If you’re trying to save money on your next trip, knowing the cheapest month to fly can save you hundreds - sometimes over a thousand dollars. It’s not about luck or waiting until the last minute. It’s about timing your booking right, avoiding peak seasons, and understanding how airlines set prices. The truth? There’s a clear pattern, and it doesn’t change much year to year.

January is the cheapest month to fly - here’s why

For most routes out of North America and Europe, January is consistently the cheapest month to fly. After the holiday rush ends in early January, airlines drop prices to fill seats. Demand plummets. People are broke from Christmas spending. The weather’s cold. And most folks aren’t thinking about vacations yet.

Flights from Toronto to London, for example, often drop to $500-$650 round-trip in mid-January. In December, the same route can hit $1,100. That’s more than a 50% savings. Same goes for flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, or even Florida. Airlines know people aren’t booking. So they cut prices to stay full.

Why not December? Or February?

December is the opposite of cheap. It’s the most expensive month for flying. Holiday travel spikes. Families book early. Airlines raise prices and add fuel surcharges. Even last-minute deals vanish because everyone’s already booked.

February can be a close second to January in some regions, especially for tropical destinations. But it’s not as reliable. In Canada and the northern U.S., February is still deep winter. Flights to warm places like Cancún or Punta Cana get busy around Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day weekend. Prices creep up then. January avoids those spikes.

What about international flights?

The same rule applies - January wins. But there are exceptions. For flights to Asia or Australia, the cheapest time shifts slightly. That’s because seasons are flipped. When it’s January in Toronto, it’s summer in Australia. So flights to Sydney or Melbourne get pricier in January. Instead, look at late April or early May for the best deals to Australia. For Southeast Asia, the low season runs from May to September, when monsoon season hits. That’s when you’ll find the cheapest fares - even if the weather isn’t perfect.

Europe is another story. Flights to Spain, Italy, or Greece are cheapest in the shoulder seasons: March to early May and September to October. But if you’re flying from North America to Europe, January still holds up as the cheapest month overall. Airlines compete hard to fill transatlantic routes after the holidays.

When to book - not just when to fly

Knowing the cheapest month to fly is only half the battle. You also need to know when to book. The sweet spot? 2 to 4 months before your trip.

For a January flight, start checking prices in October. Set up fare alerts on Google Flights or Hopper. You’ll see prices drop in waves. The biggest dip usually happens in mid-November, then again in early December. Don’t wait until the last minute. Airlines don’t slash prices at the last second unless the flight is nearly empty - and even then, you’re stuck with bad layovers or red-eye flights.

Pro tip: Book on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Airlines release new sales midweek. You’re more likely to catch a deal then than on a weekend.

Avoid these traps

Many travelers think “cheapest month” means any flight in January. That’s wrong. Avoid flying during these times:

• January 1-5: Still holiday travel leftovers. Prices stay high.
• Mid-January school breaks: Some U.S. districts have winter breaks that end mid-month. Families still travel.
• Days around major holidays: Even in January, if a holiday falls on a Thursday, flights on Wednesday and Friday spike.

Instead, aim for the second or third week of January. Midweek flights (Tuesday-Thursday) are cheapest. Avoid weekends entirely if you’re trying to save.

What about budget airlines?

Low-cost carriers like Ryanair, WestJet, or Spirit can offer rock-bottom fares - but they’re not always the best deal. Their base price often excludes baggage, seat selection, and even water. A $250 flight might end up costing $500 once you add everything back in.

Compare total cost, not just the ticket price. Use Google Flights’ “total price” filter. It includes checked bags and fees. You’ll often find that a slightly more expensive mainline carrier like Air Canada or United ends up cheaper overall - and you get better service, more legroom, and fewer delays.

Real example: Toronto to Cancún

Here’s what it looked like in January 2025:

• December 20: $980 round-trip
• January 12: $420 round-trip
• January 25: $450 round-trip
• February 14: $720 round-trip

That’s $560 saved just by flying two weeks later. And the weather in Cancún was just as warm. No one was waiting in line at the airport. The hotel had open pools. You could get a beachside cabana for half the price.

What if I can’t fly in January?

No problem. January isn’t the only option. Here are the next best months based on your destination:

• Europe: March-May or September-October
• Caribbean: September-November (outside hurricane season)
• Asia: May-August (monsoon season)
• Australia/New Zealand: April-May or September-October
• Domestic (Canada/USA): January-February (except holidays)

These months avoid school breaks, major holidays, and peak summer travel. Airlines need to fill seats. So they lower prices.

Final tip: Use flexible dates

Google Flights has a “date grid” feature. Click it. You’ll see a color-coded calendar showing prices for every day of the month. Green = cheap. Red = expensive. You can often save $100-$200 just by shifting your departure or return by one day.

Don’t lock yourself into a rigid schedule. If you can move your trip by a few days, you’ll almost always find a better deal. That’s how people get $300 flights to Paris or $200 to Miami.

The cheapest month to fly isn’t magic. It’s math. It’s supply and demand. And if you use it right, you can turn a $1,200 vacation into a $600 one - with the same beach, same hotel, same memories.