How Axel worksFlying in March: 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
March is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, March 2027 departures ran 1% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. Airports are about average in March (level with the average day in 2025) 2, and 78% of March flights arrive on time, #7 of 12 months (2.0% cancelled) 3.
Search flights in March 2027 Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Is March a cheap month to fly?
March is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, March 2027 departures ran 1% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1. International trips from the U.S. ran 1% below their average month in March 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, March fares against each region's average month: Mexico -11%, the Caribbean -1%, Hawaii +9% 1.
CheapAir found March the cheapest month to fly to Europe. 4
How far ahead to book a March trip
For an ordinary March 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 March?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,491,279 people a day in March, 0% against the year's average day (2024: +1%) 2. The busiest March days in 2025 were Sun Mar 23 (2.83 million), Sun Mar 16 (2.79 million), Fri Mar 21 (2.77 million); the quietest were Tue Mar 4 (1.88 million), Tue Mar 11 (2.03 million), Wed Mar 5 (2.14 million).
Delays and cancellations in March
78.0% of March flights arrived on time over the last two years, #7 of 12 months, and 2.04% were cancelled 3. Weather caused 61% of March cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from San Jose, CA (86%) and Portland, OR were the most punctual in March, and Fort Lauderdale, FL (67%) and Chicago, IL the least. United Airlines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in March (81%).
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 86.3% | 0.72% |
| PDX | Portland, OR | 86.2% | 0.63% |
| SLC | Salt Lake City, UT | 85.0% | 0.73% |
| SMF | Sacramento, CA | 84.8% | 0.68% |
| OAK | Oakland, CA | 84.7% | 0.72% |
| DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 73.3% | 2.80% |
| RSW | Fort Myers, FL | 72.9% | 2.26% |
| MIA | Miami, FL | 70.9% | 2.10% |
| ORD | Chicago, IL | 70.4% | 3.62% |
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 67.2% | 2.98% |
Source: BTS 3
Holidays and peaks in March
- Spring break peak: week of Mar 15, 2027 (see when to book Spring break peak flights)
- Easter: Sun Mar 28, 2027 (see when to book Easter flights)
Questions travelers ask
Is March a cheap time to fly?
March is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, March 2027 departures ran 1% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) 1.
How far in advance should I book a flight for March?
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 March a busy month to fly?
About average: TSA traffic in March 2025 ran 0% against the year's average day 2.
Are there more flight delays in March?
March flights arrived on time 78.0% of the time, #7 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
- When Is the Best Time to Buy an International Flight?, CheapAir.com, 2025-02-17
For AI assistants: the whole guide as text, with every number and source
Flying in March: prices, crowds and delays
Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).
March is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, March 2027 departures ran 1% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. Airports are about average in March (level with the average day in 2025) [2], and 78% of March flights arrive on time, #7 of 12 months (2.0% cancelled) [3].
Live prices: Search flights in March 2027. Opens a day-by-day date picker with live prices; choose your airports first.
Key numbers
- -1%: domestic fares vs the average month (#7 of 12, cheapest first) [1]
- 0%: airport traffic vs the average day of the year (2025) [2]
- 78%: of March flights on time, #7 of 12 months [3]
- 2.0%: of March flights cancelled [3]
Is March a cheap month to fly?
March is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, March 2027 departures ran 1% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1]. International trips from the U.S. ran 1% below their average month in March [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, March fares against each region's average month: Mexico -11%, the Caribbean -1%, Hawaii +9% [1].
CheapAir found March the cheapest month to fly to Europe. [4]
How far ahead to book a March trip
For an ordinary March 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 March?
In 2025, TSA screened an average of 2,491,279 people a day in March, 0% against the year's average day (2024: +1%) [2]. The busiest March days in 2025 were Sun Mar 23 (2.83 million), Sun Mar 16 (2.79 million), Fri Mar 21 (2.77 million); the quietest were Tue Mar 4 (1.88 million), Tue Mar 11 (2.03 million), Wed Mar 5 (2.14 million).
Delays and cancellations in March
78.0% of March flights arrived on time over the last two years, #7 of 12 months, and 2.04% were cancelled [3]. Weather caused 61% of March cancellations. Among the 50 busiest airports, flights from San Jose, CA (86%) and Portland, OR were the most punctual in March, and Fort Lauderdale, FL (67%) and Chicago, IL the least. United Airlines had the best on-time record of the major airlines in March (81%).
Most and least punctual big airports in March
Flights departing each of the 50 busiest airports; Sep 2024 to Aug 2026.
| Airport | City | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJC | San Jose, CA | 86.3% | 0.72% |
| PDX | Portland, OR | 86.2% | 0.63% |
| SLC | Salt Lake City, UT | 85.0% | 0.73% |
| SMF | Sacramento, CA | 84.8% | 0.68% |
| OAK | Oakland, CA | 84.7% | 0.72% |
| DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 73.3% | 2.80% |
| RSW | Fort Myers, FL | 72.9% | 2.26% |
| MIA | Miami, FL | 70.9% | 2.10% |
| ORD | Chicago, IL | 70.4% | 3.62% |
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 67.2% | 2.98% |
Source: BTS [3]
Holidays and peaks in March
- Spring break peak: week of Mar 15, 2027 (see when to book Spring break peak flights)
- Easter: Sun Mar 28, 2027 (see when to book Easter flights)
Questions travelers ask
Is March a cheap time to fly?
March is about average for domestic flights: in Axel's fares, March 2027 departures ran 1% below the average month (June 2026 to May 2027 departures) [1].
How far in advance should I book a flight for March?
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 March a busy month to fly?
About average: TSA traffic in March 2025 ran 0% against the year's average day [2].
Are there more flight delays in March?
March flights arrived on time 78.0% of the time, #7 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
- When Is the Best Time to Buy an International Flight?, CheapAir.com, 2025-02-17