Everyone wants to fly for less. But did you know that changing your travel dates just a little can save you a lot of money? It’s true! Being flexible with your travel dates is one of the easiest and smartest ways to get cheaper flights — without doing anything tricky.
Let’s take a look at how this works, even if you’re new to booking flights or just want to understand it like a 5-year-old would.
What Does “Flexible Travel Dates” Mean?
Let’s say you want to fly to Spain. Most people pick exact dates like “I’ll leave on Friday and come back on Sunday.” But those days might be the most expensive days to fly.
Flexible dates means you’re open to flying a day or two earlier or later. Maybe instead of flying Friday to Sunday, you fly Thursday to Monday. That small change could save you £50, £100, or more — especially on busy routes.
Why Flexible Dates Help You Save
Airlines change prices every day. Some days are expensive (like weekends or holidays), and others are cheap (like Tuesdays and Wednesdays). When you let the airline show you lots of options, it gives you the best prices for nearby days.
Think of it like buying bananas. If you only want bananas today, the price might be high. But if you say “I’ll buy them any day this week,” you can wait for a sale. Same idea with flights.
Use a Flight Calendar to Find Deals
Most travel websites have a calendar view. This lets you see prices for the whole month — day by day. Some even show colors: green for cheap days, red for expensive ones.
Here’s how to use it:
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Go to a site like Google Flights or Easyfares.uk.
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Type in your departure and destination cities.
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Click on the date box and open the calendar.
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Look at the whole month and pick the cheapest days.
It’s that simple.
Try Leaving Midweek
Most people fly on weekends. So airlines charge more for those days. If you can fly on Tuesday or Wednesday, you’ll usually find the lowest fares.
The same goes for returning. If you fly back on a Saturday or Sunday, it might cost more. But coming back on a Monday or Thursday could be cheaper.
Avoid Peak Travel Times
Here are days that are often more expensive:
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School holidays
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Christmas and New Year
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Summer weekends
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Bank holidays
If you can avoid those dates or travel a few days before or after, you can save big.
Book Early, But Not Too Early
Prices change as the flight gets closer. Booking 2 to 3 months ahead is usually a sweet spot. Too early, and it might be expensive. Too late, and the seats fill up.
If you’re flexible with your dates, you can look at different weeks and pick the one that gives you the best deal.
Be Flexible With Airports Too
If your city has more than one airport nearby, check all of them. For example:
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Fly from London Gatwick instead of Heathrow
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Fly into Milan instead of Rome
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Use regional airports that are cheaper
Some travel websites even let you search “all airports near me” to find the cheapest combo.
Try One-Way Tickets
Sometimes, booking two one-way tickets with different airlines is cheaper than a round trip. This works best when your travel dates are flexible.
For example:
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Fly out with Airline A on a Tuesday
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Fly back with Airline B on a Thursday
This lets you mix and match the cheapest days and prices.
Use Travel Tools That Help
Websites like:
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Google Flights
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Skyscanner
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Easyfares.uk (great for UK travelers)
These let you search for flights with flexible dates and even send you price alerts if the fare drops.
Final Thoughts
Saving money on flights doesn’t have to be hard. If you’re okay changing your travel dates just a little, you can find deals that others miss. A day earlier or later might mean a big difference in price — and that extra cash can go to hotels, food, or fun things on your trip.
So next time you plan a flight, don’t lock in exact dates right away. Try using flexible dates, and you’ll be surprised at how much you save.
Happy travels!
