Cheapest Month to Fly: Insider Airfare Secrets for 2026

August is often the cheapest month to fly, with domestic fares about 12% lower than February and international fares about 7% lower than March. That surprises people because August sits inside peak summer, which is exactly why it exposes how airline pricing works. Most travelers still chase the same recycled advice. Fly in “off-season.” Avoid summer. Book early and hope. That advice is too blunt to be useful. The...