With the UK half-term holiday fast approaching, mums and dads nationwide may be scrambling to find budget-friendly last-minute escapes. Though it might seem like the clock is ticking, travel booking gurus at AttractionTickets.com reckon there's still a golden window to snap up cheap flights for those dream family breaks, particularly to hotspots like Universal Orlando Resort or Disneyland Paris.

According to their research, the optimal day to bag your 11th-hour half-term getaway for the best deals is Sunday, February 8. They've even pinpointed the ideal time of day to make your booking.

Chris Bradshaw, director and travel bookings expert at AttractionTickets.com, said: "It's a common misconception that earlier always equals cheaper. In reality, airlines continuously adjust fares based on demand, and savvy travellers can benefit from those fluctuations, even just one or two weeks ahead. There's still time to save on last-minute half-term travel if you know when to book.

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"Our analysis of historical pricing patterns, alongside industry travel reports, shows that Sunday is likely to be the most cost-effective day of the week to book. Airlines typically release discounted fares and adjust inventory over the weekend, and booking on a Sunday has been known to save travellers up to 23% versus Fridays.

"Industry data also suggests that booking flights within a window of eight to 23 days before departure can offer some of the most competitive prices for international travel, especially when it comes to places like Florida, so this timeline is essential to consider. Alongside this, we see a consistent trend that early morning is likely to be the best time for snagging low fares.

"Flights booked around 6am at your local time tend to be more affordable, as it's often when airlines drop fresh fares before the day's search traffic spikes. Taking all these factors into consideration, Sunday, February 8, falls perfectly in alignment, making this the optimal date to give you the best chance of securing those last-minute affordable family holiday bookings ahead of this half-term."

AttractionTickets.com said it drew on expert insights and data-driven research from travel and ticketing platforms, with a focus on last-minute booking trends. According to analysis from Expedia, the best time to book international flights is typically eight to 23 days before departure.

This created an optimal booking window. Data from Expedia's 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report highlights that booking flights on Sundays can save travellers up to 24%, which allowed the experts to narrow down the best booking dates ahead of February half-term.