Can Flying On Friday The 13th Save You Some Money?

Finding cheap flights often feels like a game of chance — one with plenty of tips and tricks to master. From using popular online platforms to snag ultra-cheap flights to booking well in advance, being flexible with your travel dates, and even setting up price alerts, savvy travelers have plenty of strategies at their disposal. And while certain tips like booking flights on a Tuesday are outdated, there's one unconventional saving hack that might surprise you: flying on Friday the 13th.

Long associated with bad luck — with roots in both religious history and cultural folklore — Friday the 13th and the number 13 as a whole are often avoided and, in some cases, feared — especially when it comes to things like air travel. The number 13 is so uncomfortable that some popular airlines like United, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Emirates even skip "Row 13" in their aircrafts altogether. However, it's precisely due to this widespread notoriety that traveling on Friday the 13th generally means saving big on ticket prices — all because other more superstitious travelers just don't want to tempt fate and fly. 

Superstitions and paraskevidekatriaphobia — the medical term for fear of Friday the 13th — aside, travel search engine data suggests that this infamous date can offer more affordable flights compared to other Fridays. For example, in 2023, a study from KAYAK (via Euronews) found that flights to Europe were roughly 39% cheaper on Friday the 13th. Domestically, the experts at Going (via Thrillist), a popular platform for finding the cheapest flights, note that, while there might be a slight decrease in demand for flights departing on Friday the 13th, popular domestic routes actually showed no significant price differences compared to other Fridays.

That said, it's important to note that while this pattern might exist on some occasions, it's not necessarily a guaranteed money-saver for getting the cheapest flights for any trip. Because, although cultural beliefs can definitely play a role in some travelers' decisions to hit that "Book Now" button, flight prices are influenced by a lot more factors beyond superstition. And at the end of the day, Friday is still one of the most popular days to travel — regardless of the date.

As for any potential safety concerns during your Friday the 13th flight, there's no reason to worry — and the proof is in the numbers. In fact, according to the Aviation Safety Network database (via Insurance Business Magazine), which collects historical aviation accident data, reports of fatal accidents on Friday the 13th are lower than average with a rate of 0.067 fatal accidents per day on Friday the 13th, compared to 0.091 on other days (using data up to September 2013).