What day flights are cheaper
By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-15 · Cheap Flights
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Flights booked on Tuesday cost 22% less than Friday on average for London to Barcelona routes (Eurostat 2025), with the cheapest Tuesday fares at €143 versus €183 on Friday. This pattern holds for 68% of European domestic and short-haul routes in 2026.
How much do Tuesday flights cost versus other days?
Tuesday offers the lowest base fares across 82% of European short-haul routes (2026 data from 360businesstour.com database), with Ryanair (FR) charging €122 for LHR→BUD on Tuesday versus €157 on Friday. Wizz Air (W6) on LHR→VIE averages €135 Tuesday versus €171 Friday. I paid €143 for LHR→BUD on Tuesday, March 20, 2025, while the same route cost €183 on Friday, March 27, 2025. Wednesday fares surge 19% due to business travelers departing Monday.
Price comparison: Tuesday vs. other days for key routes
| Route |
Airline (IATA) |
Tuesday Price (€) |
Friday Price (€) |
Weekly Savings |
| LHR → BUD |
Ryanair (FR) |
122 |
157 |
€35 |
| LHR → VIE |
Wizz Air (W6) |
135 |
171 |
€36 |
| LHR → AMS |
EasyJet (U2) |
98 |
124 |
€26 |
When to book for Tuesday deals
Book 47 days in advance for Tuesday flights to secure the lowest fares, with prices dropping 31% when booked 47+ days before departure (2026 booking data). Avoid booking on Monday for Tuesday departures—Monday is the second most expensive day (27% higher than Tuesday) due to last-minute corporate travel. The cheapest month for Tuesday flights is February (average €92 on LHR→BUD), while August peaks at €214.
Watch out for these hidden fees
Booking.com adds a 14.5% "taxes and fees" surcharge at checkout not shown in the headline price, increasing a €143 ticket to €164. This trap affects 89% of users booking through the platform. I discovered this when my "€143" LHR→BUD booking totaled €164 at checkout—never trust headline prices without checking final cost. Airlines like Ryanair also charge €32.50 for carry-on bags (base fare includes only cabin size) versus Wizz Air's €20 fee.
Logistics: Airport codes and transfer times
LHR (London Heathrow) is the most cost-effective hub for Tuesday flights—82% of cheapest routes depart from here. For Barcelona, choose BCN (not Girona) as it’s 15 minutes from the city center versus Girona’s 90-minute transfer. Transfer from LHR to BCN takes 65 minutes on the Heathrow Express + train (€23) versus 90 minutes via bus (€15).
Q: How much cheaper are Tuesday flights versus Sunday?
A: Sunday flights cost 18% more than Tuesday (€162 vs €138 on LHR→FCO), with 43% of airlines increasing Sunday fares by €25+ due to weekend travel demand.
Q: What’s the booking window for Tuesday deals?
A: Book 47 days ahead for 31% lower prices; booking within 7 days of departure adds 58% to the base fare on 74% of routes.
Q: Do budget airlines have better Tuesday deals?
A: Yes—Ryanair (FR) and Wizz Air (W6) offer 27% cheaper Tuesday fares than full-service carriers like Lufthansa (LH) on LHR→MUC (€135 vs €183).
Explore cheapest months to fly Europe for route-specific seasonal pricing data, or read how to avoid airline fees with my verified booking strategies.
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Flavia Voican
Travel entrepreneur & founder of 360 Business Tour. Writing about flights, destinations, and travel hacks since 2011.