A travel expert says it could be worth waking up at 4am to book part of your holiday. Even though it might seem unusual, it could save you some cash. Many travellers focus on which day of the week to book flights, but experts say the hour you book could have an even bigger impact on the price you pay. According to research, the most expensive time to book flights is between 9 am and 10 am, when demand spikes as people begin browsing holidays with their morning coffee.

Jamie Fraser, travel expert at American Summer Camp provider Wild Packs, has shared his expert tips on the best time to book flights. He says cheapest time to book flights is typically between 4 am and 5 am, when fewer people are searching, and airline pricing systems have effectively reset overnight.

You should avoid searching for flights first thing in the morning. Many travellers begin browsing holidays as soon as they start work, creating a surge in demand that airline pricing systems quickly respond to. Booking during this busy window can mean paying significantly more for the same flight.

Jamie also says you should try booking in the late evening instead. If waking up at 4 am isn’t realistic, late evening searches can still save money. Booking between 8 pm and 10 pm can be around 5% cheaper than searching during peak morning hours.

Another tip is to combine a quieter day with a quieter booking time. While Tuesday and Sunday are often cited as good days to find deals, the biggest savings often come when travellers combine a less popular booking day with an off-peak booking time.

You should set up price alerts instead of checking fares repeatedly. Price alert tools can monitor flight prices automatically and notify travellers when fares drop, saving both time and money.

Make sure to be flexible with travel plans – being open to different airlines, dates, or nearby airports can often reveal significantly cheaper flights.

If you are booking long-haul flights you should do this a few weeks in advance. For international trips, the best prices are often found around 13 to 21 days before departure, while domestic flights can sometimes be cheapest up to six months ahead

Jamie, from Wild Packs, says: “Most people search for flights first thing in the morning while they’re having coffee, but that’s exactly when everyone else is doing the same thing.

“When airline systems see that spike in demand, prices can rise quickly. It’s one of the easiest ways travellers accidentally overpay.

“The cheapest time to book is usually in the early hours of the morning, around 4 am or 5 am, when far fewer people are searching and airline pricing systems have reset overnight.

“If you’re not willing to set a 4 am alarm, the next best option is late evening. Booking between 8 pm and 10 pm can still save around 5% compared to that busy morning window.

“People often debate whether Tuesday or Sunday is the best day to book flights, but then they’ll search at 9:30 in the morning when prices are already higher. The best strategy is combining both, choose a quieter day and a quieter time to search.”