Ask any frequent flyer in India how to get cheap air tickets, and chances are you will hear the same advice: Book on a Tuesday. It is one of the oldest travel tips around, passed on by relatives, office colleagues and WhatsApp forwards. But does it still work in 2026? The honest answer is: Only partly, and not in the way most people think. Today, things are very different. IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air use pricing software that changes fares several times a day, depending on how many seats are left, how many people are searching and what competitors are charging. The same seat on a Delhi-Mumbai flight can cost one amount in the morning and another by night. This is why even big studies don't agree any more. Expedia's 2026 Air Hacks report, based on millions of data points, found Friday to be the cheapest day to book, with domestic fares about 14% lower than on Sunday, the costliest day. A year earlier, the same report had picked different days altogether. Indian travel portal ixigo says plainly that no single weekday guarantees the lowest fare. In short, the "magic day" keeps shifting. Also Read: Embassy of India in Riyadh Updates Travel Advisory for Indian Nationals Amid Houthi Attacks in Saudi Arabia How early you book also matters. For domestic trips, booking about three to six weeks ahead usually gets you a better price than booking in the final week, when fares shoot up. For international trips, say to Dubai, Bangkok or Singapore, try to book two to three months in advance. Then come festivals that change the whole picture. During Diwali, Chhath, Christmas-New Year and the May–June summer holidays, demand is so high that no weekday trick will help. Book as early as you can, ideally 2-3 months before you travel. With Diwali in early November this year, if you have not booked your trip home yet, do it now rather than wait for a "cheap Tuesday". Travel News - Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now. Senior Copy Editor at Times Network, Akanksha Arora covers Lifestyle, Culture and everything that falls under its big umbrella. When not writing, she ... View More