Nothing takes the shine off your holiday faster than a cancelled flight.

Feelings of excitement and anticipation quickly evaporate when faced with the task of rearranging your plans last minute to cater to a new departure date or time.

But global travel company Expedia, in collaboration with Airlines Reporting Corporation and the OAG, has stepped in to help.

In its recently released 2025 Air Hacks report, which covers a multitude of air travel hacks, it revealed the best times and days to travel to avoid cancellations altogether.

When should you travel to avoid flight cancellations?

Flight cancellations are at their lowest in February and March, with an average of just 2.5 per cent of flights cancelled. In comparison to January, which has a cancellation rate of 9.4 per cent, these two months are extremely reliable for air travel.

What’s more, the data indicates that flights departing in the late evening, specifically between 9pm-3am, are the least likely to be cancelled. Flights booked between 3pm-9pm have a 43 per cent higher chance of being called off compared to those leaving later in the night.

If you’re also concerned about costs, it’s good to factor in the time of year you’re looking at travelling. January is the cheapest month for economy class; if you’re looking for premium tickets, opt for October. Surprisingly, Saturday has been revealed as the cheapest day of the week to fly, with travellers saving up to 27 per cent compared to Monday departures.

What other hacks did the report reveal?

When it comes to pain points for airline travellers, cancelled flights aren’t the only problem to solve. Thankfully the data reveals several hacks to save time and money and help avoid other airport stresses while also hinting at hot travel destinations to consider visiting in 2025 before they peak in popularity.

How to save money

Can the day you book make a difference to the cost? The data says yes.

Booking airfares on a Sunday can save up to 20 per cent. Depart on a Thursday and you could be looking at up to 8 per cent in savings. That money could be better spent in destination.

Booking domestic flights at least six months in advance will save up to 36 per cent. Securing your ticket two months in advance for an international flight can save you up to 12 per cent. In fact, the further in advance you book, the more expensive it can be. A three-month pre-departure window is ideal for securing the best price for overseas travel.

Expedia also recommends price tracking on its app, which analyses data to show users the best time to book and notifies you when flight prices change. Bundling is another way to save – booking holiday packages (which often include flights, accommodation, car rentals and/or activities) can save you hundreds.

Use the three-month pre-departure window when booking international flights.

How to save time

Whether you’re going it solo, jetting off with friends or travelling with family, airports can be stress-inducing places. And while there’s not much you can do about customs lines and security checks, Expedia recommends travelling on a Sunday when airports are generally at their least busy. It will save time as you won’t have crowds to contend with.

Trends to look out for

The report names Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra as the hottest places to travel domestically this year. Combine Sydney’s incredible beaches with Adelaide’s foodie scene and Canberra’s never-ending list of things to do and you’ve got the ultimate Aussie itinerary.

When it comes to international destinations, Bali in Indonesia, Thailand’s capital of Bangkok and Los Angeles, US, are the most popular places among Aussie jet setters.

And, thanks to new direct flight routes, Expedia predicts Istanbul (non-stop from Sydney with Turkish Airlines) and Fiji (non-stop from Cairns with Fiji Airways) will increase in popularity in the year ahead.

This article first appeared in Australian Traveller. Read the original here