11 Smart Moves: Cheapest Day to Fly for Christmas (And the Day to Avoid)

7. For international trips, favor Wednesdays and Saturdays

International flight pricing often follows a different rhythm than domestic travel. Industry analyses and NerdWallet reporting suggest that Wednesdays and Saturdays frequently offer the lowest fares for international departures. These midweek and weekend combinations tend to capture lower leisure demand while avoiding heavy business-travel windows. When planning Christmas travel overseas, align departure and arrival days with local holiday customs and airline schedules, since reduced operations on holiday dates can affect routing. Also watch for longer layovers that can lower fares but add transit time; sometimes a midweek departure combined with a Saturday return produces the best balance of price and convenience. If you’re booking international travel, expand your search to include nearby international gateways and alternate dates by +/- three days to reveal lower-priced routing options that fit within the broader trend favoring Wednesdays and Saturdays.