SAS Trends: The best time to book your flight

October 22, 2025

The autumn break is approaching, a time when many people, especially families with children, choose to travel, as the school holiday is the perfect opportunity to get away. Booking data from SAS shows that most travelers book their autumn break trips about three weeks before departure and the top destinations include Malaga, London, and Alicante.

The high demand for popular destinations can quickly drive-up prices and below, Thomas Thessen, Head of Analysis at SAS, explains what actually determines pricing and when it’s the best time to book your trip.

“For families with school-age children, the school holidays are often the only time they can travel, resulting in an extremely high demand. My best advice is to book as early as possible and to be as flexible as you can with your departure date. Another tip is to consider alternative destinations, sometimes you can find both lower prices and exciting places to visit if you avoid the most popular spots,” says Thomas Tessen, Head of Analysis at SAS.

Dynamic pricing affects the prices

At SAS, prices are largely driven by supply and demand. They can vary from day to day, from departure to departure, and from one destination to another. 

Peak season calls for early planning

Holidays, summer, and Christmas tend to be more expensive, simply because many people choose to travel during that time. When fewer tickets are sold or demand is lower, prices can drop. Therefore, booking the autumn break-trip as early as possible is recommended.

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Best prices outside peak season

At other times of the year, the best prices are often found around 90 days before departure.

The day of the week matters

Tuesdays are generally less popular travel days for both business and leisure travelers, which often means lower prices. For a one-week trip, “Tuesday to Tuesday” can be advantageous, while for a long weekend, “Saturday to Tuesday” may offer the best value.