The end-of-year holidays are fast approaching and, whether you’re planning a traditional trip back to the family homestead or an escape to a sun-drenched beach, having the inside track on when and how to book your holiday travel can save you substantial amounts of stress and money. But the windows for snagging flight deals for the upcoming holidays were by and large closed by the end of October.
One bit of good news is that the holiday airfares out there have dipped across the board this year. According to Kayak’s holiday travel report, average air travel costs around the Thanksgiving holiday have fallen 6%, while the December holidays are coming in around 9% lower than last year. You can also save money by booking strategically.
When to fly for ThanksgivingIn terms of when is best to travel for Thanksgiving, both in terms of securing the least expensive airfare and avoiding the crowds, an ideal strategy is to travel on the holiday itself. This could potentially save you hundreds of dollars on airplane tickets and also make for the least stressful airport experience. According to Hopper, most travelers will be flying either the Saturday prior or the day before Thanksgiving and returning home on Sunday.
Departing on Thanksgiving Day and returning on Tuesday is likely to result in as much as a 34% saving on airfare.
Tips for booking Christmas travelFor Christmas flights, ticket prices will start to soar, rising by more than 32% in the last three to four weeks before the holiday arrives. So, if you’re hoping to snag reasonably priced seats (or find any seats at all still available), it’s wise to book sooner rather than later.
When to fly for ChristmasAccording to Hopper, travelers’ best bet for Christmas travel is also to travel on the holiday itself — either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day — if they’re looking to avoid congestion and score cheaper airfare. Returning home on New Year’s Eve will also help accomplish both of these objectives. By flying on the holidays themselves, passengers can save themselves as much as 34% on their plane tickets.
Conversely, the worst days to depart on your Christmas journeys are Friday, Dec. 20, or Saturday, Dec. 21, with return trips on either Saturday, Dec. 28, or Sunday, Dec. 29.
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