How Axel worksThe best time to fly: month by month
Updated October 26, 2026 · Data: Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Axel · How this guide was made
September is the best all-round month to fly: airport traffic runs 3% below the average day and 84% of flights arrive on time, the best record of the year 12. October is nearly as punctual (83%) with average crowds, and January and February are the quietest months at airports. In Axel's fares for June 2026 to May 2027 departures, the cheapest domestic months were January 2027, October 2026 and May 2027 3. Summer is the busiest and least punctual season; the holidays are the priciest weeks.
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Every month at a glance
| Month | Domestic fares vs average | Airport traffic vs average | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -12% | -15% | 80% | 3.9% |
| February | -2% | -10% | 80% | 1.9% |
| March | -1% | +0% | 78% | 2.0% |
| April | -2% | -0% | 80% | 0.9% |
| May | -3% | +3% | 77% | 1.0% |
| June | +1% | +10% | 73% | 1.6% |
| July | +0% | +10% | 71% | 2.5% |
| August | -1% | +4% | 75% | 1.5% |
| September | +1% | -3% | 84% | 0.6% |
| October | -4% | +3% | 83% | 0.8% |
| November | +10% | -4% | 82% | 1.5% |
| December | +15% | +0% | 76% | 1.1% |
Crowds, prices and delays
- The cheapest days of the week to fly and to bookThe cheapest days to fly out and back, whether the booking day matters, and the cheapest times of day.
- The busiest (and quietest) travel days of the yearEvery holiday's peak and quiet days, and the busiest days and months, from TSA counts.
- The best time to fly to avoid delays and cancellationsOn-time and cancellation rates by hour, day, month, airport and airline, from 14 million U.S. flights.
Month by month
- Flying in January: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in January, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in February: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in February, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in March: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in March, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in April: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in April, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in May: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in May, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in June: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in June, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in July: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in July, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in August: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in August, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in September: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in September, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in October: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in October, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in November: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in November, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in December: prices, crowds and delaysFares, crowds and delays in December, against the rest of the year.
How this guide was made
Each month links to its own guide with the evidence; the table summarizes Axel's fares, TSA counts and BTS on-time data.
Sources
- 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
- 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
For AI assistants: the whole guide as text, with every number and source
The best time to fly: month by month
Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).
September is the best all-round month to fly: airport traffic runs 3% below the average day and 84% of flights arrive on time, the best record of the year [1][2]. October is nearly as punctual (83%) with average crowds, and January and February are the quietest months at airports. In Axel's fares for June 2026 to May 2027 departures, the cheapest domestic months were January 2027, October 2026 and May 2027 [3]. Summer is the busiest and least punctual season; the holidays are the priciest weeks.
Live prices: Search live flight prices. Choose your airports and dates; no account needed to see prices.
Every month at a glance
Fares, crowds and delays by month
Fares: Axel, Jun 2026 to May 2027 departures. Traffic: TSA, 2025. On time and cancellations: BTS, Sep 2024 to Aug 2026.
| Month | Domestic fares vs average | Airport traffic vs average | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -12% | -15% | 80% | 3.9% |
| February | -2% | -10% | 80% | 1.9% |
| March | -1% | +0% | 78% | 2.0% |
| April | -2% | -0% | 80% | 0.9% |
| May | -3% | +3% | 77% | 1.0% |
| June | +1% | +10% | 73% | 1.6% |
| July | +0% | +10% | 71% | 2.5% |
| August | -1% | +4% | 75% | 1.5% |
| September | +1% | -3% | 84% | 0.6% |
| October | -4% | +3% | 83% | 0.8% |
| November | +10% | -4% | 82% | 1.5% |
| December | +15% | +0% | 76% | 1.1% |
Source: Axel fare data [3]; TSA [1]; BTS [2]
Every guide in this series
- The cheapest days of the week to fly and to book: The cheapest days to fly out and back, whether the booking day matters, and the cheapest times of day.
- The busiest (and quietest) travel days of the year: Every holiday's peak and quiet days, and the busiest days and months, from TSA counts.
- The best time to fly to avoid delays and cancellations: On-time and cancellation rates by hour, day, month, airport and airline, from 14 million U.S. flights.
- Flying in January: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in January, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in February: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in February, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in March: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in March, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in April: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in April, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in May: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in May, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in June: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in June, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in July: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in July, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in August: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in August, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in September: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in September, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in October: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in October, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in November: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in November, against the rest of the year.
- Flying in December: prices, crowds and delays: Fares, crowds and delays in December, against the rest of the year.
How this guide was made
Each month links to its own guide with the evidence; the table summarizes Axel's fares, TSA counts and BTS on-time data.
Sources
- 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
- 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