Once the return from the holidays is over, January presents itself as a period full of commitments and deadlines, often poorly tolerated like the corresponding month of September. Yet, the very beginning of the year, amidst uncertainties, good intentions – regularly disregarded – and hassles of various kinds, manages to grant a concrete advantage to those who are already looking forward to their next departure, because January is one of the most favorable periods for purchasing airline tickets at affordable prices. There is no shortage of opportunities throughout the year, if you follow the right indications, but the month of January concentrates a series of particularly interesting windows for planning a trip.
This is confirmed by eDreams’ Best Time to Book 2026 Report, which analyzed bookings made on the group’s portals between 1 January and 31 December 2025. The survey compares months, days and time slots to identify the most convenient times based on the different destinations.
Flights from Italy: January and February in the lead for domestic routes
Starting from the Italian market, the data shows how January and February represented the best months for booking domestic flights, with average prices of 100 and 119 euros respectively. January also stands out on a European level, proving to be the cheapest month to fly within the continent, with an average fare of 130 euros, ahead of September (139 euros) and May (152 euros).
For intercontinental routes, however, the record goes to September, the month in which the average price stood at around 400 euros. Looking at individual geographic areas, in January a flight to America recorded an average cost of 648 euros, while September guaranteed the lowest fares to Africa (267 euros) and Asia (359 euros).
From Europe to the United States: when it is best to book
The start of the year also favored bookings towards some of the main European destinations. In January, the lowest average prices concerned flights from Italy to France (148 euros), Great Britain (135 euros) and Spain (117 euros).
Spring and summer have opened new windows of convenience, given that in May, the connection with Croatia reached an average of 127 euros, while June rewarded those who aimed for Austria with 126 euros. In August, however, the best summer rates to the United States were recorded, with an average price of 517 euros.
Greece, North Africa and the Middle East: the autumn of second chances
May also ranked second for flights to Greece, with an average of 184 euros, a short distance from the values of September (160 euros). The month of September marked the beginning of a particularly favorable season, concentrating numerous offers and a series of “second chances” with prices very close to those of January: this is the case of flights to Spain (121 euros), Morocco (193 euros compared to 187 in January) and Tunisia (171 euros compared to 168 in January). In the same month, the best average rates were also recorded for Egypt (197 euros) and Türkiye (208 euros).
The right day to book: a “long weekend” of opportunities
According to eDreams analysis, the ideal week to book takes the form of a “long weekend”. Friday offered the lowest average prices for flights from Italy to Africa (317 euros), while Saturday proved to be the best day for those flying to Europe (146 euros).
Sunday favored longer routes, with the cheapest average fares to America (687 euros) and Oceania (922 euros). On Monday, however, it rewarded travelers heading to Asia, with an average price of 441 euros.
Time X: early morning, with some exceptions
Analyzing the time slots, the early hours of the morning are the most strategic for all destinations. At 2 am the best fares to Asia are intercepted (402 euros). 3 in the morning represents the ideal time for Europe (138 euros) and Oceania (795 euros). At 4am the lowest average prices are found for Africa (285 euros), while for America the most favorable time is around 7am (636 euros).
Going back to January, we have some interesting exceptions. This month, the most convenient time of all was 8pm, with an average of 140 euros, followed by 1am (147 euros). Small variations were also detected during the lunch break (1.00–2.00 pm) and in the 9.00–10.00 pm range, with prices between 150 and 159 euros.
Advance yes, but with flexibility depending on the destination
Booking in advance remains an effective strategy, although not always essential: for flights to America, the best average fare (657 euros) was recorded by booking between 91 and 100 days before departure, while for Oceania, the cheapest price (981 euros) was obtained more than 90 days in advance.
An interval between 31 and 60 days was sufficient to obtain the best rates to Europe (130 euros) and Asia (415 euros). For Africa, however, the lowest average price (298 euros) emerged between 16 and 30 days before the flight.
Medium and short range: when it is better to move first or last
Some closer destinations also rewarded those who planned well in advance. Flights from Italy to France recorded the best price (140 euros) over 100 days in advance, while for Egypt the ideal threshold was over 90 days (244 euros).
For those who booked later, a window between 16 and 30 days before departure allowed them to obtain the cheapest fare to Tunisia, equal to 195 euros.
