The data is in. Here’s when to travel to avoid flight cancellations

Taylah DarnellBy Taylah Darnell
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Expedia has revealed the best time to travel to avoid flight cancellations in its 2025 Air Hacks report.

Nothing takes the shine off your holiday faster than a cancelled flight. Feelings of excitement and anticipation quickly evaporate when faced with the task of rearranging your plans last minute to cater to a new departure date or time.

But global travel company Expedia , in collaboration with Airlines Reporting Corporation and the OAG , has stepped in to help. In its recently released 2025 Air Hacks report, which covers a multitude of air travel hacks, it revealed the best times and days to travel to avoid cancellations altogether.

Airport display board showing cancelled flights
Expedia reveals your best bet at avoiding flight cancellations. (Image: Anya Berkut)

So, when should you travel to avoid flight cancellations?

The numbers are in and flight cancellations are at their lowest in February and March, with an average of just 2.5 per cent of flights cancelled. In comparison to January, which sees cancellation rates of 9.4 per cent, these two months are extremely reliable for air travel.

What’s more, the data indicates that flights departing in the late evening, specifically between 9 pm and 3 am, are the least likely to be cancelled. Flights booked between 3 pm and 9 pm have a 43 per cent higher chance of being called off compared to those leaving later in the night.

Stock image of traveller at an airport
February and March are the best months to book.

If you’re also concerned about costs, it’s good to factor in the time of year you’re looking at travelling. January is the cheapest month for economy class; if you’re looking for premium tickets, opt for October. Surprisingly, Saturday has been revealed as the cheapest day of the week to fly, with travellers saving up to 27 per cent compared to Monday departures.

What other hacks did the report reveal?

When it comes to pain points for airline travellers, cancelled flights aren’t the only problem to solve. Thankfully the data reveals several hacks to save you time and money and help you avoid other airport stresses while also hinting at hot travel destinations to consider visiting in 2025 before they peak in popularity.

Stock image of a plane window
Expedia’s report also hints at 2025’s hottest travel trends.

How to save money

Can the day you book make a difference to the cost? The findings say yes! Booking airfares on a Sunday can save you up to 20 per cent. Depart on a Thursday and you could be looking at up to 8 per cent in savings. That money could be better spent in destination.

Booking domestic flights at least six months in advance will save you up to 36 per cent. Securing your ticket two months in advance for an international flight can save you up to 12 per cent. In fact, the further in advance you book, the more expensive it can be. A three-month pre-departure window is ideal for securing the best price for overseas travel.

Stock image of a plane on the runway
Use the three-month pre-departure window when booking international flights.

Expedia also recommends price tracking on its app, which analyses data to show users the best time to book and notifies you when flight prices change. Bundling is another way to save – booking holiday packages (which often include flights, accommodation, car rentals and/or activities) can save you hundreds.

How to save time

Whether you’re going it solo, jetting off with friends or travelling with family, airports can be stress-inducing places. And while there’s not much you can do about customs lines and security checks, Expedia recommends travelling on a Sunday when airports are generally at their least busy. It will save you time as you won’t have crowds to contend with.

Stock images of a man and his child waiting at the airport
Sundays are when most airports are at their quietest.

Trends to look out for

The report names Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra as the hottest places to travel domestically this year. Combine Sydney’s incredible beaches with Adelaide’s foodie scene and Canberra’s never-ending list of things to do and you’ve got the ultimate Aussie itinerary.

When it comes to international destinations, Bali in Indonesia, Thailand’s capital of Bangkok and Los Angeles, USA, are the most popular places among Aussie jet setters. And thanks to new direct flight routes, Expedia predicts Istanbul (non-stop from Sydney with Turkish Airlines ) and Fiji (non-stop from Cairns with Fiji Airways ) will increase in popularity in the year ahead.

Coogee Beach in Sydney, NSW
Sydney is known for its beautiful beaches. (Image: Destination NSW)
Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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This hidden region in Victoria is home to a peaceful lake trail

    Craig TansleyBy Craig Tansley
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From pink salt landscapes to oases fringed by forests of red gums, the lakes of this rural region are astounding. 

    You’re going to find peace and quiet when you take a road trip through the lakes of the Wimmera Mallee region. Whether it’s mirror-like pink salt lakes that look like an inland sea, or lakes fringed by forests of red gums that showcase Victoria’s arid beauty, there’s a lake for you out here somewhere.  

    1. Lake Tyrrell  

    Lake Tyrrell
    The colours of Lake Tyrrell blend into the sky. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Located in the dead heart of the Mallee, Victoria’s largest salt lake, Lake Tyrrell , is a landscape photographer’s dream – especially at sunrise and sunset when the pink salt flats look like a gigantic mirror. It’s easy to camp or park a caravan nearby, too, though the tiny town of Sea Lake is just south (with accommodation). In winter, shallow water covers the salt, creating surreal reflections of the sky.  

    2. Nhill Lake  

    There’s a permanent water source here, so there’s always plenty of water for water skiing, swimming and fishing (the trout and redfin fishing here is legendary). Located beside the pretty heritage town of Nhill with its main street of historic buildings, there’s options for eating and drinking right next door. There’s also a barbecue area with plenty of shady picnic spots and a boardwalk for walking around the lake.  

    3. Lake Bringalbert  

    Lake Bringalert
    Lake Bringalert is a great spot for aquatic adventures.

    Located south-west of the pretty Mallee town of Kaniva, Lake Bringalbert epitomises the best of ‘outback’ Victoria. It’s ringed by red gums and red mallee and feels completely hidden from the world – you’ll barely ever see another person. There’s basic camping on its foreshore and Kaniva offers more accommodation options. It’s the perfect lake for swimming, kayaking and skiing, and the stars at night come without even a hint of city glow.  

    4. Lake Hindmarsh 

    If you’re a bird fan, you’ll love Lake Hindmarsh . Located north of Dimboola, Victoria’s largest natural freshwater lake is like an inland sea full of pelicans, swans and numerous species of ducks – but it also teems with everything from spoonbills to parrots. Sunsets here will blow your mind – the lake is a mirror for the pinks and golds you’ll see on the horizon. There’s free camping spots along the foreshore if you’d like to really contemplate the magic of the lake.  

    5. Pink Lake 

    pink lake
    The Pink Lake is most vivid after rain. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Also known as Loch Lel , the summer months offer up some seriously vivid pink water colour at this lake north of Dimboola. The pink varies throughout the year, but is best after rain (hence why summer is the time to visit).

    pink lake
    Pink Lake, also known as Loch Lel, is located near Dimboola in the Grampians. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    There’s plenty of birds, including wedge-tailed eagles, but you’re as likely to spot big lace monitors, kangaroos and echidnas. Nearby, check out the uber-cute heritage town of Dimboola and its eclectic shops, and Little Desert National Park, full of walking trails through mallee heathland. 

    6. Lake Lascelles 

    Lake Lascelles
    You can camp at Lake Lascelles.

    On a hot summer’s day, there’s nowhere better for a cooling dip, kayak or boat ride. You can camp by the lake , or at powered caravan sites – or the pretty town of Hopetoun offers numerous accommodation options a short walk away. At night you’ll see the lights of Hopetoun reflect off the lake. Fish for yellow belly, redfin or catfish, or try water-skiing. There’s also a great walking trail around the lake, where there’s more birds than you can count.