If you’re looking to book trips for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, now is the best time to do it, according to travel experts. Prices tend to vary in the three to five months leading up to the holidays, which means there are some good deals available. However, as the holiday dates get closer, it becomes harder to find cheap tickets.
“Airfare changes a lot in unpredictable ways when you book ahead of time,” said Scott Keyes, founder of travel deals site Going.com. “Some days the prices go up, some days they go down. But as you get closer to the travel date, last-minute tickets become more expensive.”
According to Keyes, there are a couple more weeks left to secure good deals during what he calls the “Goldilocks window” for reservations. “I wouldn’t wait any later than mid-October,” he advised.
Don’t delay your bookings for Thanksgiving travel any longer. “Now is the perfect time,” added Hayley Berg, chief economist at flight search site Hopper. “It’s also the right time to book Christmas flights, something many travelers overlook. They’ll book for Thanksgiving but wait until later for Christmas.”
Avoid booking last-minute
When planning a trip, the timing of your booking is just as important as the travel date itself.
Avoid booking last-minute, which means booking as close as six weeks before the holidays, Keyes warned. “Prices tend to skyrocket during that final month before the holiday. They become significantly more expensive,” he explained.
Berg advised travelers to book Thanksgiving holiday flights no later than October 14. “By then, you’ll have the best deal secured,” she stated. Flight search site Kayak’s data also shows that the optimal time to book for good deals is approximately 50 days in advance.
“Now is a great time to book Thanksgiving travel,” said Jake Bouvrie, chief economist at Kayak. “The best time to book for Christmas is around 50 days in advance.”
When to fly
Kayak’s “Best Time to Travel” tool indicates the periods when ticket prices are lowest for specific holidays. “The timing is crucial – choosing the right travel dates can make a significant difference,” Bouvrie advised.
For instance, the cheapest day to fly around Thanksgiving is the Monday before the holiday. When it comes to Christmas travel, the cheapest day to fly is on Christmas Eve.
“Most people want to be at their destination on Christmas Day, so prices are much higher if you want to spend a few days there before Christmas Eve,” Bouvrie explained.
According to Bouvrie, in order to save money and avoid crowds, it’s best to avoid traveling on December 22. “It’s one of the busiest days of the year, and we’re seeing the most searches for flights on that day.”
Fly on the holiday
You can save between 25% and 30% on ticket prices by considering flying on the actual holiday, if your schedule permits it.
“For obvious reasons, people prefer to be at their destination on the holiday rather than traveling,” noted Keyes of Going.com. “If you’re flexible, this is a technique that can help you get the cheapest ticket possible.”
As for return dates, the best day to travel back home after Thanksgiving is the day after the holiday. The worst day? Sunday.
“The absolute worst day to fly home from the Thanksgiving holiday is Sunday. You’ll end up paying hundreds of dollars more,” Berg cautioned. “You could end up paying up to $400 more than what you’d pay for a flight at 6 a.m. on Monday morning.”
