you pass through before boarding and who you are traveling with. Arrive too late and you can miss a check-in deadline you did not know existed, even with the plane still at the gate. Arrive far too early and you spend hours in a terminal you did not need to be in. This guide explains what the three hours is actually for, the deadlines that matter, the factors that add or remove time, how U.S. preclearance at Canadian airports changes the math, what happens when you land, and how to build a timeline for your own flight.

The short answer

For most international flights, plan to arrive about three hours before departure, which is what many airlines and large airports recommend. Allow more at peak holiday periods, at very large or unfamiliar airports, when you are checking bags, traveling with children or needing assistance, and when you clear U.S. customs and immigration before boarding at a Canadian airport. You can cut it closer at a smaller airport, off-peak, with no checked bags and a trusted traveler membership, but never plan to arrive after the airline’s check-in and bag drop deadlines. The three numbers to look up for every flight are the check-in cutoff, the bag drop cutoff and the boarding gate closing time. Your airline’s website lists them, and your airport’s website usually lists its own recommended arrival times.

Travelers lined up for security screening at Toronto Pearson International Airport — A security line at Toronto Pearson: the least predictable step in any airport timeline (Photo: Mike from Vancouver, Canada via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

What the three hours is actually for

The recommendation is built from a sequence of steps, each of which can take a few minutes or a long time depending on the day. Here is a typical international departure, working backward from the departure time.

Step	Typical time needed	What can slow it down
Getting to the airport and into the terminal	Varies; add a buffer to your normal travel time	Traffic, parking shuttles, rental car returns, weather
Check-in and bag drop	A few minutes to more than an hour	Peak times, document checks, oversize items, overweight bags
Security screening	A few minutes to more than an hour	Time of day, holidays, bags pulled for extra screening
Exit controls or U.S. preclearance (some airports)	A few minutes to an hour or more	Several departures at once, secondary inspection
Walking or taking a train to the gate	5 to 30 minutes at large airports	Remote gates, terminal transfers
Boarding	Often begins 30 to 60 minutes before departure on long-haul flights	Document checks at the gate on international flights

On a quiet day, all of this can take well under an hour. On a busy day, each step can stack. The three-hour guideline gives you enough margin for a bad day at most large airports, and on a good day, time for a meal before you board.

The deadlines that actually matter

Airlines set hard cutoffs, and missing them can cost you your seat even if the aircraft has not left. These vary by airline, airport and route, so check the details for your flight; the principles are the same everywhere.

Check-in cutoff

This is the latest time you can check in for your flight, online or at the airport. For international flights, it is commonly around 60 minutes before departure and can be earlier at some airports and on some routes. After the cutoff, the system may close and the airline can give your seat away. Checking in online, often from 24 hours before departure, protects you from missing this one, but international passengers sometimes must still have documents verified at the counter before a boarding pass is issued.

Bag drop cutoff

If you are checking a bag, there is usually a separate, and sometimes earlier, deadline for dropping it off. Bags need time to be screened and loaded. Arrive after the bag drop closes and you may be told you can fly without the bag or not at all.

Boarding gate closing time

Gates typically close somewhere from 10 to 30 minutes before departure, often earlier on international and wide-body flights, so the airline can finalize the passenger list and close the doors on time. “Departure time” means the time the aircraft door closes and it pushes back, not the time you need to reach the gate.

Put all three times in your calendar the day before, and plan to be at the gate well before boarding begins. Our flight details guide explains where to find these times on your booking and boarding pass.

What adds time, and what saves it

Factor	Effect	What to do
Peak holidays and school breaks	Longer lines at every step	Add an hour to your usual buffer
Early morning departure bank	Many flights leave at once; security can be busy right after opening	Check when security opens and arrive with margin
Checked bags	Adds the bag drop step and its cutoff	Use online check-in and bag tags where offered
Children, strollers, car seats	Slower at security and check-in	Add 30 minutes or more; see family lanes where available
Wheelchair or mobility assistance	Assistance must be arranged and can take time	Request assistance in advance through the airline and arrive early
Pets, sports equipment, oversized items	Special handling counters and documents	Confirm airline procedures and add time
U.S. preclearance or exit passport control	An extra border control before the gate	Add time; use trusted traveler programs if eligible
Returning a rental car	Return, inspection and shuttle to the terminal	Add 30 minutes or more; see our car rental return timing guide
Trusted traveler membership	Faster security or border lanes	Can cut time significantly, but lanes are not always open
Carry-on only, checked in online	Skips the counter entirely at many airports	Go straight to security if no document check is required

Trusted traveler programs

If you fly internationally more than once or twice a year, a trusted traveler program is the most effective way to shorten your airport time.

NEXUS is a joint Canada and U.S. program for pre-approved travelers. It provides expedited border processing when entering Canada and the United States, and members can use dedicated security lines at many Canadian airports.
Global Entry is the U.S. program for expedited entry into the United States for pre-approved travelers.
TSA PreCheck provides expedited security screening at participating U.S. airports, on participating airlines.

Applications take time and include an interview or in-person step, so apply well before a trip. Eligibility and benefits change, so check the official page before relying on a program for a specific flight.

Rows of airline check-in counters in an international departure hall — Check-in and bag drop close well before departure, even when the plane is still at the gate (Photo: Cheng-en Cheng via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Flying from Canada to the U.S.: preclearance

Several large Canadian airports, including Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Halifax, have U.S. preclearance. That means you go through U.S. customs and immigration in Canada, before you board, and arrive in the United States as if on a domestic flight.

Preclearance makes arrival easy, but it moves a border control to the start of your trip. After check-in and security, you queue for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the time this takes varies with how many U.S.-bound flights are leaving at once. For that reason, transborder flights often need as much time as long-haul international flights. Many airports and airlines recommend arriving around the same time as for international departures. Checked bags travel through the preclearance process too, so bag drop deadlines can be earlier.

If you are traveling between Canada and the U.S., our guide to cheap flights between New York and Toronto covers the route, and our Toronto Pearson airport guide explains the terminals.

Departing from the U.S., the UK and Europe

From the United States

The U.S. does not have exit passport control in the way many countries do. After check-in, you go through TSA screening, and your airline checks your passport and any required visa or authorization for your destination at check-in or the gate. The liquids rule for carry-on bags is explained on the TSA liquids page, and the full list of what you can bring is on TSA’s What Can I Bring page.

From Canada

Canada does not have exit immigration either. Screening is carried out by CATSA, whose site lists what you can pack. For flights to the United States from a preclearance airport, add the U.S. border step described above.

From the UK and the Schengen area

Leaving the Schengen area involves exit passport control after security, and the EU’s digital Entry/Exit System, which records non-EU travelers’ biometrics, can add time, particularly during rollout and at busy times. Large hubs such as London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle also have long walks and transit trains between areas, so allow extra time when returning home too.

Security rules that slow people down

Most delays at screening come from avoidable items in carry-on bags. The main principles are similar at most airports, though details differ and change, so check before you fly.

Liquids: in Canada and the U.S., carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols generally must be in containers of 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less, together in one clear, resealable bag of about one liter. Some airports with newer scanners have relaxed these rules, but assume the limit applies unless your departure airport says otherwise, and remember the return airport may have different rules.
Electronics: have laptops and larger electronics easy to reach in case you are asked to remove them.
Sharp items and tools: check the rules for knives, scissors, tools and sporting goods before packing.
Batteries: spare lithium batteries and power banks typically must be in carry-on, not checked bags.
Clothing: belts with big buckles, heavy jewelry and complicated footwear slow things down. Our guide to what not to wear on a flight covers what makes screening easier.
Bag size: an oversized carry-on can be sent back to check-in at the gate. Check your airline’s limits; our carry-on size guide explains how.

Getting to the airport

Your airport timeline starts at home. Build a buffer into the journey itself, especially at rush hour and in winter.

Public transit and airport trains: often the most predictable option at rush hour. Toronto has the UP Express from Union Station to Pearson, and Vancouver’s Canada Line runs to YVR. Check the first and last trains for early or late flights.
Driving and parking: allow time to park and take a shuttle from long-term lots, which can add 20 to 30 minutes. Reserve airport parking ahead at busy times.
Rental car returns: returning a car, having it inspected and taking a shuttle to the terminal can take longer than expected.
Staying near the airport: for very early departures, a hotel near the airport can remove the biggest source of uncertainty. Our hotel search can show properties near major airports.

The gate areas along the concourse of Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson — At large airports the walk to the gate can take 20 minutes or more; gates close 10 to 30 minutes before departure (Photo: Daniel Case via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

How to build your own timeline

Instead of guessing, work backward from your flight.

Start with departure time and look up the gate closing time for your airline. Aim to be at the gate at least 15 minutes before boarding begins.
Add the walk to the gate, which can be 20 minutes or more at large airports.
Add security and any border control. Many airports show estimated wait times online. At busy times, allow at least 30 to 60 minutes for each.
Add check-in and bag drop if you need them, and make sure the result is well before the cutoffs.
Add your journey to the airport plus a buffer for traffic or transit delays.

For most international trips, this works out close to the three-hour guideline. At a small airport off-peak, with no bags and a trusted traveler card, it may be less. At a major hub during the holidays, it may be more.

Examples

Scenario	Suggested arrival	Why
Long-haul flight from a major hub, checked bags, summer	3 hours or a little more	Busy counters, security and long walks
Transborder flight from a Canadian preclearance airport	About 3 hours, especially at peak times	Security plus U.S. customs and immigration before boarding
International flight from a small regional airport, carry-on only	About 2 hours	Shorter lines, but deadlines still apply
Family with young children and a stroller, holiday period	3.5 hours or more	Every step takes longer, and you want time for a break
Traveler needing wheelchair assistance	At least the airline’s recommended time, plus a buffer	Assistance is coordinated across check-in, security and the gate

These are planning examples, not guarantees. Always check your airline’s and airport’s current recommendations for your flight.

Notes on some major airports

Every airport publishes its own advice, and it is worth reading before you go. A few patterns at airports our readers use most:

Toronto Pearson (YYZ): Canada’s busiest airport, with two terminals connected by a free automated train. Know which terminal your airline uses before you set out, and allow time for U.S. preclearance on transborder flights. The Toronto Pearson website shows current guidance and security wait estimates.
Vancouver (YVR): the main gateway to Asia and a preclearance airport for U.S. flights. Domestic, U.S. and international departures use different areas of the terminal, so follow signs for your flight type.
Montreal-Trudeau (YUL): handles domestic, transborder and international flights in one terminal building with separate zones, and has U.S. preclearance.
Calgary (YYC): has U.S. preclearance and a busy international area in summer and during the ski season.
New York JFK: several separate terminals linked by the AirTrain. Road traffic to the airport can be slow, so many travelers use rail connections to the AirTrain instead of a taxi at rush hour.
London Heathrow (LHR): multiple terminals that are not all walkable from each other; check your terminal, and allow for long walks and transit to remote gates.
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): a very large airport where terminals can be far apart. Leave time for exit passport control on flights leaving the Schengen area.

Whatever the airport, check your terminal the day before. Going to the wrong one is among the most common ways people lose half an hour they did not have.

Using the extra time well

Arriving early is less painful if you plan to use the time. International terminals often have better food and more seating than domestic ones. If you have lounge access through your ticket, status or a card, check its hours and location beforehand. If you are flying in a premium cabin, our guides to business class upgrade strategies and the difference between first and business class explain the lounge and priority lane benefits that come with them. Otherwise, a refillable water bottle, a snack and a charged phone make the wait easier.

Passport control desks in an airport arrivals hall — On arrival, immigration queues depend on how many flights land at once (Photo: Vasyatka1 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

When you land: immigration and customs

The other half of the airport experience is arriving. Plan for it when you book connections and ground transport.

Immigration: present your passport and any visa or authorization. Many airports use automated kiosks or e-gates for eligible passengers. Queues vary widely with how many flights arrive together.
Baggage claim: if you checked bags, collect them before customs.
Customs: declare goods as required. Entering Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency explains what to declare; entering the U.S., U.S. Customs and Border Protection does the same.
Connections: if you connect after arriving in a new country, you may need to clear immigration, collect and recheck bags and go through security again. This is why international connections need more time; our international flights booking tips cover how much to allow.

If you are running late

Check in online as soon as you can, so you are inside the check-in deadline.
Contact your airline through its app or phone line; it may be able to rebook you before you miss the flight.
Tell staff in line if your flight is close to closing; many airports have procedures to help passengers on imminent flights.
Do not abandon a checked bag plan at the last minute without asking; a bag that misses the cutoff may need to travel on a later flight.
Know the rules if you miss it: policies vary by airline and fare. Some airlines have a same-day rebooking policy for passengers who arrive shortly after departure; others treat a missed flight as a no-show, which can cancel the rest of your itinerary.

The day before your flight

Check in online when it opens and download or print boarding passes.
Check the flight status and the terminal.
Look up check-in, bag drop and gate closing times.
Confirm your passport, visa or electronic authorization.
Pack liquids and electronics where you can reach them.
Weigh checked bags.
Plan your journey to the airport, including a backup.
Set two alarms for early departures.

Frequently asked questions

Is three hours really necessary for an international flight?

Often, yes, at large airports and busy times. At a smaller airport off-peak, with no checked bags, two hours may be enough. Always stay well ahead of the check-in, bag drop and gate closing deadlines.

How early should I arrive for a flight from Canada to the U.S.?

At airports with U.S. preclearance, plan for roughly the same time as an international flight, because you clear U.S. customs and immigration before boarding. Check your airport’s current guidance.

What happens if I arrive after check-in closes?

The airline can refuse to check you in, and you may need to rebook. Policies vary; contact the airline immediately.

Does online check-in mean I can arrive later?

It helps, especially with carry-on only. International passengers may still need a document check at the counter, and security and border lines take the same time either way.

How long does security usually take?

From a few minutes to an hour or more depending on the airport, time of day and season. Many airports publish live wait times on their websites.

Should I arrive earlier during holidays?

Yes. Add at least an hour around major holidays, school breaks and long weekends.

Can I arrive too early?

Yes. Check-in counters for a specific flight often open only a few hours before departure, so arriving much earlier with bags may mean waiting landside. If you have a very early arrival, check when your airline’s counter opens and whether the airport offers bag storage.

How long does it take to clear immigration when I land?

It varies widely by airport and time of arrival. Trusted traveler programs and automated kiosks can shorten it considerably.

Ready to book? Compare departure times as well as fares on our flight search, since an early-morning flight changes your airport timeline, and read our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels before you choose dates. If you need a room near the airport for an early start, check our hotel search.

Keep planning with TicketScanner

Best time to book cheap flights and hotels
International flights booking tips
Flight details, decoded
Carry-on size guide
What not to wear on a flight
Cheap flights from New York to Toronto
Car rental return timing
Compare flights — check departure times as well as fares
Toronto Pearson (YYZ) airport guide
Best time to fly to Montreal

November 18, 2023

Everything You Need to Know About Flight Details

A flight booking packs a surprising amount of information into a few lines: a six-character code, a thirteen-digit number, a flight number that may belong to a different airline than the one you fly, times in two time zones, a fare brand, a baggage code, a seat, and a set of rules you probably never opened. Most of the time none of it matters. When something changes, though, knowing how to read those details is what separates a quick fix from hours on hold or a missed flight. This guide explains every part of a typical flight itinerary and boarding pass, what to check right after you book, how to handle schedule changes, and what happens on the day, from check-in to customs at the other end. It is written for anyone who wants to understand exactly what they have bought.

The short answer

Right after booking, check five things: the names match your passport or ID exactly, the dates and airports are the ones you meant (including arrival dates on overnight flights), which airline actually operates each flight, what your fare includes in bags, seats and changes, and that any connections are on one ticket with enough time. Save your booking reference and e-ticket number, add the flights to your calendar, and turn on notifications in the airline’s app so you hear about schedule changes first. On the day, the details that matter most are the check-in cutoff, the terminal and the time the boarding gate closes. You can compare flights by time, connection and airline on our flight search before you book.

A flight departure board at Geneva Airport listing destinations, times and gates — Flight numbers, times and gates: the details worth checking again on the day (Photo: Tiia Monto via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Anatomy of a flight booking

Here is what the main items on a confirmation mean and why each one matters.

Detail	What it looks like	Why it matters
Booking reference	Six letters and numbers, also called a confirmation code, record locator or PNR	Used to manage the booking, check in and contact the airline
E-ticket number	Usually 13 digits; the first three identify the airline that issued the ticket	Proof that the ticket is paid for; needed for refunds and some changes
Passenger names	Surname and given names as entered at booking	Must match the passport or ID you travel with
Flight number	Two-character airline code plus a number, such as AC 123	Identifies the flight; codeshares have more than one number
Operated by	The airline that flies the aircraft	Determines where you check in, which terminal and often which bag rules
Airports	Three-letter codes such as YYZ, YVR, JFK, LHR, CDG	Many cities have more than one airport
Times	Local times at each airport; a “+1” means the next day	Arrival dates on overnight flights affect hotel bookings
Cabin and fare brand	Economy, premium economy, business; basic, standard, flexible and similar	Controls bags, seat selection, changes and refunds
Booking class	A single letter, sometimes shown next to the cabin	Affects miles earned and upgrade eligibility
Baggage allowance	Pieces (1PC, 2PC, 0PC) or weight (23 kg)	Shows whether a checked bag is included
Seat	Row number and letter, or “assigned at check-in”	Whether you are seated together and where

A ten-minute routine right after you book

The best time to catch a problem is the moment the confirmation arrives, when changes are cheapest or free. Work through this list before you close the email.

Open the confirmation and the e-ticket receipt. A booking without a ticket number may not be fully ticketed yet. If no ticket number appears within a day, contact whoever you booked with.
Read every name letter by letter against the passports.
Check every date and airport code. Look for “+1” arrivals and any change of airport at a connection.
Look up the booking on the airline’s website, and on the operating airline’s website for codeshare flights. Seeing the same reservation there confirms it is active.
Add your frequent flyer number so the flights earn miles and any status benefits apply.
Choose seats if your fare allows it, especially if you are traveling with children or want to sit together.
Note the baggage allowance for each traveler and decide whether to prepay for a bag.
Save the fare rules or a screenshot of the conditions shown when you bought the ticket.
Add the flights to your calendar and turn on notifications in the airline app.
Check entry requirements for every country on the trip, including connections.

If anything is wrong and you booked a flight to, from or within the United States at least seven days before departure, you usually have 24 hours to cancel without penalty. Other markets have different rules, so act quickly either way.

Names: the detail that causes the most trouble

Airlines check that the name on your ticket matches the name on your government ID, and on international flights, the name in your passport. Small differences can cause problems at check-in or at the border, and some airlines charge to correct a name after ticketing.

Use your full legal name as it appears on your passport, not a nickname.
Middle names are usually fine to include or leave out, but follow the airline’s instructions and be consistent.
Hyphenated and multiple surnames can be displayed differently by different systems; enter them exactly as on your passport.
Titles such as Mr or Ms are sometimes appended to the first name on tickets; that is normal.
Fix mistakes immediately. For flights to, from or within the U.S. booked at least seven days ahead, the Department of Transportation’s 24-hour rule lets you cancel without penalty within a day of booking, explained on the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection site. Otherwise, call the airline as soon as you notice an error.

Flight numbers and codeshares

A codeshare is a flight sold by one airline but operated by another. You might buy a ticket from one airline with its flight number, but the aircraft, crew and service belong to its partner. Your itinerary will say “operated by” followed by the partner’s name.

This matters in several practical ways:

Check-in and terminal: you usually check in with the operating airline, and at airports with several terminals, you go to the operating airline’s terminal.
Bags: baggage rules can follow the operating or marketing carrier depending on the itinerary. Check your booking, and ask if unsure.
Seats: seat selection may only be possible through the operating airline’s website, using its own booking reference, which can differ from the one you received.
Service: the cabin, food and entertainment are those of the operating airline.

If a codeshare is involved, look up the booking on the operating airline’s website as well, so you can see its version of your reservation and seat.

Airports, terminals and times

Airport codes

Every commercial airport has a three-letter code. Some cities also have a city code covering several airports, such as NYC for New York or LON for London, which search engines use to show all airports at once. When you book, check which airport each flight actually uses: arriving at London Gatwick when your hotel is near Heathrow, or at Newark instead of JFK, changes your ground transport. Our airport guides, such as JFK, London Heathrow and Toronto Pearson, explain terminals and transfers.

Terminals

Terminals are sometimes shown on the booking and sometimes only on the day. Check the airline app or the airport website the day before, especially at large airports where terminals are far apart.

Times and dates

All times on an itinerary are local to the airport. A flight from Toronto to London that leaves at 9 p.m. arrives the next morning, shown with a “+1”. Flights west across the Pacific can arrive two calendar days later, while some eastbound flights across the Pacific appear to arrive before they left. The flight duration shown is the real time in the air plus taxiing, which is the easiest way to sanity-check an itinerary. When you book the hotel, match the arrival date, not the departure date.

Passengers boarding a Boeing 737 at an airport gate — Boarding time is when the line starts, not when the door closes (Photo: Infrastorian via Wikimedia Commons, CC0)

Fare brands, cabins and booking classes

Most airlines now sell each cabin in several fare brands. The names differ, but they usually run from a basic fare with the fewest inclusions to a flexible fare with the most.

Typical fare brand	Often includes	Often excludes
Basic	A seat, and a personal item	Advance seat selection, changes, refunds; on some airlines a full-size carry-on or checked bag
Standard	Carry-on, free or low-cost seat selection, changes with a fare difference	Refunds; sometimes checked bags
Flexible	Changes without fees, often refunds, more miles	Premium cabin benefits
Premium cabins	More space, checked bags, priority services	Varies by airline and route

The single letter shown next to your cabin is the booking class, a code for the fare level within the cabin. You rarely need it, but it determines how many miles you earn and whether you can use certain upgrade options. Our guides to business class upgrade strategies and the difference between first and business class explain how cabins and upgrades work.

The fare rules

Every fare has rules, usually behind a link near the price. They cover changes, cancellations, refunds or credits, and what happens if you miss a flight. One rule surprises many travelers: on many airlines, if you do not show up for one flight on your itinerary, the remaining flights may be cancelled. If you need to skip a leg, contact the airline first.

Baggage allowance, decoded

Baggage allowances are usually shown in one of two ways. The piece concept lists a number of bags, such as 1PC or 2PC, each with a weight and size limit, and is common on flights to and from North America. The weight concept gives a total weight, such as 23 kg, across all your checked bags. “0PC” or “no free bags” means you will pay for any checked bag.

Carry-on: most airlines allow one carry-on and one personal item in economy, with size limits, and some fares allow only the personal item. Our carry-on size guide explains how to check your airline’s current limits.
Checked bags: fees are often per bag, per direction, and can be cheaper when paid in advance.
Multiple airlines: when more than one airline is on your ticket, the rules of one carrier generally apply to the whole journey; your booking should say which.
Separate tickets: each ticket has its own allowance, and bags are not transferred between separate tickets automatically.

Seats

Seat maps use row numbers and letters. On a typical single-aisle aircraft with three seats on each side, A and F are windows and C and D are aisles. Wide-body aircraft add more letters, and the pattern varies, so look at the seat map rather than guessing. Exit rows have extra legroom but come with age and ability requirements. Bulkhead rows often have bassinet positions for infants but may have fixed armrests.

If your fare does not include seat selection, seats are usually assigned at check-in. Families traveling with young children should check the airline’s seating policy for keeping children with an adult; many airlines have one, and the U.S. DOT tracks which airlines commit to family seating.

Connections and layovers

Connections are where itineraries break, so check them carefully.

Connection time: every airport has a minimum connection time, and tickets sold as one itinerary meet it. On international connections, especially where you must clear immigration or change terminals, more time is more comfortable.
Change of airport: some itineraries connect between two airports in the same city, such as arriving at one London airport and leaving from another. The booking will flag it; it requires a ground transfer and much more time.
Overnight connections: a long layover overnight may require a hotel and, in some countries, a visa to leave the airport.
Stops versus connections: a “direct” flight with one stop keeps the same flight number but lands on the way. A nonstop does not land.
One ticket versus several: on one ticket, the airline must rebook you if a delay causes a missed connection. On separate tickets, it does not.

Our international flights booking tips cover how to choose routings and how much connection time to allow.

Schedule changes and flight status

Airlines adjust schedules regularly, especially in the months before a flight. A change of a few minutes is routine. A change of hours, a new connection or a cancelled flight gives you options.

Watch for notifications. Keep your contact details in the booking and turn on app notifications.
Check the new itinerary. Is the connection still long enough? Does the new arrival still work for your hotel and plans?
Know your options. In the U.S., the DOT requires a refund when an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight and you choose not to travel. In Canada, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations set out airline obligations for schedule disruptions. In the EU, EU air passenger rights apply to many flights.
Ask for alternatives. If the new time does not work, airlines can often move you to another flight on the same day or nearby dates.

For flight status on the day, the airline’s app is the most accurate source. The U.S. DOT’s FlightRights.gov dashboard summarizes what major U.S. airlines commit to when flights are delayed or cancelled for reasons within their control.

Check-in

Online check-in typically opens 24 hours before departure on many airlines, sometimes earlier. It confirms you will travel, lets you choose or confirm a seat and issues a boarding pass. On international flights you may need to enter passport details, known as advance passenger information, and some passengers must still have documents verified at the airport before boarding.

Know the airline’s check-in and bag drop deadlines for your flight. For international departures they are often around an hour before departure and can be earlier. Our guide to how early to arrive for an international flight explains how to plan your airport timeline.

A mobile boarding pass with a 2D barcode on a phone screen — The barcode holds your booking reference, so keep boarding passes off social media (Photo: Mtcv via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Your boarding pass, decoded

Field	Meaning
Name	Must match your ID
Flight and date	Flight number and the local departure date
Gate	May be blank or change; check airport screens
Boarding time	When boarding begins, not when the door closes
Group or zone	Your boarding order
Seat	Your assigned seat, or a note to see an agent
Sequence number	The order in which you checked in
Security indicators	On U.S. flights, “TSA PreCheck” if eligible; “SSSS” means selected for additional screening
Barcode or QR code	Contains your name and booking reference

Do not post a photo of your boarding pass online. The barcode contains your booking reference, which someone could use to access or change your reservation.

Security and boarding

Security screening rules are set by each country. In the U.S., the TSA’s What Can I Bring page lists what is allowed, and the liquids rule limits carry-on liquids to small containers in one bag. In Canada, CATSA publishes the equivalent guidance. Pack liquids and electronics where you can reach them, and dress for easy screening; our guide to what not to wear on a flight covers what slows people down.

Boarding usually begins 30 to 60 minutes before departure on larger aircraft, in groups or zones. Have your boarding pass and ID ready. On international flights, staff often check passports again at the gate. Gates close before departure, so do not wander too far once boarding is near.

The economy cabin of an Austrian Airlines long-haul aircraft — Seat letters vary by aircraft; check the seat map rather than guessing (Photo: Austrian Airlines via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

On board

For comfort on longer flights, a few things help: wear layers, drink water, move around when it is safe, and keep essentials such as your passport, medications, chargers and a change of clothes in your carry-on, not in a checked bag. On long-haul flights, entertainment is usually provided, but downloading shows to your own device is a good backup. Our guides to airplane neck pillows and noise-cancelling headphones cover gear worth packing.

Arrival, immigration and customs

On an international arrival, follow signs to immigration, present your passport and any visa or authorization, collect your bags and then clear customs. Customs rules vary by country; entering Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency explains what to declare. If you are connecting, you may need to recheck bags and go through security again. Before you travel, check your destination’s entry rules through your government’s travel advice, such as Canada’s travel advice and advisories.

Special situations to flag on your booking

Some details are not part of the ticket itself but need to be added to the reservation, ideally at the time of booking.

Infants and children: a lap infant usually needs to be added to the booking and may need their own ticket on international flights. Request a bassinet early if the aircraft offers them.
Young travelers flying alone: airlines have their own age limits and procedures, and some charge for the service. Arrange it directly with the airline.
Accessibility and assistance: request wheelchair assistance or other support when you book, and confirm it before the flight. Mobility aids and medical devices have specific handling rules.
Special meals: dietary meals on full-service flights generally need to be requested in advance, often at least a day or two before departure.
Pets: pets in the cabin or hold must be booked with the airline, have limited spaces and require documents for international travel.
Sports equipment and musical instruments: check size limits and fees, and add them to the booking where the airline allows.

Keeping your flight details organized

Save the essentials in one place: booking reference, e-ticket number, airline contact details and your frequent flyer number.
Add every flight to your calendar in the local time of departure, and check that your calendar handles time zones correctly.
Take a screenshot of your boarding pass in case the app fails, and keep a paper copy for important trips.
Share your itinerary with someone at home.
Add your frequent flyer number to each booking, including codeshares.
Keep receipts for bags and seats in case of refunds or disputes.

Common mistakes

Name mismatches between the ticket and the passport.
Booking the wrong airport in a multi-airport city.
Missing the “+1” and booking the hotel for the wrong night.
Going to the wrong terminal on a codeshare flight.
Assuming a bag is included on a basic fare.
Skipping a flight and losing the rest of the itinerary.
Ignoring schedule change notices that break a connection.
Posting a boarding pass photo online.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a booking reference and a ticket number?

The booking reference is a six-character code that identifies your reservation. The ticket number, usually 13 digits, proves the ticket has been paid for. You typically use the booking reference to manage your trip and the ticket number for refunds and some changes.

What does “operated by” mean on my ticket?

It means the flight is a codeshare: another airline flies the aircraft. You usually check in with that airline and go to its terminal.

Why does my arrival say “+1”?

The flight lands the next calendar day, local time. Book your hotel for that date.

How do I know if my fare includes a checked bag?

Look for the baggage allowance on your booking, often shown as 1PC, 2PC, 0PC or a weight. If unsure, check the airline’s website with your booking reference.

What should I do if the airline changes my flight time?

Check whether the new schedule still works, including connections. If it does not, contact the airline about alternatives or a refund, depending on the rules that apply.

Can I skip one flight on my itinerary?

Be careful. Many airlines cancel the rest of your itinerary if you miss a flight without telling them. Contact the airline first.

What does SSSS on my boarding pass mean?

On U.S. flights, it means you have been selected for additional security screening. Allow extra time at security.

Ready to book with confidence? Compare flights by time, connection and operating airline on our flight search, and read our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels to pick the right dates. Once your flight is set, find a room for the right night on our hotel search.

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November 12, 2023

Flying in Comfort: 8 Things You Should Never Wear on a Flight

What you wear on a plane decides how you feel for the next several hours, and sometimes for the first day of your trip. A cabin is a strange environment: you sit still for a long time in a narrow seat, the temperature swings from stuffy on the ground to chilly at altitude, the air is dry, and you have to pass through security, sprint to a connection and perhaps sleep upright before you arrive. The wrong outfit makes all of that harder. The right one is almost invisible: you stop thinking about your clothes and get on with the trip. This guide covers the things that are best left at home on flight day, why each one causes trouble, what to wear instead, and how to adjust for long-haul flights, short hops, business trips, hot and cold destinations and flying with children. It is part of our flight booking series, which starts with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

The short answer

Dress in soft, breathable layers that you can add or remove in your seat, and choose clothes that let you sit, bend and sleep without anything digging in. Wear closed, comfortable shoes that are easy to take off and put back on, not high heels, brand-new shoes or flip-flops. Keep metal, jewelry and complicated accessories to a minimum to get through security quickly. Skip strong perfume in a shared, sealed cabin. Carry a warm layer even on a hot-weather flight, because cabins get cold. And pack a spare top and essentials in your carry-on in case your checked bag goes missing or someone spills a drink. If you have not booked yet, compare fares across flexible dates on our flight search.

Rows of economy seats in the main cabin of a narrowbody airliner — Hours in a narrow seat: the reason comfort beats style on flight day (Photo: Delta News Hub via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

What makes flight clothing different

A few features of air travel explain nearly every piece of advice below.

You sit still for a long time. Clothes that feel fine for an hour at a desk can pinch at the waist, knees or ankles after several hours in a seat with limited room to move.
The temperature changes. A cabin can be warm during boarding on a hot day and cool at cruising altitude, especially at night and near the windows.
The air is dry. Many travelers notice dry skin, eyes and lips on long flights, which affects fabric and contact lens choices.
Security screening is part of the journey. At checkpoints you may be asked to put outerwear, metal items and certain belongings in bins. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority lists what goes in the bins, including jackets, coats and bulky sweaters worn over your clothes, plus loose change, keys and small metal items.
Space is tight. You will reach into overhead bins, squeeze past neighbors and use a very small lavatory.
Safety matters. In the rare event of an evacuation, you need to move quickly in whatever you are wearing. The Federal Aviation Administration’s passenger safety advice specifically tells passengers to remove high-heeled shoes before using an evacuation slide.

Ten things to avoid wearing on a flight

The table gives the quick version. The sections after it explain each one and suggest better choices.

Avoid	Why it causes trouble	Wear instead
High heels	Hard to walk long terminals in; must come off for an evacuation slide	Supportive sneakers, flats or loafers
Tight or restrictive clothing	Pinches at the waist and knees after hours of sitting	Stretch fabrics and relaxed cuts
Heavy or lots of jewelry	Slows security; snags and gets lost	One or two simple pieces; pack the rest
Strong perfume or cologne	Trapped in a sealed cabin; can bother neighbors	Unscented or very light products
Complicated outfits	Awkward in a tiny lavatory and at security	Simple separates you can manage in seconds
Very revealing or beachwear	Cold at altitude; may breach airline rules	Light layers you can remove after landing
Noisy fabrics	Rustle every time you move, especially at night	Quiet cotton, jersey and soft knits
Stiff or scratchy fabrics	Irritate skin over a long flight	Soft, breathable natural or technical fabrics
Flip-flops or brand-new shoes	Poor protection and support; blisters	Closed, broken-in shoes
A heavy coat you cannot stow	Takes up bin space and must go through screening	A packable jacket or warm layer

1. High heels

Heels look sharp but work badly at every stage of a flight. Airports involve long walks, moving walkways, stairs and occasional sprints for connections. Your feet may also feel tighter after hours of sitting, which makes structured shoes less comfortable by the end of the flight. And in an emergency, the FAA’s safety guidance tells passengers to remove high-heeled shoes before going down a slide, which costs precious seconds. Choose supportive sneakers, flats or loafers, and pack heels for your destination if you need them. If you spend a lot of time on your feet when you travel, our guide to comfortable walking shoes for traveling goes into more detail.

2. Tight or restrictive clothing

Skinny jeans, tight waistbands, shapewear and fitted dresses can feel fine when you are standing and become miserable after hours in an economy seat. Anything that digs in at the waist, behind the knees or around the ankles gets worse the longer you sit. Choose stretch fabrics, relaxed or tapered trousers, joggers that look neat, knit dresses with room to move or leggings with a long top. Travel trousers with stretch and useful pockets are a good compromise between comfort and a put-together look; our guide to travel pants for men covers what to look for.

3. Heavy or a lot of jewelry

Large metal jewelry can slow you down at security and may need to go through screening separately. Rings and bracelets snag on seat belts and blankets, necklaces tangle when you sleep, and small pieces are easy to lose in a seat pocket or security bin. Wear one or two simple pieces, and pack anything valuable or sentimental in a small case inside your carry-on rather than in checked baggage. Our pick of travel jewelry cases can help keep it organized.

4. Strong perfume or cologne

Cabin air circulates, but you are still sitting inches from your neighbors for hours. A scent that is pleasant at a party can be overwhelming in a row of three, and some people are sensitive to fragrance. Skip perfume on flight day, or use a very light, unscented moisturizer and deodorant. You can freshen up after landing. If you pack fragrance or toiletries in your carry-on, remember the liquid limits covered in our carry-on guide.

5. Complicated outfits

Jumpsuits, outfits with many buttons, lace-up boots, multiple belts and accessories all look good and all become a problem in a lavatory the size of a closet, at a security checkpoint or during a quick connection. Choose separates you can manage in seconds, shoes you can slip on and off, and a belt with minimal metal, or none at all.

6. Very revealing clothing or beachwear

This is less about modesty than practicality. Short shorts, tank tops and swimwear leave you cold once the cabin cools down, expose skin to seats and armrests, and offer no protection against spilled hot drinks. Airlines also include rules on passenger conduct and attire in their conditions of carriage, and crews can ask passengers to change or cover up if something is considered inappropriate or offensive; the same applies to clothing with offensive slogans or images. Wear light layers you can shed after landing and change into beach clothes at your destination.

7. Noisy fabrics

Some synthetic shells and stiff technical fabrics rustle every time you move. That is irritating in a quiet cabin at night, both for you and for your neighbors trying to sleep. Save your crinkly rain jacket for the destination, or keep it in the overhead bin, and wear quieter fabrics such as cotton, jersey, fleece and soft knits in your seat.

8. Stiff or scratchy fabrics

Rough wool, stiff denim, heavily starched shirts and scratchy seams become more irritating over a long flight, especially in dry cabin air. Soft cotton, merino, modal, bamboo blends and brushed technical fabrics are all comfortable against the skin. If a garment bothers you after an hour at home, it will bother you more at 35,000 feet.

9. Flip-flops and brand-new shoes

Flip-flops and loose sandals offer little support for long walks, little protection if something heavy falls from a bin or a bag rolls over your foot, and poor grip if you ever need to move quickly. Brand-new shoes carry a different risk: blisters, discovered halfway through a connection. Wear closed shoes you have already broken in, with socks. Socks also keep your feet warm and clean when you slip your shoes off in the cabin or at security.

10. A heavy coat you cannot stow

A bulky winter coat has to go through screening, takes up precious overhead bin space and is too hot to wear on board. If you are flying to or from somewhere cold, choose a packable insulated jacket or a fleece and a shell that you can compress into your bag. Many airlines allow a coat in addition to your carry-on allowance, but it still has to fit somewhere. Delta’s carry-on page, for example, lists a jacket among the items you can bring in addition to your carry-on and personal item.

A security officer at an airport screening checkpoint — Less metal and easy-off layers mean a faster trip through security (Photo: Michael Ball via Wikimedia Commons, CC0)

What to wear instead: the comfortable flight outfit

A good flight outfit works on three levels: a comfortable base, a warm middle layer and practical shoes and accessories.

Base layer

Start with a soft, breathable top in cotton, merino or a quality technical fabric, and comfortable trousers with stretch: joggers, travel trousers, soft chinos, leggings or a relaxed knit dress with leggings underneath. Dark colors hide spills and wrinkles, which matters on long trips when you head straight from the airport to a meeting or dinner.

Warm layer

Add a cardigan, zip fleece, light sweater or hoodie that you can take off in seconds. Cabins can be warm while you board and cool once you are in the air, and a layer you control beats relying on a thin airline blanket. A large scarf or wrap doubles as a blanket, a pillow or a sunshade for your eyes.

Shoes and socks

Wear supportive, closed shoes that slip on and off easily, such as sneakers or loafers, with comfortable socks. Screening rules for footwear vary between countries and checkpoints, so easy-off shoes save time wherever you fly. Some travelers bring a spare pair of warm socks to change into on long flights.

Accessories

A small personal item with your essentials that fits under the seat in front of you.
A neck pillow and eye mask for sleep. Our guide to airplane pillows compares styles.
Headphones, ideally noise-cancelling, to cut engine noise. See our pick of noise-cancelling headphones for flying.
Glasses rather than contact lenses if dry air bothers your eyes on long flights.
A refillable water bottle, emptied before security and filled afterward, to stay hydrated.

Staying comfortable on long flights

Clothing is only part of a comfortable long flight. Moving regularly matters too.

Get up and walk the aisle when the seat belt sign is off, stretch your legs and flex your ankles in your seat, and drink water. Keep your seat belt loosely fastened while seated, though: the FAA’s turbulence guidance recommends keeping it buckled at all times, because turbulence can happen without warning, even in clear skies.

Some travelers wear compression socks on long flights. If you have a history of blood clots, a recent surgery, pregnancy, a medical condition or any other risk factor, talk to your doctor before a long flight about what is right for you, rather than relying on general advice. The Government of Canada’s travel health and safety pages are a good starting point for health planning before any trip. Our guide to compression socks for long flights explains the options if your doctor recommends them.

For sleep, dress as though you are going to bed on a slightly cold night: soft layers, warm socks and something to cover your eyes. Our guide to sleeping better on flights covers routines, seat choice and light.

A traveler in comfortable clothes standing with a suitcase — Soft layers and broken-in shoes: the outfit you stop thinking about (Photo: Russell Lee via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Dressing for your trip: situational advice

Long-haul and overnight flights

Prioritize sleep and temperature control. Soft trousers, a breathable top, a warm layer, warm socks and slip-on shoes are ideal. If you want to look fresh on arrival, pack a clean top, a toothbrush and deodorant in your carry-on and change before landing. Premium cabins on some airlines hand out pajamas; if you are hoping for a flat bed, our guide to the difference between first class and business class explains what each cabin includes.

Short domestic flights

Comfort still matters, but you can dress closer to your normal clothes. The priorities are easy security, comfortable shoes for the terminal and a layer for the cabin.

Business trips

If you are going straight to a meeting, wear comfortable, wrinkle-resistant clothing on the plane and carry your jacket, or change at the airport or your hotel. Dark, stretchy tailoring, knit blazers and travel trousers look professional without the discomfort of a full suit in an economy seat. Keep your meeting outfit in your carry-on, never in checked baggage.

Flying from cold to hot

Wear layers that end in something suitable for the destination: a T-shirt under a sweater under a packable jacket. Stow the heavy layers once you are through security. Leave the parka in the car or at home if someone is driving you to the airport.

Flying from hot to cold

Pack your warm jacket, hat and gloves in your carry-on, not your checked bag, so you are not stuck at a chilly arrivals curb or car rental lot waiting for your luggage. Change into warm socks and closed shoes before landing.

Flying with children

Dress children in soft, comfortable layers that are easy to change, and pack at least one complete spare outfit per child in your carry-on, plus a spare top for yourself. Avoid outfits with many fastenings that make lavatory visits slow. Slip-on shoes help at security for everyone.

Red-eye flights

Treat it as bedtime: comfortable clothes, warm socks, an eye mask and earplugs or headphones. Pack a clean top and toiletries so you can freshen up before a morning arrival.

Getting through security smoothly

Many flight clothing choices come down to security. A few habits save time and stress:

Put metal items in your bag before the line. Keys, coins, a watch and a phone can go into a jacket pocket or your carry-on while you wait.
Wear outerwear you can remove quickly. CATSA asks passengers to place jackets, coats and bulky sweaters worn over their clothes in a bin.
Keep your liquids bag accessible. At some checkpoints with newer scanners you may not need to take it out, but have it ready. CATSA explains when CT-equipped lines let items stay in your bag.
Choose a belt with little or no metal. Or skip the belt on travel day.
Check the rules for where you are flying from. Screening procedures differ by country and change over time. Check CATSA for flights from Canada and the TSA for flights from the United States before you fly.

Security lines are only one part of airport timing. Our guide to how early to arrive for an international flight helps you plan the whole journey to the gate.

What to pack in your carry-on, just in case

Even the perfect outfit cannot stop a spilled coffee or a delayed bag. A small backup kit in your carry-on protects the first day of your trip:

A clean top and underwear, and a full change of clothes for children.
Any medication you need, in its original packaging.
Toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant, within liquid limits.
A warm layer and socks.
Chargers and any spare batteries, which generally have to travel in the cabin; the FAA’s PackSafe pages explain the rules for U.S. flights.
Your meeting outfit or anything you cannot replace quickly at the destination.

Fitting all of this into your allowance takes a little planning. Our guide to carry-on luggage sizes explains dimensions and packing strategies, and our travel luggage guide helps you choose the right bag.

Common flight clothing mistakes

Dressing for the destination, not the journey. Beach clothes are cold on a plane; a winter coat is hot in a terminal.
Trying new clothes or shoes on flight day. Discover the scratchy seam or the blister at home, not on board.
Putting your warm layer in checked baggage. Keep it with you.
Forgetting the lavatory test. If an outfit takes a minute to manage at home, it will take three in a turbulent lavatory.
Wearing heavy metal accessories. They slow security and are easily lost in bins.
Packing no spare clothes. One spill or one lost bag can ruin the first day.
Ignoring health advice. If you have risk factors for circulation problems, speak to a doctor before a long flight.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most comfortable thing to wear on a plane?

Soft, breathable layers: a comfortable top, stretch trousers or leggings, a warm layer you can remove easily, comfortable socks and closed, slip-on shoes you have already broken in.

Can I wear leggings or sweatpants on a flight?

Yes. They are comfortable and widely worn. Neat joggers or leggings with a longer top look put-together, and they are far more comfortable than tight jeans on a long flight.

Is it okay to wear shorts on a plane?

You can, but cabins often get cold, especially on long or overnight flights. If you wear shorts, bring a warm layer and consider long trousers in your carry-on.

Why shouldn’t you wear high heels on a plane?

They are uncomfortable for long walks through airports, and the FAA’s passenger safety guidance tells passengers to remove high-heeled shoes before using an evacuation slide. Wear flats or sneakers and pack heels.

Should I wear jeans on a flight?

Stretch jeans with a relaxed fit can be fine on a short flight. Stiff or tight jeans become uncomfortable on long flights, when softer trousers are usually the better choice.

Can airlines refuse to let you fly because of your clothes?

Airlines set conduct and attire rules in their conditions of carriage, and crews can ask passengers to change or cover up if clothing is considered offensive or inappropriate. Dressing practically and neutrally avoids any issue.

What should I avoid wearing through airport security?

Lots of metal jewelry, heavy belts, bulky outerwear and shoes that are hard to remove all slow screening. Put metal items in your bag before the line and wear layers you can take off quickly.

Should I wear compression socks on a long flight?

Some travelers find them comfortable, but whether they are right for you is a question for your doctor, especially if you have risk factors for blood clots or other health conditions.

Outfit sorted? Find the best fare for your dates on our flight search, then compare places to stay at your destination with our hotel search. If you are heading somewhere cold this winter, our guide to the best time to fly to Montreal explains what to expect when you land.

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November 5, 2023

Cheap Flight Deals to Toronto: Your Gateway to the Marvels of Canada’s Cultural Hub

Toronto, the capital of Ontario and Canada’s largest city, is one of the most rewarding city breaks in North America. It has a skyline anchored by the CN Tower, a string of car-free islands a short ferry ride from downtown, major museums and galleries, big-league sports, a film festival that draws stars every September and neighborhoods where you can eat your way around the world in a weekend. It is also one of the best-connected cities on the continent. Toronto Pearson is Canada’s busiest airport, and the downtown island airport, Billy Bishop, puts some flights a short walk from the Financial District. That volume of flights is what makes good fares possible, but only if you know how the city’s seasons, events and airports affect the price. This guide explains when to go, when to book, which airport to use, how fares from within Canada, from the United States and from overseas differ, how to get downtown, and how to keep the whole trip affordable. It is part of our flight booking series, which starts with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

The short answer

Winter and the quieter shoulder weeks are cheapest, while summer, the September film festival and major holiday weekends are the most expensive. Book about one to three months ahead for domestic and U.S. trips and two to six months ahead from overseas, earlier for peak dates. Compare both Toronto airports: Pearson has by far the most flights, while Billy Bishop is right next to downtown. Search a whole month, because shifting by a day often changes the fare. Compare the total price with bags and seats included. And if you are not Canadian, check your entry requirements, including whether you need an eTA, before you book. Compare fares across the month on our Toronto flights page.

The Toronto skyline and CN Tower seen across the water from the Toronto Islands — Toronto has two airports close to the city, and Billy Bishop is right by downtown (Photo: Jchmrt via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Why Toronto is worth the trip

Toronto works for almost any kind of traveler, which is part of why so many flights go there.

Landmarks and views: the CN Tower, the waterfront and the view of the skyline from the Toronto Islands.
Museums and culture: the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, a large theater district and a busy live music scene.
Neighborhoods and food: Kensington Market, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Distillery District and the St. Lawrence Market, with food from nearly every culture in one of the most diverse cities in the world.
Sports: the Maple Leafs and Raptors in winter, the Blue Jays in summer, and soccer and football too.
Easy day trips: Niagara Falls and the Niagara wine region are a manageable drive or tour away.

Our guide to things to do in Toronto covers the highlights in detail, and the official tourism site, Destination Toronto, lists events and attractions.

When to visit, and what it does to the price

Toronto has four real seasons, and flight and hotel prices follow them closely.

Period	Weather	Crowds and prices
January to March	Cold, with snow; a real Canadian winter	Usually the cheapest months for flights and hotels, outside holiday weekends and school breaks in March
April and May	Cool to mild spring; parks turn green	Good value; the Victoria Day long weekend in May is busier
June to August	Warm to hot and humid; long evenings	Peak season, with Pride in June, big summer festivals, the Caribbean Carnival and the Canadian National Exhibition in late summer
September and October	Warm early, crisp later; fall color	The Toronto International Film Festival in September and conference season push hotel rates up; October is often excellent value
November and December	Cold, first snow possible	Quiet in November; holiday markets and Christmas travel make late December busy

For the best mix of weather and price, look at May, early June, late September and October outside the film festival and Thanksgiving weekend. For the lowest prices, a winter weekend can be remarkably cheap if you do not mind the cold, and much of Toronto’s appeal, from museums to theater to restaurants, is indoors. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to fly to Toronto goes deeper.

Events that move prices

Big events fill hotels and flights on specific dates. Before you fix your trip, check what is on during your dates on our Toronto events page. A major concert run, a playoff series or a festival weekend can make hotels expensive even when flights look reasonable. If you are coming for the event, book as early as you can; if not, consider a different weekend.

Which airport: Pearson, Billy Bishop or somewhere else?

Airport	What it offers	Choose it when
Toronto Pearson (YYZ)	Canada’s busiest airport; flights from across Canada, the U.S. and around the world; two terminals	You want the widest choice of flights and fares, or you are flying from overseas
Billy Bishop Toronto City (YTZ)	A small island airport next to downtown with flights to cities in Canada and the U.S.	You are staying downtown and there is a flight from your city
Hamilton (YHM)	A smaller airport southwest of Toronto, sometimes served by low-cost airlines	The fare saving outweighs a longer transfer, especially if you are going to Hamilton or Niagara
Buffalo Niagara (BUF)	A U.S. airport across the border from the Niagara region	You are a U.S. traveler willing to drive and cross the border, and the saving is large

For most visitors, the choice is between Pearson and Billy Bishop. Toronto Pearson is in Mississauga, northwest of downtown, with Terminal 1 and Terminal 3; check which one your airline uses before you travel, and see our Toronto Pearson airport guide. Billy Bishop sits on the Toronto Islands, connected to the mainland by a pedestrian tunnel and a short ferry, with a shuttle to Union Station. A slightly higher fare into Billy Bishop can easily be the cheaper trip once you count the transfer from Pearson, if you are staying downtown.

Using a distant airport only makes sense when the numbers really work. Add the cost of the transfer, parking or a rental car, the time involved and, for Buffalo, the border crossing, before you decide.

Border inspection kiosks in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall at Toronto Pearson — Pearson has the widest choice of flights, and international arrivals clear the border here (Photo: Silver Dovelet via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Flying from within Canada

Toronto is the biggest domestic hub in the country, with frequent flights from every major Canadian city. Air Canada, WestJet and Porter all fly to Toronto, and low-cost airlines serve some routes. A few things are worth knowing:

Busy business corridors. Routes such as Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver to Toronto carry many business travelers, so weekday peak flights are pricier. Midday, Saturday and midweek flights are often cheaper.
Compare airports on both ends. From Montreal or Ottawa, both Pearson and Billy Bishop are often options; from Vancouver or Calgary, you will almost always land at Pearson.
Check the train and the car for short trips. From Montreal and Ottawa, the train or a drive can compete with flying door to door. Our Toronto to Montreal and Toronto to Ottawa road trip pages cover those routes.
Know your protections. Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations set out what airlines owe you for delays, cancellations and denied boarding.

Canadian air fares are advertised with all mandatory taxes and fees included, but optional extras such as checked bags and seat selection are not, so compare totals with the extras you need. Our guide to carry-on size rules compares Canadian and U.S. airline limits.

Flying from the United States

Transborder flights to Toronto arrive from dozens of U.S. cities, with the heaviest traffic from the Northeast, Chicago, Florida and major hubs. The route from New York is one of the busiest in North America; our guide to cheap flights from New York to Toronto covers it in detail, including all six airport combinations.

Documents: the Government of Canada says U.S. citizens do not need an eTA but must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport. U.S. lawful permanent residents are also eTA-exempt but need a valid passport and a valid green card. Check the official eTA page before you travel.
On arrival: you clear Canadian border formalities in Toronto. The Canada Border Services Agency explains what to bring and declare on its travel documents page.
On the way home: Toronto Pearson has U.S. preclearance, and Billy Bishop now offers it too, so you clear U.S. border formalities before departure. Arrive earlier than you would for a domestic flight.
Currency: fares may be shown in U.S. or Canadian dollars depending on where you book; compare in the same currency.

Flying from overseas

Toronto Pearson has nonstop flights from Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond, and many one-stop options through other hubs. For long-haul trips:

Book earlier. Two to six months ahead is a sensible window, and earlier still for summer and Christmas.
Compare nonstop and one-stop. A connection through a European or U.S. hub can be cheaper, but check transit rules; connecting through the United States means going through U.S. border formalities even in transit.
Check entry requirements. Most visa-exempt travelers need an eTA to fly to Canada, and some nationalities need a visitor visa. Apply well before you book nonrefundable travel.
Consider an open-jaw trip. Flying into Toronto and home from Montreal or Vancouver can be a smart way to see more of Canada.

Our international flights booking tips cover routings, layovers and hidden costs in more depth, and our guide on how early to arrive for an international flight explains check-in deadlines.

When to book

Trip	Sensible booking window
Domestic Canada, ordinary dates	About 1 to 3 months ahead
From the U.S., ordinary dates	About 1 to 3 months ahead
Summer, long weekends, the film festival, holidays	About 2 to 4 months ahead, or as soon as plans are firm
From overseas	About 2 to 6 months ahead
Last minute	Sometimes fine on busy domestic routes midweek; rarely cheap on peak dates

The method is the same everywhere: start searching early to learn what a normal fare looks like, set a price alert, and book when the fare meets that level. Our fare calendar on the flight search shows prices across the whole month so you can see the cheap days at a glance. Waiting for a last-minute deal on a popular date usually costs more, not less.

A ferry crossing Toronto harbor to the Toronto Islands — A ferry ticket buys the best skyline view in the city (Photo: Jason Zhang via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Getting from the airport to downtown

UP Express from Pearson: the UP Express train runs between Pearson and Union Station downtown. The operator describes the trip as 28 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes. It is the fastest and most predictable way downtown.
TTC from Pearson: public buses connect Pearson with the subway. It is the cheapest option and slower, but useful if you are staying outside downtown. Routes and fares are on the TTC website.
Taxis and ride-hailing from Pearson: convenient with luggage or a group, but traffic on the highways into the city can be heavy at rush hour.
From Billy Bishop: walk through the pedestrian tunnel or take the short ferry to the mainland, then walk, take a streetcar, use the airport shuttle to Union Station or grab a taxi.

Do you need a car? For a downtown trip, usually not: transit, walking and taxis cover most of what visitors want, and hotel parking is expensive. For day trips to Niagara or cottage country, a car helps. Our guide to renting a car or using transit in Toronto weighs it up, and you can compare prices on Toronto car rentals.

Stopovers and connections in Toronto

Many travelers pass through Toronto Pearson on the way somewhere else: between Europe and the Americas, between the Caribbean and Western Canada, or between smaller Canadian cities. If your itinerary includes a long connection, it can be worth turning it into a short stopover. The UP Express makes downtown easy to reach, so even a single night lets you see the waterfront, eat well and see the skyline from the CN Tower or the islands.

Check whether a stopover changes the fare. Sometimes adding a night or two in Toronto costs little or nothing extra; sometimes it prices the trip as two separate journeys. Search it both ways.
Know the entry rules. Leaving the airport means entering Canada, so you need the right documents, such as an eTA or visa where required. Some travelers in transit also need an eTA or transit visa even if they stay airside, so check the official rules for your passport.
Allow enough time on a tight connection. Pearson is large, and connections between international, transborder and domestic flights can involve border formalities and security. The airport’s connections page explains the process.
Stay near the airport for very early departures. Airport hotels make sense before a dawn flight; for anything longer, downtown is the better base.

Traveling to Toronto with kids

Toronto is an easy family city, with the aquarium at the foot of the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum’s dinosaur galleries, the islands’ beaches and a children’s amusement area, and a zoo on the east side of the city. For families, timing matters even more than usual: flights and hotels are most expensive during summer holidays, March break and the Christmas period. If your children are young enough to travel outside school holidays, the savings can be substantial. Book family rooms early, because they sell first, and check seat selection rules on your fare so you can sit together. Our guide to the best time to book hotels for family vacations has more on timing.

Where to stay

Area	Why stay there
Entertainment District	Close to the CN Tower, theaters, Union Station and the waterfront; easy from both airports
Financial District and waterfront	Central, close to the island ferry and Billy Bishop; busy on weekdays, quieter at weekends
Yorkville and the Annex	Upscale shopping, the Royal Ontario Museum, leafy streets
Old Town and the Distillery District	Historic streets, the St. Lawrence Market, restaurants
Near Pearson	Convenient for early flights and short stopovers, far from downtown sights

Downtown business hotels are often cheaper on Friday and Saturday nights, when the weekday corporate guests have gone home, which makes Toronto a good weekend destination. Compare prices on our Entertainment District hotels page or all Toronto hotels, and book a refundable rate so you can rebook if the price drops. Our guide to booking hotels in Canada has more tips.

A simple plan for a first long weekend

If you are flying in for three or four days, a loose plan helps you choose the right hotel and the right flight times. Arrive early on the first day if you can, so you have an afternoon for the waterfront and the CN Tower area. Spend a day on culture, with the Royal Ontario Museum or the Art Gallery of Ontario in the morning and Kensington Market and Chinatown for lunch and a wander. Give another day to the Toronto Islands in warm weather, or to the Distillery District and the St. Lawrence Market in the colder months, and finish with a game, a show or dinner in one of the city’s many neighborhoods. Save Niagara Falls for a longer trip, or for a day when you have a car or a tour booked. Booking a late-afternoon or evening flight home gives you one more morning in the city, but on the way to the United States, leave time for preclearance.

Keeping the whole trip affordable

Use transit. The TTC covers downtown and beyond; a day of subway and streetcars costs far less than taxis.
Take the ferry to the islands. The islands offer beaches, bike paths and the best skyline view in the city for the price of a ferry ticket.
Eat in the markets and neighborhoods. The St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market and the city’s many neighborhood restaurants are good value.
Check free and discounted museum times. Some museums and galleries offer free or reduced admission at set times; check their websites.
Stay over a weekend. Downtown hotels are often cheaper on Friday and Saturday nights.
Travel light. A carry-on-only trip avoids checked bag fees on the cheapest fares.

Common mistakes to avoid

Booking during the film festival or a festival weekend by accident. Check the events calendar first.
Ignoring Billy Bishop. For a downtown stay, it can save time and taxi fares.
Choosing a distant airport without doing the math. Hamilton and Buffalo only make sense with a large saving.
Forgetting the eTA. Most visa-exempt travelers who are not U.S. citizens need one to fly to Canada.
Underestimating the return. U.S.-bound travelers clear preclearance before departure; arrive early.
Renting a car for a downtown trip. Parking and traffic make it poor value.
Comparing base fares instead of totals. Add bags and seats before choosing.

Brick streets and Victorian industrial buildings in Toronto's Distillery District — Neighborhoods like the Distillery District make Toronto an easy weekend trip (Photo: Alonso Inostrosa Psijas from Santiago, Chile via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest month to fly to Toronto?

Winter months such as January and February are usually the cheapest, outside holiday weekends and school breaks. Late spring and October are good value with better weather.

Which Toronto airport is cheaper to fly into?

Pearson usually has the most flights and the widest range of fares, but Billy Bishop can be the cheaper trip overall if you are staying downtown, because the transfer is so short.

How far in advance should I book a flight to Toronto?

About one to three months ahead from within Canada or the U.S., and two to six months ahead from overseas. Book earlier for summer, holidays and the film festival.

Do I need an eTA to fly to Toronto?

U.S. citizens do not need an eTA, but they must carry proper identification such as a valid passport. Most other visa-exempt travelers do need an eTA, and some nationalities need a visa. Check the Government of Canada’s eTA page before you book.

How do I get from Pearson to downtown Toronto?

The UP Express train runs to Union Station in about 28 minutes, according to the operator, with trains every 15 minutes. TTC buses, taxis and ride-hailing are alternatives.

Is Toronto expensive to visit?

Hotels in peak season and during big events can be pricey, but winter and shoulder-season trips, weekend hotel rates, good transit and affordable neighborhood food make a budget trip very achievable.

Are last-minute flights to Toronto ever cheap?

Occasionally on busy domestic routes midweek, when airlines have seats to fill. On peak dates and weekends, prices usually rise as departure approaches.

Can I combine Toronto with other Canadian cities?

Yes. Montreal and Ottawa are close enough for a train or drive, and flights connect Toronto with every major Canadian city. See our guides to flying to Montreal and things to do in Ottawa.

Ready to plan your Toronto trip? Search a whole month of fares on our Toronto flights page to find the cheapest days, check what is on with our Toronto events listings, and compare rooms for the same dates on our Toronto hotels page. For more on timing, read our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

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November 1, 2023