We often hear:
“Early morning flights are cheaper.”
…but is that really true for international flights from India? I decided to put it to the test.
I booked flights early in the morning every week for a month on the same route and tracked price, convenience, and overall experience. Here’s what I discovered.
Experiment Setup
Route: Delhi (DEL) → Bangkok (BKK)
Travel Dates: Same weekday, every week for 4 consecutive weeks
Time of Day: 5 AM – 8 AM departures
Cabin: Economy
Filters: Max 1 stop, layover <3 hours
I compared the prices to afternoon and evening flights for the same dates.
Week 1: Price Check
- Early morning flight: ₹16,800
- Afternoon flight: ₹17,450
- Evening flight: ₹18,200
Observation: Early morning was ₹1,400 cheaper than evening.
Week 2: Price Check
- Early morning: ₹16,500
- Afternoon: ₹17,100
- Evening: ₹17,950
Observation: Again, morning flights were the cheapest, though savings were smaller (₹600–₹1,450).
Week 3: Price Check
- Early morning: ₹16,900
- Afternoon: ₹16,950
- Evening: ₹17,500
Observation: Morning vs afternoon difference negligible. Evening still higher.
Week 4: Price Check
- Early morning: ₹17,200
- Afternoon: ₹17,300
- Evening: ₹17,850
Observation: Same trend continues; savings mostly in the early morning vs evening range.
Key Insights From 4 Weeks of Testing
1️⃣ Early Morning Flights Are Usually Cheaper
- Across 4 weeks, early departures saved ₹500–₹1,400 compared to evening flights.
- Afternoon flights sometimes close in price, but evening flights consistently more expensive.
2️⃣ Convenience vs Savings
- Early flights = airport arrival at 3:30–4 AM
- Pros: Lower prices, fewer crowds
- Cons: Harder transportation, more tiredness
3️⃣ Airline Consistency Matters
- Certain carriers always offered cheaper early departures (mainly budget + hybrid carriers).
- Full-service airlines sometimes had no significant difference.
Practical Takeaways
- Check early morning options first when searching flights.
- Compare afternoon flights too; sometimes savings are minimal.
- Evening flights are almost always costlier, especially for international routes.
- If convenience matters more than ₹1,000–₹1,500 savings, consider late flights.
