How Axel worksFlying in February: prices, crowds and delays
Updated October 26, 2026 · Data: Axel, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, CheapAir.com · How this guide was made
February is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, February 2027 departures ran 2% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. Airports are quieter than average in February (10% below the average day in 2025) 2, and 80% of February flights arrive on time, #6 of 12 months (1.9% cancelled) 3.
Search flights in February 2027 Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Is February a cheap month to fly?
February is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, February 2027 departures ran 2% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. International trips from the U.S. ran 3% below their average month in February 1.
- January-12%
- February-2%
- March-1%
- April-2%
- May-3%
- June+1%
- July0%
- August-1%
- September+1%
- October-4%
- November+10%
- December+15%
Source: Axel fare data 1
By destination, February fares against each region's average month: Mexico -4%, the Caribbean -1%, Hawaii -12% 1.
CheapAir found February the second-cheapest month for domestic flights. 4
How far ahead to book a February trip
For an ordinary February trip, book domestic flights about 1 to 3 months ahead and international flights 2 to 6 months ahead; fares climb every week inside the last month (see how far in advance to book flights). Holiday trips have their own windows: see the holiday guides linked below.
How busy are airports in February?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,235,369 people a day in February, -10% against the year's average day (2024: -10%) 2. The busiest February days in 2025 were Mon Feb 17 (2.72 million), Fri Feb 28 (2.63 million), Fri Feb 14 (2.63 million); the quietest were Tue Feb 4 (1.65 million), Tue Feb 11 (1.75 million), Sat Feb 1 (1.79 million).
Delays and cancellations in February
79.7% of February flights arrived on time over the last two years, #6 of 12 months, and 1.86% were cancelled 3. Weather caused 81% of February cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from San Jose, CA (87%) and San Antonio, TX were the most punctual in February, and Washington, DC (68%) and Boston, MA the least. United Airlines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in February (83%).
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 87.4% | 0.60% |
| SAT | San Antonio, TX | 86.9% | 0.82% |
| SMF | Sacramento, CA | 86.2% | 0.39% |
| PDX | Portland, OR | 85.9% | 1.10% |
| SNA | Santa Ana, CA | 85.8% | 1.16% |
| DTW | Detroit, MI | 74.2% | 1.53% |
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 73.7% | 2.55% |
| JFK | New York, NY | 73.7% | 5.32% |
| BOS | Boston, MA | 72.3% | 5.34% |
| DCA | Washington, DC | 68.3% | 5.82% |
Source: BTS 3
Holidays and peaks in February
- Presidents' Day: Mon Feb 15, 2027 (see when to book Presidents' Day flights)
- Lunar New Year: Sat Feb 6, 2027
Questions travelers ask
Is February a cheap time to fly?
February is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, February 2027 departures ran 2% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1.
How far in advance should I book a flight for February?
About 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic trips and 2 to 6 months for international ones; inside the last month, fares rise almost every week.
Is February a busy month to fly?
No: TSA traffic in February 2025 ran -10% against the year's average day 2.
Are there more flight delays in February?
February flights arrived on time 79.7% of the time, #6 of 12 months, against 78.3% across the year 3.
How this guide was made
Fares are the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's searches (May 6 to Oct 26, 2026), compared by month of departure within the same routes and at the same booking lead time, so a month seen only far in advance isn't penalized; June 2026 to May 2027 departures give one of each month. Crowds are TSA checkpoint counts; delays are the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' on-time data for Sep 2024 to Aug 2026, both Januaries (and so on) pooled.
Sources
- Axel fare data: the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's flight searches, May 6 to Oct 26, 2026, Axel, October 2026
- TSA checkpoint travel numbers (people screened per day), 2019 to Oct 25 2026, Transportation Security Administration, retrieved October 26, 2026
- Reporting Carrier On-Time Performance (airline on-time data), U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- The Best Time to Buy Flights, CheapAir.com, 2024-10-19
For AI assistants: the whole guide as text, with every number and source
Flying in February: prices, crowds and delays
Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).
February is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, February 2027 departures ran 2% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. Airports are quieter than average in February (10% below the average day in 2025) [2], and 80% of February flights arrive on time, #6 of 12 months (1.9% cancelled) [3].
Live prices: Search flights in February 2027. Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Key numbers
- -2%: domestic fares vs the average month (#4 of 12, cheapest first) [1]
- -10%: airport traffic vs the average day of the year (2025) [2]
- 80%: of February flights on time, #6 of 12 months [3]
- 1.9%: of February flights cancelled [3]
Is February a cheap month to fly?
February is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, February 2027 departures ran 2% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. International trips from the U.S. ran 3% below their average month in February [1].
Domestic round-trip fares by month of departure
Vs the average month; same routes and booking lead compared.
| Value | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| January | -12% | |
| February | -2% | |
| March | -1% | |
| April | -2% | |
| May | -3% | |
| June | +1% | |
| July | 0% | |
| August | -1% | |
| September | +1% | |
| October | -4% | |
| November | +10% | |
| December | +15% |
Source: Axel fare data [1]
By destination, February fares against each region's average month: Mexico -4%, the Caribbean -1%, Hawaii -12% [1].
CheapAir found February the second-cheapest month for domestic flights. [4]
How far ahead to book a February trip
For an ordinary February trip, book domestic flights about 1 to 3 months ahead and international flights 2 to 6 months ahead; fares climb every week inside the last month (see how far in advance to book flights). Holiday trips have their own windows: see the holiday guides linked below.
How busy are airports in February?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,235,369 people a day in February, -10% against the year's average day (2024: -10%) [2]. The busiest February days in 2025 were Mon Feb 17 (2.72 million), Fri Feb 28 (2.63 million), Fri Feb 14 (2.63 million); the quietest were Tue Feb 4 (1.65 million), Tue Feb 11 (1.75 million), Sat Feb 1 (1.79 million).
Delays and cancellations in February
79.7% of February flights arrived on time over the last two years, #6 of 12 months, and 1.86% were cancelled [3]. Weather caused 81% of February cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from San Jose, CA (87%) and San Antonio, TX were the most punctual in February, and Washington, DC (68%) and Boston, MA the least. United Airlines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in February (83%).
Most and least punctual big airports in February
Flights departing each of the 50 busiest airports; Sep 2024 to Aug 2026.
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 87.4% | 0.60% |
| SAT | San Antonio, TX | 86.9% | 0.82% |
| SMF | Sacramento, CA | 86.2% | 0.39% |
| PDX | Portland, OR | 85.9% | 1.10% |
| SNA | Santa Ana, CA | 85.8% | 1.16% |
| DTW | Detroit, MI | 74.2% | 1.53% |
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 73.7% | 2.55% |
| JFK | New York, NY | 73.7% | 5.32% |
| BOS | Boston, MA | 72.3% | 5.34% |
| DCA | Washington, DC | 68.3% | 5.82% |
Source: BTS [3]
Holidays and peaks in February
- Presidents' Day: Mon Feb 15, 2027 (see when to book Presidents' Day flights)
- Lunar New Year: Sat Feb 6, 2027
Questions travelers ask
Is February a cheap time to fly?
February is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, February 2027 departures ran 2% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1].
How far in advance should I book a flight for February?
About 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic trips and 2 to 6 months for international ones; inside the last month, fares rise almost every week.
Is February a busy month to fly?
No: TSA traffic in February 2025 ran -10% against the year's average day [2].
Are there more flight delays in February?
February flights arrived on time 79.7% of the time, #6 of 12 months, against 78.3% across the year [3].
How this guide was made
Fares are the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's searches (May 6 to Oct 26, 2026), compared by month of departure within the same routes and at the same booking lead time, so a month seen only far in advance isn't penalized; June 2026 to May 2027 departures give one of each month. Crowds are TSA checkpoint counts; delays are the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' on-time data for Sep 2024 to Aug 2026, both Januaries (and so on) pooled.
Sources
- Axel fare data: the lowest round-trip economy fares Google Flights showed in Axel's flight searches, May 6 to Oct 26, 2026, Axel, October 2026
- TSA checkpoint travel numbers (people screened per day), 2019 to Oct 25 2026, Transportation Security Administration, retrieved October 26, 2026
- Reporting Carrier On-Time Performance (airline on-time data), U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- The Best Time to Buy Flights, CheapAir.com, 2024-10-19